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. Page<br />
1957<br />
/he iuAe e^ 'ike m&to&rL fictuAe<br />
Sophia Lorcn and Alan Ladd, against the background of an ancrcnt<br />
Greek temple, ore shown in o scene from "Boy on a Dolphin," the 20th<br />
Century-Fox production which hos been awordcd the BOXOFFICE Blue<br />
Ribbon Award for May by the Nationol Screen Council , 26<br />
i^^^-^^^^d
BINGO!
BRAVO<br />
"Excellent! This looks like another winner for Crosby and<br />
producer Siegel."<br />
-showmens trade review<br />
"Easily one of the Year's Best Pictures. A real story about<br />
real people." -Hollywood reporter<br />
"A picture with heart and charm. Never have tears and<br />
laughter been so wonderfully blended."<br />
-boxoffice<br />
"Producer Sol C. Siegel has delivered another fine production<br />
particularly appealing to women."<br />
-daily (Coast) variety<br />
"High rating! Hard hitting! Adds up to box-office! Sneak<br />
preview audience had a wonderful time." -m. p. exhibitor<br />
"Warm, winning entertainment .<br />
. . Crosby<br />
can take bows."<br />
—film bulletin<br />
INGER STEVENS •<br />
M-G-M presents A SOL C. SIEGEL PRODUCTION<br />
BING CROSBY<br />
MAN ON FIRE<br />
Co-Slarring<br />
MARY FICKETT E.G.MARSHALL<br />
•<br />
w,.h MALCOLM BRODRICK • RICHARD EASTHAM<br />
Screen Play by RANALD MocDOUGALL<br />
laied on o Story by MALVIN WAID ond JACK JACOBS<br />
Directed by RANALD MacDOUGALL .
f^<br />
RODGERS &<br />
HAMMERSIEIN'S<br />
r CONTINUES<br />
TO MAKE<br />
BOXOFFICE HISTORY!<br />
RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN<br />
ri<br />
GORDON MacRAE- cm GRMME- SHIRLEY MS-<br />
CHARLOITE GREENWOOD • EDDIE ALBERI • JAMES WHIIORE<br />
ARTHUR iii'NBLOWJr/ FRED ZiNNEMANN<br />
'?<<br />
Screenplay by SONYALEVIEN and WILLIAM LUOWIG<br />
X-«i)j^S^ /dik?-^'<br />
^ l^^jjjj PRODUCTION<br />
DancesSUgedbyMSDiMIll!<br />
• DISTRIBUTED BY 20th CENTURY FOX
;t16<br />
'<br />
M<br />
lard<br />
BD<br />
:-<br />
*<br />
e rcc^ o^t/ie //lotion rcct(4Jie /ndoAt^<br />
THE NATIONAL FILM WEEKLY<br />
BEN SHLYEN<br />
Published In Nine Sectional Editions<br />
Editor-in-Chief and Publisher<br />
CXJNALD M. MERSEREAU Associofe<br />
Publisher & General Manager<br />
NATHAN COHEN.. Executive Editor<br />
JESSE SHLYEN. .. .Managing Editor<br />
HUGH FRAZE Field Editor<br />
AL STEEN Eastern Editor<br />
IVAN SPEAR Western Editor<br />
I. L. THATCHER. .Equipment Editor<br />
MORRIS 5CHL0ZMAN Business Mgr.<br />
Published Every Saturday by<br />
ASSOCIATED PUBLICATIONS<br />
Publication Offices: 825 Van Brant Blvd..<br />
Kansas Cily 24. Mo. Niittian Colicn. Executive<br />
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Editor; Morris Si-Wo.n .:,. i: Manager;<br />
Hugh Kr;i7i;, ! ! (<br />
1 L<br />
,<br />
Thatcher. Bditur 1 i ,itu><br />
Section. Telepliuiii- in<br />
I'laz.i,<br />
Editorial Offices: 4r. Kn. .:.;i<br />
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Manager; Al Steen. Eastern Editor; Catl<br />
Mos, Equipment Advertising. Telephone<br />
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Hollywood Blvd.. IloUjivood<br />
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Non-Film Advertising—672 S. Lafayette<br />
Pari! Place. Los Angeles. Calif. Bob Wettsteln.<br />
manager. Telephone DUnkiri: 8-2286.<br />
i<br />
Washinoton Office. I,.: -iii D. Farrar,<br />
1177 .\/ ' l: l'h«rie REpublic<br />
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The .MOliElt.N TllEATHB Section Is Included<br />
in Uie first Issue of each month.<br />
Atlanta: .Martha Chandler. 191 Walton MV.<br />
Albany: J. S. nmncrs, 21-23 Walter Ave.<br />
BaltiniMi ': :: Stanley Thea.<br />
Blrmin,'<br />
The News.<br />
Boston llir 2-1141.<br />
Charli 2-1254.<br />
,<br />
Clnclnn . Carrahen.<br />
Clevelanil: I'.hk- Loib, K.iirnmunt 1-0046.<br />
Columbus: Fred Oestrelchcr, 646 Elioades<br />
Place.<br />
Dallas: BUI Barker. 423 Nimltz St..<br />
WH 21958.<br />
Denver: Jack Rose. 1645 Lafayette St.<br />
Des Moines: Russ Schoch. Rcgistcr-Trlbiuie.<br />
Detroit: II. F. Reves. Fox Theatre Bldg.<br />
Hartford: Allen M. WIdem. CH 9-8211<br />
Indianapolis: Corbin Patrick. The Star.<br />
Jacksonville: Robert Cornwell. San Marco<br />
Theatre.<br />
Memphis: Null .\dams. 707 Sprhig St.<br />
Miami: Kitty Ilarvvood. 66 S. Hibiscus.<br />
Mllvtaukee: Wm. Nlchoi. 2251 S. Laytoii<br />
Blvd.<br />
Minneapolis: Les Rees. 2123 Freemont Sq.<br />
New Orleans: Beverly Balancle. 5500<br />
Dauphin.<br />
Oklahoma City: Joyce Outhler. 1744 NW<br />
17lh St<br />
Omaha: Irving Baker. 911 N. 5Ist St.<br />
Philadelphia: Norman Shlgon. 5363 Berk<br />
Pittsburgh: R. F. Klingensmlth. 516 Jeannette.<br />
VVilkinsburg. aiurchiU 1-2809.<br />
Portland. Ore.: Arnold Marks. Journal.<br />
St. Louis: Date Barrett, 5149 Rosa.<br />
Salt Lake City: Pearson. Deseret News.<br />
II.<br />
San Antonio: Les Ketner. 230 San Pedro.<br />
San Francisco: Gall LIpman. 2g7-28th<br />
.Vie.. SKyUne 1-4355; Advertlshig:<br />
Jerry .Nowell. Howard Bldg.. VU 6-2522.<br />
In Canada<br />
Montreal: Room 314. 625 Belmont St.<br />
Jules<br />
Larochelle.<br />
St. John: 43 Waterloo. Sam Babb.<br />
Toronto: 1675 Bayrlew Ave.. WUlowdale.<br />
Ont. W. filadish.<br />
Vancouver: Lyric Theatre Bids.. Jack Droy<br />
Winnipeg: Barney Brooker. 157 Rupert.<br />
Member Audit Bureau of Circulations<br />
H>itcred as Second Class matter at Post<br />
Office. Kansas City. Mo. Sectional Edition.<br />
J3.00 per year: National Edition. $7 50.<br />
JUNE 15, 1957<br />
Vol. 71 No. 8<br />
CHANGES ARE IN ORDER<br />
y\ \\\ ,li.Mns.^ioii of uliat may be<br />
the causes lor [lie low grosses, heaviest stre.ss<br />
seems to be placed on the general public's alleged<br />
disinterest in anything but top-calibre product. All<br />
of llie wide variety of external factors are<br />
brought out but, for the most part, the internal<br />
factors are either overlooked or glossed over.<br />
True, the so-called blockbusters have the power<br />
to pull peo]ile out of their homes and away from<br />
television sets, hobbies, sports, and the great<br />
\ariety of diversions to which they devote their<br />
leisure time. But, as has so often been proved in<br />
the past, the picture alone—no matter how good<br />
or how big—is not all that is needed to entice<br />
more people to go more often to the movies.<br />
It is one thing to say, "Give 'em blockbusters<br />
and they'll come in droves." But it's quite another<br />
matter to make enough of such pictures to keep<br />
up a steady pace of patronage to meet the needs<br />
of this .52-week-a-year business. These peaks of<br />
patronage are fine—but it's the deep valleys in<br />
between that need building up.<br />
Theie is no denying that strong product is the<br />
keystone to business betterment. Promotion will<br />
help. But what about programming, pricing<br />
and parking? These, often and much too frequently<br />
of late, have been cited by patrons as<br />
deterrents to their going to the movies. Change<br />
in these policies and practices long has been in<br />
order. But, for one reason or another, they seem<br />
to grow worse instead of getting better.<br />
It is widely admitted, both in exhibition and<br />
distribution circles, that one of the principal<br />
causes for patronage loss is the multiple dayand-dating<br />
practice of the larger cities and the<br />
too-fast ])lay-off of product. This is especially<br />
true in the instance of the better pictures, which<br />
are taken out of circulation while they still have<br />
substantial want-to-see potentials. Yet, nothing<br />
has been done to remedy the condition.<br />
Alternating of runs, a reasonable and orderly<br />
clearance pattern to increase the public's choice<br />
and extend life of product, could open up this<br />
Ixiltleneck. which would, at the same time, afford<br />
opporluiiity for change and improvement in<br />
|)rogramming. This would benefit all branches<br />
of the business, with by-products such as possible<br />
elimination of the print shortage problem<br />
and its attendant difficulties, among other things.<br />
Pricing and jiarking are somewhat linked<br />
-rihci. W li.-liicr admission prices are too high,<br />
iii,i\ Im (litrrmined by the parking costs which,<br />
ill in:iii\ ]il.ii IS. have skyrocketed. We remember<br />
that, when downtown admission prices were 40<br />
cents top in a certain midwest city and parking<br />
fees were 15 cents, the theatres refunded the<br />
|)arking cost to patrons. Now that admission<br />
prices are 90 cents and higher in the same city<br />
;iikI parking for three hours costs up to 75 cents,<br />
to-<br />
such arrangement isn't as feasible. Hut one<br />
astute theatre operator has made deals with<br />
closeby parking stations on a 30 cent-per-car<br />
basis which he reports has increased his attendance.<br />
Another thing, a refund of this kind,<br />
usually results in added revenue for the concessions<br />
stand. But, whether or not this is the case,<br />
eliminating the [larking cost removes one of the<br />
big patronage deterrents. There are other ways<br />
of solving this problem, to be sure, but this could<br />
The business-building campaign which will<br />
soon be implemented is expected to introduce a<br />
nuinber of new or improved methods of enticing<br />
patronage. The various proniotional ideas<br />
already decided upon and those to be developed<br />
will surely get people going to the movies again.<br />
But the big job of keeping them coming will be<br />
up to the exhibitors. On their efforts at the local<br />
level<br />
will depend the extent of the success of the<br />
over-all national campaign and what it will mean,<br />
individually, to each of them.<br />
Merchandising inotion pictures is a many-sided<br />
task, especially in these times. It embraces not<br />
only the ability to offer good product, but also<br />
how that product is offered, both before and<br />
after people come to the theatre. Since present<br />
methods have been found wanting, change most<br />
certainly is<br />
in order.<br />
A Man to<br />
Remember<br />
William F. llodgers, ulio has g>,nc to his reward,<br />
has left to the motion picture industry a<br />
legacy from which it can derive great benefit, if<br />
only it will carry on his endeavors to improve<br />
the relalionshii)s between exhibitors and distributors.<br />
Throughout his long tenure as vice-president<br />
and general sales manager of Metro-Goldwyn-<br />
Mayer, Bill Rodgers earned the admiration, respect<br />
and affection of the people of this business<br />
through his beliefs in and acts of consideration<br />
and fairness. More than any other individual in<br />
the past score of years, he sought to alleviate the<br />
misunderstandings between buyer and seller and<br />
thereby to solidify and give strength to the entire<br />
industry. Accordingly, he was a stauiich advocate<br />
of arbitration, in the establishment of which he<br />
saw the means to create a climate of lasting<br />
goodwill. It is to be hoped that tliis estate will,<br />
before very long, be attained.<br />
\£c^x^ /mJLf^y)^^
12<br />
SBA AGREES TO CONSIDER LOAN<br />
APPLICATIONS UP TO $250,000<br />
Payable in Ten Years; Will<br />
Appraise Property and<br />
Grant 90% of Value<br />
NEW YORK—The Small Business Administration<br />
will accept theatre mortgage<br />
loan applications up to $250,000, payable<br />
UP TO 90^c LOANS<br />
Barnes told Harling that the SBA would<br />
appraise the value of the real property and,<br />
if the liquidating value, in event of default,<br />
was sufficient to repay the loan, the SBA<br />
would grant an application up to 90 per cent<br />
of the appraised value. If the real property<br />
was not sufficient according to this formula,<br />
a lesser appraisal, plus a good earning record,<br />
would suffice. Conversely, an application<br />
could be submitted on a good earning record<br />
and real property which did not fully measure<br />
up to appraisal purposes. In other words,<br />
Harling said, Barnes was particularly concerned<br />
with the ability of the applicant to<br />
repay, in the event the loan had to be liquidated.<br />
Monday's meeting was one of several at<br />
which Harling had pressed TOA's contention<br />
that the SBA rules and regulations should be<br />
clarified, revised and expanded. Others at<br />
the session were W. N. Engels and Philip Mc-<br />
Callum, counsel to the Administration.<br />
When Harling was asked why there were<br />
so few applications presented to the SBA by<br />
theatremen, he said the necessity of first<br />
having to obtain a written turn-down that<br />
the borrower was not a good credit risk was<br />
"unpalatable" to all exhibitors. He stated that<br />
if this provision was eliminated, the Administration<br />
would receive hundreds of applications.<br />
Barnes said this requirement was<br />
governed by statute. Harling contested this<br />
on the ground that, while the banking act<br />
could be interpreted to mean this, it was<br />
negated by the General Welfare and Economy<br />
clause which seeks to promote and aid<br />
all small business.<br />
ARE -GREATLY HEARTENED'<br />
Commenting on Barnes' report, TOA stated:<br />
"The officers of TOA are greatly heartened<br />
by the clarified position taken by the SBA,<br />
because for the first time the doors have been<br />
opened to theatre owners to apply for mortgage<br />
loans in amounts up to $250,000 to mature<br />
in ten years. It should be pointed out<br />
that TOA, while pleased with this new enlightened<br />
policy, nevertheless, will still pursue<br />
every course to obtain approval of all the<br />
recommendations set forth in its memorandums<br />
to the Administration and the Senate<br />
Banking and Currency Committee."<br />
National Interest Shown<br />
In Georgia Convention<br />
in ten years, in accordance with the rules<br />
ATLANTA, GA.—The film industry will<br />
and regulations of the SBA. This was reported<br />
Wednesday<br />
have its eye on the annual convention of<br />
1 1 by Philip P. Harling,<br />
chairman of the SBA committee of<br />
Motion Picture Theatre Owners and Operators<br />
of Georgia to be held June 24 and 25<br />
Theatre Owners of America, following a<br />
in the Dinkier Plaza Hotel for two big reasons:<br />
meeting of Harling and Wendell Barnes,<br />
SBA administrator, in Washington on Monday<br />
(10).<br />
1. The association will announce results of<br />
the six-month Newspaper Awards Contest<br />
which has brought a rich harvest of news and<br />
feature stories in daily and weekly newspapers<br />
throughout the state—and ijidicate<br />
just how exhibitors in other states can undertake<br />
a similar project.<br />
2. Albert Sindlinger, industry analyst, will<br />
make public findings of a thi'ee-month study<br />
made on behalf of the Georgia association on<br />
the outlook for theatre business in the next<br />
The convention promises to be one of the<br />
most important ever held by the Georgia<br />
group. The theme is "A Look Into the Future,"<br />
and the program has been prepared to<br />
give theatremen an idea of what to expect in<br />
the several years. The keynote address will<br />
be delivered by Ernest G. Stellings, president<br />
of Theatre Owners of America the afternoon<br />
of June 24, following the Newspaper Awards<br />
Republic Puts $1.5 Million<br />
Into New Studio Projects<br />
HOLLYWOOD—Herbert J.<br />
Yates, president<br />
of Republic Pictures, has announced an appropriation<br />
of $1,500,000 for new studio construction<br />
and equipment to accommodate the<br />
increasing demands of independent theatrical<br />
and television production.<br />
The amount will cover building and equipping<br />
of six new sound stages and 22 new cutting<br />
rooms which will bring the total of<br />
stages to 28 and cutting rooms to 72.<br />
While Yates expressed considerable optimism<br />
for an even greater expansion in the future<br />
of Republic and its Consolidated Film<br />
Laboratories, there was nothing in the announcement<br />
that indicated any plans for immediate<br />
resumption of activity in the making<br />
of theatrical features for Republic as such.<br />
Sen.Thurmond Introduces<br />
Bill to Ban Toll TV<br />
WASHINGTON—Sen. Strom Thurmond<br />
(D., S. C.I introduced legislation Tuesday<br />
(11) to prohibit installation of pay-asyou-see<br />
TV in the American home. It<br />
would also prevent public toll TV tests.<br />
He said there was no proof that the system<br />
would provide better programs.<br />
luncheon. Exhibitors from many state associations<br />
w'ill be here to hear the report on<br />
the Awards in order to institute similar competitions<br />
in their areas, according to J. H,<br />
Thompson, president.<br />
Winners of the daily and weekly contests<br />
will receive all-expense paid trips for two to<br />
Hollywood. Second prizes of $250 Savings<br />
Bonds and 30 honorable mentions will be<br />
given.<br />
Monday afternoon, A. D. Padgett of the<br />
Wilby-Kincey circuit will discuss "Product to<br />
Come," and Milton J. Shapp will speak on<br />
the cable theatre. Tuesday's breakfast session<br />
will bring honors to exhibitors who have<br />
been in business for 25 years or more, and 80<br />
Southeast 25-year theatremen have already<br />
registered for the event. Tuesday's sessions<br />
will include talks by Charles Simonelli of<br />
U-I on advertising and promotion; Mike<br />
Simons of MGM on community relations;<br />
Herman Levy, TOA general counsel; Sindlinger<br />
and Mayor Hartsfield and Governor<br />
Griffin.<br />
A cocktail party and buffet will be held<br />
Monday evening and the Pi-esident's dinner<br />
will be held Tuesday night.<br />
AFL Film Council Urges<br />
FCC to Okay Toll TV<br />
HOLLYWOOD — On the theory that payas-you-see<br />
video would result in an increase<br />
in motion picture production and employment,<br />
the Hollywood AFL Film Council,<br />
composed of unions and guilds representing<br />
more than 24,000 employes in the motion<br />
picture production industry, called on the<br />
Federal Communications Commission on<br />
Tuesday (11) to authorize "at the earliest<br />
possible moment" wide-spread public tests<br />
of subscription television ser\ace.<br />
Following a report by a special council<br />
committee which has been studying all aspects<br />
of the matter for many months, the<br />
council unanimously adopted a resolution declaring<br />
"it appears probably that subscription<br />
television would greatly increase the<br />
number of new motion pictures produced in<br />
this country, thus increasing employment<br />
many-fold."<br />
The Film Council also held that subscription<br />
television service could "give the<br />
public better entertainment, culture and<br />
education in the home than is possible with<br />
the present form of television supported solely<br />
by advertising," and charged that opponents<br />
of the system "are unwilling to give the<br />
public the opportunity to test and decide<br />
BOXOFFICE :: June 15, 1957
A White Paper Is Issued<br />
ALLIED REPORT BLAMES COMPO<br />
IN DISPUTE OVER MEMBERSHIP<br />
Says Present Management<br />
"Goes Over the Heads" of<br />
Exhibitor Organizations<br />
By SUMNER SMITH<br />
NEW YORK—National Allied is circulating<br />
a "white paper" to prove that in the<br />
dispute over its return to membership in<br />
the Council of Motion Picture Organizations,<br />
"it was COMPO. not Allied, that<br />
slammed the door."<br />
The pamphlet states as a main reason for<br />
its publication a desire to "scotch in advance<br />
the misrepresentations that so often accompany<br />
any controversy involving exhibitors<br />
and distributors."<br />
QUESTION EXHIBITOR BENEFIT<br />
It adds that the most important reason "is<br />
to raise for the careful consideration of subsequent<br />
run and small-town exhibitors the<br />
question whether COMPO in recent years has<br />
been conducted in their interest, and especially<br />
whether under the conditions laid<br />
down by A. Montague and his associates,<br />
they can hope to benefit from COMPO in the<br />
future."<br />
In the latter connection, the pamphlet<br />
mentions the business-building program to<br />
be supervised by COMPO, especially its Audience<br />
Polls and Academy Awai-ds Sweepstakes<br />
phases, which it doubts have aided any but<br />
metropolitan key houses. It reports replies<br />
to regional questionnaires, all but one of which<br />
said that the phases were "a total failure so<br />
far as the subsequent run and small-town<br />
exhibitors are concerned." also takes note<br />
It<br />
of plans by Allied to conduct some form of<br />
contest of its own. Irving Dollinger is to report<br />
at the next meeting of the boai-d.<br />
The pamphlet reaches the following conclusion:<br />
• "Unfortunately, some salesmen, quite a<br />
few of them, in their zeal to collect dues for<br />
COMPO have advised exhibitors that if they<br />
belong to COMPO it is unnecessary to remain<br />
in or support the exhibitor associations. This<br />
would be bad under any circumstances; it is<br />
intolerable when it is considered that the exhibitor<br />
a.ssociations through their national<br />
affiliations are constituent members of<br />
COMPO—the masters and not the servants<br />
of that agency.<br />
ALLIED CLAIMS BACK SEAT<br />
• "COMPO will never function properly<br />
and in accordance with the intendment of<br />
its founders so long as it persists in going<br />
over the heads of the established exhibitor<br />
organizations, seeking to enlist the support of<br />
their members for projects about which they<br />
have not been consulted or which they oppose."<br />
The pamphlet is titled "Why Allied States<br />
Ass'n Is No Longer a Member of COMPO."<br />
After reviewing the organization of and need<br />
for COMPO, now "greater than ever before."<br />
Columbia Employes in Memorial to Jack Cohn<br />
.4. Montague, president of Will Rogers Hospital and a vice-president of Columbia,<br />
shows Mr,s. Jeannette Cohn. widow of the late Columbia executive, a picture of the<br />
sterilizer donated to the hospital by employes. Looking on are Lillian Stark, chairman<br />
of the fund-raising committee; Ralph Cohn, son of Jack and vice-president of<br />
Screen Gems, and A. Schneider, first vice-president and treasurer of Columbia.<br />
NEW YORK—The home office employes<br />
of Columbia and Screen Gems have donated<br />
a "Heinicke Typhoon Washer" to the Will<br />
Rogers Memorial Hospital in memory of the<br />
late Jack Cohn, co-founder and long-time<br />
executive vice-president.<br />
The presentation was made to A. Montague,<br />
president of the hospital and also Columbia<br />
it attributes Allied withdrawal to a failure to<br />
function according to original design. It<br />
blames COMPO for not supervising the antitoll<br />
TV campaign because of distribution opposition<br />
to such a campaign, and charges a<br />
•frittering away of COMPO's nest egg with<br />
no major projects in the work" when Allied<br />
withdrew in the fall of 1955.<br />
Steps toward reconciliation are described.<br />
Past statements by "apologists" for Robert<br />
W. Coyne and by "critics of Allied" that<br />
"Allied demands Coyne's scalp as the price<br />
of its re-entry into COMPO" are denied. It<br />
is stated that there is no opposition to the<br />
retention of Coyne as special counsel "if the<br />
proper steps were taken to confine his activities<br />
to projects authorized by the executive<br />
committee."<br />
As to reconciliation efforts in December<br />
1956, Allied states its position was as follows:<br />
• Conduct of COMPO to be immediately<br />
supervised by the president or triumvirate.<br />
vice-president, by Lillian Stark of the print<br />
department, who was chairman of the committee<br />
which collected the funds. Also attending<br />
the ceremony were Mrs. Jack Cohn;<br />
one of her sons, Ralph M. Cohn, president and<br />
general manager of Screen Gems, and A.<br />
Schneider, Columbia first vice-president and<br />
treasurer.<br />
A plaque mounted on the sterilizing unit, to<br />
be used in the hospital laboratory, reads:<br />
"Presented to Will Rogers Memorial Hospital<br />
by home office employes of Columbia Pictures<br />
Corp., in memory of our executive vicepresident<br />
and friend. Jack Cohn— 1957.<br />
• Coyne to have no authority except that<br />
delegated to him.<br />
• The president or triumvirate to watch<br />
expenditures and institute economies.<br />
• No dues collections by film salesmen in<br />
any area unless approved by the local exhibitor<br />
of<br />
organization.<br />
• When finances warrant, the employment<br />
an executive vice-president.<br />
• Allied would prefer a president, if a<br />
qualified industry figure will accept the post,<br />
but will accept continuation of the triumvirate.<br />
The pamphlet says that an AUied board<br />
meeting in February received a telegram<br />
from Samuel Pinanski, a member of the<br />
triumvirate, containing "fulsome praise" of<br />
Coyne, asserting that the present COMPO<br />
management should be continued and adding<br />
(Continued from page 10)<br />
BOXOFFICE :: June 15, 1957
From 20th CENTURY-FOX starring<br />
Eva Marie S.4!NT/Don MURRAY/Anthony FRANCIOSA/ Lloyd NOLAN/
SOON<br />
FROM<br />
20fh...<br />
anoffier<br />
greaf<br />
event<br />
in<br />
fhe<br />
year<br />
of fhe<br />
blockbusfers.'<br />
I'JDDYADLER/FRED ZINNEMANN/ MICHAEL VINCENTE GAZZO,ndALPRBD HAYES<br />
B««-H on Ihf PI thf Brc,adwa> Stage I
First New York Demonstration<br />
Of Telemeter in Mid-July<br />
System will be shown on a small scale in<br />
the Paramount home office, probably as a<br />
closed circuit hookup from one part of the<br />
building to another in order to point up how<br />
it operates; showings may last several days.<br />
Musicians Union Re-Elects<br />
James Petriilo As Head<br />
National convention of American Federation<br />
of Musicians in Denver renames leader<br />
for 18th time without opposition; other officers<br />
also renamed without opposition; 1.228<br />
delegates from 652 locals attend conclave.<br />
Philadelphia Theatre Men<br />
Gain and Lose in Court<br />
Judge Grim denies motion to dismiss antitrust<br />
action over extended special showings<br />
of "The Ten Commandments" but refuses to<br />
enjoin Paramount from continuing them;<br />
suggests distributors testify on reasonableness<br />
of proposed change in unusual clearance<br />
pattern,<br />
Three Censor Bills Face<br />
*<br />
Pennsylvania Solons<br />
Measures now before General Assembly,<br />
advanced by the Senate law and order committee;<br />
bills would not authorize blanket<br />
censorship, but a proposed board would review<br />
films on complaint.<br />
*<br />
RKO Foreign Revenue Is Up<br />
30 Per Cent Over 1956<br />
That is a good reason why reports that<br />
company will withdraw from foreign distribution<br />
are false. Thomas O'Neil, president, says<br />
on return from coproduction discussion in<br />
Europe.<br />
k<br />
Japan Unblocks $3,600,000<br />
Oi U.S. Picture Earnings<br />
Check received in New York at weekend<br />
drawn on reserve fund; will be split among<br />
MPEA companies in proportion to their contributions<br />
to the fund; $6,600,000 additional<br />
loaned Japan for electric power development.<br />
*<br />
MPEA Calls Representative<br />
From Philippines to N. Y.<br />
Lee Hochstetter to arrive Tuesday and present<br />
full report on the crucial business situation<br />
there, Ei-ic Johnston, president, says<br />
after Thursday board meeting; embargo on<br />
films to Spain reaffirmed,<br />
•<br />
J. Arthur Rank Is Elevated<br />
To the British Peerage<br />
Queen bestows honor on internationally<br />
known motion picture executive for his many<br />
public services; he becomes a baron with the<br />
title of lord and will sit in the Hou.se of<br />
Lords.<br />
Important Step by the MPAA<br />
Exhibitors, Independents<br />
To Code Appeals Board<br />
NEW YORK — The appeals board of the<br />
Production Code Administration will be en-<br />
Kirged to include exhibitor and independent<br />
producer representation. This decision was<br />
reached Thursday (13) at a meeting of the<br />
board of the Motion Picture Ass'n of America<br />
which al.so reaffirmed its strong support of<br />
tlie Code.<br />
The appeals board formerly consisted of<br />
ten members—Eric Johnston, MPAA president,<br />
and the nine MPAA directors. The as-<br />
.sociation now has decided to add "a matching<br />
number of members appointed from exhibition<br />
and from production outside the<br />
.MPAA membership." That will raise the<br />
total to 20.<br />
The new appeals procedure provides that<br />
any MPAA member refusing to abide by a<br />
decision of the appeals board faces expul-<br />
,
FIL]VI<br />
DISTRIBUTORS<br />
OF A]VIERICA, INC.<br />
Home Office: 729 Seventh Avenue, New York 19. N.Y. • JUdson •2-2950<br />
FIWIDA. MEMPHIS & CHARLOHE<br />
REGIONAL AND BRANCH SALES OFFICES<br />
ALBANY. BUFFALO & NEW HAVEN<br />
DALLAS<br />
OKUHOMA CITY & NEW ORLEANS<br />
SALT LAKE CITY, DES MOINES.<br />
OMAHA & KANSAS CITY<br />
Al Kolitz, Regior-<br />
2116 St<br />
Denver<br />
WASHINGTON<br />
presents]
.and<br />
. .<br />
From the front pages of the world . . . inspiring naval action steeped<br />
with diplomatic bluff. The terrier-like tactics of three little ships that<br />
spelled the death of a dark raider . . . and a rendezvous with destiny!<br />
PURSUIT OF THE GRAF SPEE<br />
JOHN GREGSON<br />
• ANTHONY QUAYLE • PETER FINCH<br />
A Colorful Masterpiece from the Team That Made "The Red Shoes" • VistaVision<br />
Color by Technicolor<br />
The true inside story of Scotland Yard's<br />
crime-busters. . the courageous<br />
women who live in constant fear every<br />
moment their men are on a case.<br />
THE THIRD KEY<br />
with JACK HAWKINS<br />
Delectable DIANA DORS and TV's genial "HEY<br />
JEANNIE" Carson rock you with a<br />
crazy mixed-up<br />
jamboree of jazz, jive and a jumbo-size hit parade<br />
of top tunes.<br />
AS LONG AS<br />
THEY'RE HAPPY<br />
'U3<br />
EASTMAN COLOR<br />
li o<br />
1-^<br />
I<br />
KENNETH<br />
MORE<br />
(Audiences loved him<br />
in<br />
In<br />
"Genevieve" and "Doctor<br />
The House")<br />
He laughed at life's touf<br />
breaks . . . yet with rar<br />
raw courage he le<br />
his gay, reckless pilots<br />
sky .<br />
winning battles in tl<br />
. . and women's hear<br />
on the grounc<br />
Rugged ANTHONY STEEL hides a savage secret in<br />
the mysterious burning sands of North Africa .<br />
ablaze with vivid splendor, torrid heat and violence.<br />
Bewitching new Italian beauty, ANNA MARIA SANORI<br />
S 2 5<br />
is the lovely Arab girl who flaunts the rigid code<br />
of the desert in<br />
THE BLACK TENT<br />
Color by Technicolor<br />
VistaVision<br />
ANTHONY STEEL and JAMES ROBERTSON JUSTICE in<br />
the fascinating behind-the-scenes stories of a great<br />
f'l)<br />
airport ... its romance, comedy, drama and spine-^/Jp;"-,\<br />
tingling suspense.<br />
\7Tk'.(<br />
OUTtVeCLOUDS<br />
winner from the man who deligtited you with 'The Lady-<br />
Killers,' 'The Cruel Sea" and 'The Lavender Hill Mob." • Eastman Color<br />
A human story that will lift up your<br />
heart ... put wings on your feet . . . fill<br />
your eyes with tears ... and then<br />
crack your funnybone! Sparked by the<br />
loyalty and wisdom of a wonderful<br />
wayward child . . .called<br />
JACQUELINE<br />
JOHN GREGSON and KATHLEEN RYAN<br />
^
. .<br />
.<br />
A handful of women and children relentlessly driven by fhe<br />
Japanese through the jungle of Malaya. Nevil Shute's<br />
world best-selling novel. Unforgettable, sun-searing journey,<br />
that separated the dream of love with a nightmare<br />
of terror.<br />
A TOWN LIKE ALICE<br />
starring VIRGINIA McKENNA and PETER FINCH<br />
=12 I<br />
Tough, taut, action-packed thrille<br />
timely as today's newspaper . . . expos<br />
ing the lational under<br />
TRIPLE<br />
DECEPTION<br />
Handsome, new screen idol Michael<br />
Craig mixes his gun-shot rough-housing<br />
with romancing of a lovely American<br />
charmer. VistaVision Color by Technicolor<br />
S e/> t ^ . >.•=<br />
'Bmm<br />
DIANA DORS ... the delectable morsel of torso .<br />
and TVs peach of a gal, "HEY JEANNIE" CARSON ,<br />
get all<br />
wrapped up with the preposterous perfect pet.<br />
AN ALLIGATOR<br />
NAMED DAISY<br />
..with JAMES ROBERTSON JUSTICE of "Doctor In<br />
The House" and the favorite of "My Fair Lady",<br />
STANLEY HOLLOWAY<br />
VistaVision.<br />
Color by Technicolor<br />
HAVE YOU HEARD ABOUT THE<br />
NEW DOCTOR IN THE HOUSE?<br />
Here's the lusty, love-happy<br />
answer thru the lively eyes of<br />
nurses. . . . They know their<br />
minds ... but not their hearts!<br />
THE GENTLE TOUCH<br />
Color by Technicolor<br />
A super-charged story 'mid the colorful<br />
scenic wonders of sunny Italy. A<br />
violent sequence of events. . casting<br />
its threatening shadows . . . tiighlighted<br />
by the world's most ttirilling<br />
international road race.<br />
CHECKPOI<br />
ANTHONY STEEL at the wheel<br />
and after the girls!<br />
EASTMAN COLOR<br />
^^<br />
'The<br />
From the best-selling novel by A. J. Cronin<br />
Against a violent background of a sensit<br />
gardener's friendship with the son of a<br />
lonely, jealous hearted Consul emerges a<br />
colorful, haunting classic ..<br />
brilliantly portrayed. ,. ^<br />
"^A<br />
SPANISH GARDENER<br />
starring DIRK BOGARDE<br />
VistaVision<br />
r by Technicolor .<br />
NOW IN<br />
PRODUCTION AT PINEWOOD STUDIOS<br />
ROD STEIGER 5 greatest starring role as the crooked<br />
financier who gambles with International intrigue.<br />
ACROSS THE BRIDGE<br />
by Graham Greene<br />
HELL DRIVERS<br />
The tough, action crammed story of truck drivers<br />
who ride with death ... for high stakes.<br />
Starring STANLEY BAKER, PEGGY CUMfvllNS and HERBERT LOM<br />
5q_ O<br />
!LLJ S<br />
GO oe<br />
HONY OOIIE STANLEY JAMES ROBERTSON<br />
EEL- VERSOIS- BAKER- JUSTICE ,n<br />
"CHECKPOINT''<br />
CRAIG -ARNALL-DEBANZIE- BATES ,n<br />
in Eastman Color<br />
"TRIPLE DECEPTION"<br />
Maurice Denham Michael Medwin<br />
Color by Technicolor VistaVision<br />
.<br />
Lee Patterson Paul Muller<br />
David Kossoff • Gerard Oury • Geoffrey Keen<br />
Original Screenplay by Robin Estridge<br />
Screenplay by Robert Buckner & Bryan Forbes<br />
'ntuctt by Betty E. Box Directed by Ralph Thomas PtaSucta - • by Vivian A. Co« Directed by Guy Green<br />
A Michael Balcon Producdon<br />
ANTHONY ROBERT OAVID MARGO<br />
STEEL- BEATTY- KNIGHT -LORENZio<br />
"OUT OF THE CLOUDS "Eastman color<br />
lames Robertson Justice Eunice Gayson Gordon Marker<br />
Produced i Oirecied by Michael Relph & Basil Dearden<br />
Asiociaie Producer Eric<br />
Williams<br />
Screenplay by John Eldridge & Michael Relph<br />
Made al Ealing Studios
and here to serve you-The RANK ORGANIZATION in AMERIC/<br />
r<br />
JOHN DE COSTA<br />
Branch Manager - Los Angeles
ARBITRATION OF AVAILABILITIES<br />
A MAJOR GOAL OF ALLIED UNITS<br />
Ohio-New England Units<br />
Want Traditional Patterns<br />
Of Clearances Assurred<br />
WASHINGTON—A pattern appeared to<br />
be forming this week on what Allied States<br />
Ass'n will be asking in the drafting of a<br />
film industry arbitration system.<br />
The big push, it now appears, will be on<br />
a provision dealing with availability of pictures.<br />
CALL FOR REGULATIONS<br />
At the convention of Independent Exhibitors.<br />
Inc.. the New England affiliate of Allied,<br />
and at a meeting of the board of directors of<br />
Independent Theatre Owners of Ohio, resolutions<br />
were adopted calling for regulatory provisions<br />
on the availability of pictures.<br />
New England exhibitors want the arbitration<br />
system to include arbitration of print<br />
problems which create delayed availabilities<br />
and the so-called merchandising engagements<br />
and other variations of the prereleasing practices<br />
which "ignore the historical availabilities<br />
of first and subsequent run theatres."<br />
The.se were two of four paints contained in<br />
a resolution on arbitration adopted at the<br />
convention of Independent ESihibitors, Inc.<br />
The convention urged Allied's representatives<br />
on the arbitration negotiations boai-d to<br />
seek "efficiency at low cost" with the system<br />
to be administered by members of the industry<br />
and not strangers to it.<br />
As to specific trade practices, in addition<br />
to the arbitration of print problems and prereleasing<br />
practices, the resolution asked that<br />
the plan permit the arbitration of the increase<br />
or decrease of length of clearances as<br />
well as establishment of new clearances.<br />
"And finally," voted the convention, it<br />
wanted an arbitration system which would<br />
"be fair and reasonable for all parties, enabling<br />
any exhibitor, distributor or producer<br />
to seek a peaceful solution to these problems."<br />
CITE A LACK OF PRINTS<br />
At the Ohio board meeting, the directors<br />
declaj-ed that lack of prints and other contributing<br />
factors to delayed availabilities<br />
"have completely upset the clearance pattern"<br />
in the state among subsequent run, smalltown<br />
and drive-in theatres.<br />
The directors sent their resolution to members<br />
of the national association's negotiating<br />
group.<br />
Krassner Now Supervising<br />
DeMille Film Group Sales<br />
NEW YORK—Ted Kras.^ner has been made<br />
supervisor of group .sales of "The Ten Commandments"<br />
by Charles Boasberg. head of<br />
worldwide sales of the Paramount picture,<br />
succeeding Oscar A. Morgan, now supervisor<br />
of re-release sales. Krassner will also continue<br />
as assistant to Boasberg and Morris<br />
Lefko, sales executive of the unit at Paramount.<br />
See Conciliation Plan<br />
Ready for Adoption<br />
NEW YORK— A formula for conciliation<br />
is expected to be adopted here next week<br />
when the industry's joint committee on arbitration<br />
and conciliation is scheduled to resume<br />
its meetings in the offices of the Motion<br />
Picture Ass'n of America on Monday (17i.<br />
The same group, with the po.ssible exception<br />
of Mitchell Wolfson of Miami, will be present.<br />
The conciliation drafting committee has<br />
been meeting periodically since the previous<br />
sessions recessed on May 15. This group<br />
consists of Herman Levy, general counsel of<br />
Theatre Owners of America: Adolph Schimel,<br />
general counsel of Universal and representing<br />
the distributors, and a representative of Allied<br />
States Ass'n.<br />
Distribution is showing particular interest<br />
in the plans for conciliation. As one sales<br />
manager said. "We see conciliation reducing<br />
the need for arbitration proceedings in many<br />
instances." He added that conciliatory<br />
measures could do a great deal in solving<br />
local problems of a minor nature, with arbitration<br />
being resorted to in handling major<br />
disagreements.<br />
The arbitration machinery committee, set<br />
up to formulate methods of procedure, will<br />
make a report to the over-all committee on<br />
its recommendations. The report had not been<br />
completed at the weekend because the committee<br />
members were awaiting certain legal<br />
clarifications, but it was expected that the<br />
report would be ready before the meetings<br />
ended. This committee consists of Joseph<br />
Alterman of TOA and Wilbur Snaper of<br />
Allied.<br />
Although it is expected that a conciliation<br />
plan will get off the ground at next week's<br />
conferences, hopes to solidify an arbitration<br />
plan are not so strong. However, it is believed<br />
that some headway will be made, with more<br />
meetings apparently necessary.<br />
One Clearance Case Goes to Court;<br />
And Another Suit Is Threatened<br />
Exhibitors, in group actions, this week took<br />
one controversy over availability to the courts<br />
and threatened to go to court on another.<br />
The court action, in Philadelphia, was a<br />
move by 11 exhibitors to force Paramount to<br />
send "The Ten Commandments" into release<br />
by way of established clearance patterns in<br />
the area. The threatened court step came<br />
from New Jersey Allied in a protest to a newclearance<br />
policy established in the state by<br />
20th Century-Fox.<br />
A Philadelphia Command<br />
H. Koff, A. M. Ellis Theatres Co., Main Line<br />
On "Ten Commandments"<br />
Theatres. Inc., 209 Drive-In Theatre Corp.<br />
PHILADELPHIA—Eleven theatre exhibi-<br />
and Downtown Amusement Co.<br />
tors have filed suit in district court for eastern<br />
district of Pennsylvania to enjoin Paramount<br />
Film Distributors Corp. from licensing<br />
"Tlie Ten Commandments" to five theatres<br />
at the conclusion of the film's 30-week run<br />
at the first run Randolph Theatre.<br />
Plaintiffs demand that tiie film be made<br />
available for key run exhibition 28 days after<br />
completion of the first run showing, in accordance<br />
with the usual distribution pattern<br />
for "key-run" theatres and that the defendant<br />
be enjoined from imposing an arbitrary<br />
clearance or executing a distribution plan as<br />
outlined in its letter of May 21 to key-run<br />
theatres.<br />
In the letter, Ulrik Smith, Paramount<br />
branch manager, pointed out that the company<br />
had decided to limit the picture to five<br />
theatres on a key-run basis and that competitive<br />
bids would determine the theatres.<br />
Plaintiffs claim that if the film is distributed<br />
through bidding, public interest in<br />
the film would be lessened, the exhibitors<br />
would suffer loss and damage, and the public<br />
would be deprived of seeing the film in<br />
theatres it normally patronizes.<br />
Plaintiffs were Fi'ied Management Co.,<br />
Harry L. Dembow, N. Herman Bornstein,<br />
Milton Amusements, Inc., William Goldman<br />
Theatres, Inc., Ridge Theatre Corp., Melvin<br />
N.J. Allied Threatens<br />
Suit Over Clearances<br />
NEW YORK- Allied Theatre Owners of<br />
New Jer.sey is considering court action over<br />
a new clearance policy by 20th Century-Fox.<br />
New^ Jersey Allied charged that 20th-Fox had<br />
moved up the clearances on drive-ins and<br />
some conventional theatre? in New Jersey,<br />
but had not granted the same improved clearances<br />
to its member theatres.<br />
Drive-in clearances were moved from 21<br />
days to 14 days and, for some hard-tops from<br />
14 days to ten days. However, it is claimed<br />
that many of the unit's member theatres<br />
are being kept at 21 days after first run.<br />
BOXOFFICE :: June 15, 1957<br />
15
STARRING - COStarring<br />
JAMES mm AUDIE MURPHY DAN<br />
DIANNEWTER ELAINE STEWART-BRANDON
NIGHTPASSAGE<br />
.r^^rov-o'"<br />
oio?.'<br />
«ith JAI U. iLll I Lll Music by DIMITRI TIOMKIN • A UNIVERSAL-INTERNATIONAL PICTURE if<br />
I AY n n IDDCIil<br />
Directed by JAMES NEILSON • Screenplay by BORDEN CHASE • Produced by AARON ROSENBERG<br />
-(& ov*v^^^'
$30,000,000 'Pride and Passion<br />
Gross Is<br />
Seen by Stanley Kramer<br />
NEW YORK—Two and a half years and<br />
$4,000,000 after Stanley Ki-amer started to<br />
prepare "The Pride and the Passion." the<br />
picture is about to take its place among the<br />
blockbusters of the era. And United Artists,<br />
which will distribute the production, has set<br />
aside another $2,000,000 for its promotion.<br />
Kj-amer. who spent 18 months in Spain<br />
filming the C. S. Forester novel, discussed<br />
its production and distribution plans with<br />
the trade press Friday (7). aided and abetted<br />
by George Schaefer, his business representative.<br />
Discussing the boxoffice potential of "The<br />
Pride and the Passion." Ki-amer said that in<br />
light of today's maa-ket for big pictures, it<br />
possible to anticipate a world gross of $30,-<br />
000.000 or more. If it rates as a "must see,"<br />
then it will approximate the gross for which<br />
he is looking.<br />
Schaefer said that early bookings would<br />
350 cities cover about selected in the United<br />
States and that the first engagements, following<br />
the simultaneous premieres in New York.<br />
Chicago and Los Angeles late this month,<br />
would be limited to cities with a population<br />
of 100.000 or more. All domestic engagements<br />
will be on a continuous run basis. Schaefer<br />
said there would be an advanced admission<br />
price policy in the special situations. The<br />
Capitol Theatre in New York will establish<br />
a $2.50 top, as will the Fox WiLshire in Los<br />
Angeles. The State Lake in Chicago will<br />
raise the price to $2.<br />
Kramer reported that almost $500,000 had<br />
been spent in advance publicity. To sustain<br />
is<br />
George Schaefer, left, and Stanley<br />
Kramer discuss "The Pride and the Passion"<br />
at a tradepress reception in New<br />
York last week.<br />
the impetus of the promotional drive, Kramer<br />
will make a tour of 12 or 13 cities, and Gary<br />
Grant, who costars in the film, will visit<br />
eight other cities.<br />
Kramer described his experiences with "The<br />
Pride and the Passion" as an "adventure in<br />
picture-making." A crew of 50 persons went<br />
to Spain eight months before the cameras<br />
started to roll. Seven thousand period military<br />
uniforms had to be made, plus thousands<br />
of other pieces of wardrobe. Shooting<br />
was in 38 locations and 78 tmcks, trailers<br />
and buses were utilized to transport the<br />
troupe.<br />
lost Audience Returns to Decatur;<br />
But They're Free-Loading 'Censors<br />
DECATUR. GA. — What constitutes a<br />
quorum of the Decatur Better Films Council?<br />
A fair question, says Fred G. Storey, and he<br />
asked the city council for an answer this<br />
week.<br />
Storey, a circuit operator, owns the Decatur<br />
Theatre here. When the city council<br />
established a better films committee to look<br />
into motion pictures on exhibition in the<br />
town, he offered no great objections. But<br />
when he counted as many as 45 persons in a<br />
single week representing themselves as members<br />
of the committee, he adopted a "no look"<br />
policy and announced his doors were closed<br />
to film council members.<br />
The city immediately charged Storey with<br />
hampering the work of the council, but the<br />
exhibitor came right back and said he couldn't<br />
afford to have his theatre filled with official<br />
picture-testers, many of whom were abusing<br />
the privilege of membership. If there's a lost<br />
audience in Decatur. Storey has regained it.<br />
but unfortunately they all seem to be on the<br />
free-loading list. The ordinance creating the<br />
committee authorized a membership of 33<br />
residents.<br />
Mrs. Thomas J. Gordon, chairman of the<br />
committee, told the city commission that her<br />
group could no longer'function because of the<br />
theatre's repeated refusal to let members<br />
enter unhampered. She said the city ordinance<br />
guarantees committee members "free<br />
access, anytime, anyplace where a film is<br />
exhibited."<br />
The ordinance regai'ding the Better Films<br />
Committee very plainly states that it is the<br />
committee's duty "to review the first showing<br />
of every motion picture." Storey contends<br />
that "the first showing" is when the picture<br />
is booked and exhibited for the first time at<br />
the Decatur Tlieatre.<br />
The committee interprets it to mean the<br />
"first .showing of each movie each evening."<br />
In addition to being refused admittance to<br />
the theatre, members of the committee were<br />
asked to fill out "detailed questionnaires."<br />
The cards were needed "in order to get a list<br />
of their names." said Storey. He added that<br />
no official listing of committee members was<br />
supplied him until last week. Mrs. Gordon<br />
said one member is assigned to attend the<br />
movie each day as the committee is interested<br />
in the conduct of children as well as the content<br />
of the motion picture.<br />
Storey charged that checking on the conduct,<br />
of children in the theatre had "nothing<br />
in the world to do with the ordinance which<br />
allowed the committee to screen pictures."<br />
French Add a Touch<br />
Of Gangsterism<br />
NEW YORK—The French haven't dropped<br />
their taste for the light, sexy movie yarn,<br />
but the new crop of motion pictures coming<br />
tiom the Gallic filmmakers contains a greater<br />
l)roportion of gangster and suspense stories<br />
than normal, and more tales on weird .sub-<br />
.jects.<br />
This is the word from the French Film Office<br />
here, established to spur interest in<br />
French film exhibition in this country.<br />
MANY STARS KNOWN IN U.S.<br />
In addition to the new subject interests,<br />
more than half of the 22 picture in production<br />
either have stars who are already familiar<br />
in the United States or are becoming<br />
known in this country through important art<br />
house films. These stars include Charles<br />
Boyer. Martine Carol. Mischa Auer. Brigitte<br />
Bardot. Rossana Podesta. Dany Robin. Martita<br />
Hunt. Jean Gabin. Vittoria de Sica and<br />
Daniel Gelin.<br />
"The Spies" ("Les Espions"), which deals<br />
with an asylum for the insane, was directed<br />
by H. G. Clouzot. who made "Diabolique,"<br />
and the British Martita Hunt, the German<br />
Curt Jurgens, the American Sam Jaffe and<br />
Vera Clouzot and Peter Ustinov, are starred.<br />
Luis Saslavsky directed "The She-Wolves"<br />
("Les Louves"t by the authors of "Diabolique."<br />
with Micheline Presle and Fi-ancois<br />
Perier; Denys de la Patelliere directed "Retour<br />
de Manivelle." a melodrama with Daniel<br />
Gelin and Peter Van Eyck; Yves Allegret directed<br />
"Watch Out. Little Girls" ("Mefiez-<br />
Vous Fillettes"), starring Antonella Lualdi<br />
and Robert Hossein; Christian- Jaque has<br />
"Nathalie" before the cameras with his wife.<br />
Maitine Carol, starred and Mischa Auer featured,<br />
and Henri Decoin is directing "Anyone<br />
Can Kill Me" r'Tous Peuvent me Tuer")<br />
with Anouk Aimee. Peter Van Eyck and<br />
Eleanora Rossi-Drago—all of these are in<br />
the gangster or suspense category.<br />
OTHERS IN PRODUCTION<br />
Other French films in production include<br />
"Blonde Smoke" ("Fumee Blonde"), a comedy directed<br />
by Robert Vernay; "La Bigorne, Corporol of<br />
France " starring Rossana Podesta and Francois<br />
Perier' "Strip Tease Follies," a musical with Philippe<br />
Nicaud and Dora Doll; "Ostrich Eggs" ("Les Oeufs de<br />
L'Autriche ') with Pierre Fresnay and Simone Renant;<br />
"He's Crozy" ("II Est Fou"), a_ comedy with Roger<br />
Pierre; "Three Days to Live'<br />
a detective drama with Danif<br />
'Les Miserables,"<br />
starnn Jean Gabin, Bourvi<br />
anielle Delorme;<br />
"Love Is at Stake" (" mour Est en Jeu") produced<br />
by Marc Allgret wi Robert Lamoreux starred;<br />
"Eight Won<br />
lack" ("Huit Femmes en Noir"),<br />
a detective<br />
ith Elina Lobourdefte and Christer<br />
just signed by 20th Century-<br />
Fox for "A Certain Smile"; "The Mon Who'll Die<br />
Tomorrow" ("L'Homme Qui Mourra Demoin"), with<br />
Dany Robin and George Marchal.<br />
Also "Give Me My Chance" ("Donnez-Moi Mo<br />
Chonce"), a comedy with Nodine Tallier; "The Blonde<br />
of the Tropics" ("La Blonde Des Tropiques") with<br />
Ceha Cortez; "The Breath of Passion" ("Le Souffle du<br />
Desir"), a drama with Jacques Castellol; "Three Sailors<br />
on a Spree" ("Trois Marines en Bordee"),^ o<br />
comedy with Pierre Stephen; "The Girl of Fire" ("La<br />
Fille de Feu") an odventure film with Erno Cnso;<br />
"Goho," an adventure film; "The Parisienne," a<br />
comedy with Brigitte Bardot, Charles Boyer and<br />
Henri Vidal; "More Dead Than Alive" ("Plus Mort<br />
Que Vif") a drama with Philippe Lemaire; "Casino<br />
De Paris," a musicol comedy with Coterina Volente,<br />
popular recording star, and Vit<br />
"Living Water" ("L'Eau Vive"), a<br />
Audret.<br />
Soon to start are: "Boiling Pot" ("Pot Bouille"),<br />
to be directed by Julien Duvivier, starring Gerard<br />
Phihpe, just bock from his U. S. visit, ond Dannielle<br />
Darrieux; and a feature film anthology, "The Stors<br />
Never Die," with great Gallic actors of the recent<br />
past, including Roimu, Louis Jouvet, Harry Baur,<br />
Marguerite Moreno and Jules Berry.<br />
ith<br />
Pa<br />
BOXOFFICE June 15, 1957
i.. ana s^ntaa/ii^Ud^kedd in Salt Lake City,<br />
Boston, Baton Rouge, Biloxi, Savannah<br />
pil^in first openings everywhere !<br />
»nafring<br />
UNIVERSAL- INTERNATIONAL<br />
^)eSS^^mSiL<br />
presents<br />
lAMMYand the BACHELOR<br />
TECHNICOLORS<br />
IF^IIFNIFI^FN • WAITFR RRFNNAM mala POWERSSIDNEY BLACKMERMILDRED NATWICK«.Fa Wr<br />
LLuLlL lllLLuLli linU Lll UllLnilnll d«c«»,joseph pevney-sc^^^^oscar brodney.^«««*,ro5S huntef
Ben Hur to Be MGM's Nexf Film<br />
To Get Camera 65 Treatment<br />
A trio of BOXOFFICE executives at the tradepress conference called by Joseph<br />
K. Vogel, Loews president to outline company production plans. Left to right:<br />
Donald Mersereau, associate publisher and general manager of BOXOFFICE; Vogel;<br />
Ben Shlyen, publisher of BOXOFFICE; Al Steen, eastern editor; and Charles M.<br />
Reagan. Loew's vice-president and general sales manager.<br />
NEW YORK—"Ben Hur" will be the next<br />
MGM pictm-e to be produced in the company's<br />
Camera 65 process, following the release of<br />
"Raintree County." President Joseph R.<br />
Vogel and Charles M. Reagan, vice-president<br />
and general sales manager, announced at a<br />
press conference that "Ben Hur" would go<br />
into production early next year in Africa<br />
and Italy.<br />
Camera 65 was used for the fii-st time in<br />
the production of "Raintree County," which<br />
was produced at a cost of $6,000,000, and will<br />
be made available in the print size best<br />
adaptable to a particular theatre. Theatres<br />
now equipped for Todd-AO may prasent the<br />
picture without any additional equipment. It<br />
also can be exhibited in CinemaScope under<br />
NSS to Handle MGM's<br />
Trailers After Sept. 1<br />
New York—MGM will discontinue the<br />
production and distribution of its own<br />
trailers and beginning September 1,<br />
trailers for all of the company's releases<br />
will be handled by National Screen<br />
Service. MGM started the making of its<br />
own trailers about 15 years ago.<br />
Charles Reagan, vice-president and<br />
general sales manager, said the move<br />
was made after careful consideration of<br />
the best interests of MGM's customers<br />
and the company.<br />
"Our decision is the result of a consensus<br />
of opinion here that the step is in<br />
line with the economics of our business<br />
today," Reagan said. "Therefore, we believe<br />
it only logical that we avail ourselves<br />
of the facilities of National Screen<br />
Ser\'ice for the most practical trailer<br />
distribution<br />
to our customers, particularly<br />
since we are satisfied that its<br />
be maintained."<br />
quality will<br />
the same arrangement.<br />
However, the picture<br />
is said to be best suited for the PhiUips projectors,<br />
manufactured by the Dutch industrial<br />
concern.<br />
"Raintree County" was acquired by MGM<br />
about ten years ago when the novel won first<br />
prize in a contest sponsored by the company<br />
which paid $250,000 for the rights. The book<br />
became a best seller and a Book of the Month<br />
Club selection. The picture will be introduced<br />
first on a roadshow, advanced admission<br />
price policy. It will open fii'st in New<br />
York. Chicago, Los Angeles, Boston, Philadelphia<br />
and San Francisco following its<br />
world premiere in Louisville late in September.<br />
Publicity penetration has been effective,<br />
according to Si Seadler, advertising manager,<br />
and Dan Terrell, publicity manager, with national<br />
magazine breaks during production<br />
and many more keyed to the forthcoming<br />
openings. A national campaign will follow<br />
the<br />
premieres.<br />
Adults, Young People<br />
Rating to 11 Features<br />
NEW YORK—No films are rated as family<br />
entertainment of 14 reviewed in the June 1<br />
listing of estimates of the Film Estimate<br />
Board of National Organizations. It has been<br />
a considerable time since there has not been<br />
at least one family film listed.<br />
Eleven are rated for adults and young<br />
people. They are: "Bail Out at 43,000" (UAi,<br />
"Beyond Mombasa" (Col), "Break in the<br />
Circle" (20th-Foxi, "The Garment Jungle"<br />
(Coll, "The Iron Sheriff" (UA), "The Lonely<br />
Man" (Parai, "Sierra Stranger" (Col),<br />
"Something of Value" (MGMi, "The Way<br />
to the Gold" (20th-Fox), "Fury at Showdown"<br />
(UA) and "War Drums" (UAi.<br />
Three are rated for adults. They are: "The<br />
Burglar" (Col), "The Little Hut" (MGMi<br />
and "Untamed Youth" (WB),<br />
Sindlinger Predicts<br />
30% Boxoifice Rise<br />
WINCHENDON. MASS. — Business thi.s<br />
summer will be astronomical, and "there is a<br />
30 per cent increase in grosses right around<br />
the corner for you to grab," Albert Sindlinger,<br />
industry analyst, cheerfully predicted at the<br />
convention here last week of Independent<br />
Exhibitors, Inc., the New England arm of<br />
Allied States Ass'n.<br />
"We have never known the kind of success<br />
which is ahead of us," he said.<br />
He warned the theatremen that they had<br />
better learn the "chemistry" of why some<br />
people go to the movies and some do not. The<br />
same goes for producers and distributors, he<br />
said.<br />
"Don't blame it all on television. Whatever<br />
TV does in the future, it will never take the<br />
place of a darkened theatre. There is a difference<br />
between sitting in a living room<br />
watching a box and sitting in a darkened<br />
theatre where a patron can be easily 'personally-identified'<br />
by the actors and actresses<br />
on the screen."<br />
One of the main reasons for Sindlinger's<br />
conviction that there will be a big spurt in<br />
movie interest and attendance this summer<br />
is the public's disillusionment with old movies<br />
on TV.<br />
"Many patrons who do not patronize the<br />
theatre often have been remembering the<br />
films they saw years ago as being tops. When<br />
they see them again on television, they<br />
realize how much pictures have improved<br />
over the years. This all adds up to more interest<br />
in current films."<br />
Columbia's 39-Week Net<br />
Off From Prior Period<br />
NEW YORK—Columbia Pictures' net earnings<br />
for the 39 weeks ended March 30 dropped<br />
$351,000 from the company's profit in the corresponding<br />
39 weeks of the previous year.<br />
The net profit for the last 39 weeks was<br />
$1,504,000, while the profit for the same period<br />
ended March 31, 1956, was $1,855,000, the per<br />
share earnings being $1.18 and $1.49, respectively.<br />
The net profit before taxes in the two<br />
periods was $2,858,000 and $3,314,000, respectively,<br />
while estimated federal, state and<br />
foreign taxes for the respective periods were<br />
$1,354,000 and $1,459,000.<br />
The earnings per share of common stock<br />
after preferred stock dividends, for both the<br />
current and prior years, were based on the<br />
1.122,800 shares which were outstanding on<br />
March 30 of this year.<br />
Special 'Tammy' Promotion<br />
NEW YORK—Special promotional material<br />
on "Tammy and the Bachelor." Universal-<br />
International film, has been gotten out by<br />
Arthur H. DeBra of the community relations<br />
department of the Motion Picture Ass'n of<br />
America. It is being mailed to many civic<br />
organizations.<br />
Color TV Test Successful<br />
MILWAUKEE— Sales of color television<br />
sets increased by almost 800 per cent in this<br />
city during a five-week "Carnival of Color"<br />
designed as a test for a nationwide color TV<br />
promotion campaign, according to the Radio<br />
Corp. of America.<br />
BOXOFFICE
Oklahoma Vandals Law<br />
Brings Early Results<br />
Oklahoma f ity—The new state law<br />
which makes parents liable for damage<br />
caused by their minor children—in force<br />
for less than two weeks—has already<br />
been successfully enforced. E. K. Slocuni.<br />
director of Cnited Theatre Owners of<br />
Oklahoma, in a bulletin to members reported<br />
that the first payoff was made<br />
this week to an Oklahoma City theatre.<br />
Two boys did a lot of destructive damage<br />
to the theatre and when the parents<br />
were confronted with the new law and a<br />
bill from the management, they immediately<br />
paid for the damage in full,<br />
Slocum said he understood a similar<br />
bill in Michigan has reduced vandalism<br />
by minors by about 50 per cent.<br />
Dinner Honoring Montague<br />
To Be Attended by 1,200<br />
NEW YORK—Twelve hundred member.s ol<br />
the industry and leader.s in medical and civic<br />
fields are expected to attend the A. Montague-<br />
Will Rogers Hospital testimonial dinner<br />
Wednesday il9) at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel.<br />
The dinner will recognize the many years of<br />
contribution.s by Montague, president of the<br />
hcspital. to the woi-k of the hospital and its<br />
research laboratories. There will be a gala<br />
program of entertainment.<br />
Harry Brandt, general chairman of the<br />
event, has reported acceptances from the following;<br />
Charles A. Alicoate, Rrchard W. Alfschuler, Robert<br />
S. Benjamin, Jock Beresen, Richard Brandt, Jackie<br />
Bright, Robert W. Coyne, George F. Dembow, Ned E.<br />
Depinet, Russell V. Downing, Gus S- Eyssell, Charles<br />
J. Feldmon, Alan Freedman, William Goxton, William<br />
J. Germon, Leonard H. Goldenson, Maurice Goldstein,<br />
Julius M. Gordon, Abel Green.<br />
Also, Roy Homes, Alex Harrison, William J. Hetneman,<br />
J. Robert Hoff, Rube Jockter, Leo Jaffee, Horry<br />
M. Kalmine, Paul N. Lazarus |r., Mrs. Margie Lewis,<br />
Arthur L. Mayer, Dr. Edgar Mayer, Joseph A. McConville,<br />
Robert Mochrie, William Morris jr., Jomes Mulvey,<br />
John J. O'Connor, R. J. O'Donnell, E. K. O'sheo,<br />
David V. Picker, Somuel Pmanski, Mortin Quigley jr.<br />
Also, Milton R. Rackmil, Walter Reade jr., Charles<br />
M. Reagan, Som Rinzler, Herman Robbins, John H.<br />
Rowley, Ben Shiyen, A. Schneider, A. W. Schwolberg,<br />
Fred J. Schwortz, Sol A. Schwartz, Harold Sharp,<br />
Ned Shugrue, M. A. Silver, Noble Sissle, Ernest 6.<br />
Sfellings, Morton Sunshine, Som Switow, James R<br />
Velde, Richard F. Walsh ond Murray Weiss.<br />
Harold Raives Is Dead;<br />
Schine's Chief Booker<br />
GLOVERSVILLE. N. Y. - Harold Raive.s,<br />
55, chief booker and head of the Cleveland<br />
office for Schine's Ohio and Kentucky theatres,<br />
died of a heart attack Sunday (9).<br />
He had been with Schine Circuit for 20<br />
years in variou.s capacities as theatre manager,<br />
New York state booker and Kentucky<br />
division manager. Prior to his affiliation<br />
with Schine he operated theatres with his<br />
father in New York City and upper New York<br />
state.<br />
Burial was Tuesday from McDaniers<br />
Funeral Home. Cleveland.<br />
Romantic Film Is Titled<br />
NEW YORK—The 20th Century-Fox romance<br />
with music starring Pat Boone and<br />
Shirley Jones will have the title of "April<br />
Love." Production in Cinemascope and De<br />
Luxe Color wUl start later this month in<br />
Kentucky, with Heniy Levin directing.<br />
N. J. Allied Members Report:<br />
'Modernization Held Back<br />
By High Film Rentals<br />
A Survey Is<br />
Held on Current Theatre Problems<br />
NEW YORK—New Jersey exhibitors reported<br />
this week that they do not keep their<br />
theatres a.s modern as they would like, and<br />
they blame high film rentals for their failure<br />
to keep up appearances.<br />
Ninety- eight per cent of theatres run by<br />
members of Allied Theatre Owners of New<br />
Jersey, in a survey just completed, said that<br />
the big bite taken by rentals was the chief<br />
cause for the lower housekeeping standards.<br />
The statewide study was based on a 90 per<br />
cent return of questionnaires, in which exhibitors<br />
were asked for information on a<br />
great variety of problems and operational<br />
procedures.<br />
Despite reported cutbacks on operating in<br />
smaller situations, 90 per cent of the theatres<br />
are open seven days a week. Most of the<br />
theatres—80 per cent—go after kiddie business<br />
by staging matinees as a regular Saturday<br />
afternoon policy. As for late shows, 95<br />
per cent said these were unprofitable and<br />
out. Five per cent classified their theatres as<br />
class houses. 20 per cent as commercial-industrial,<br />
25 per cent as industrial. 15 per cent<br />
residential, and 10 per cent resort.<br />
The big majority agreed that the best boxoffice<br />
days wei-e, in the following order: Saturday,<br />
Sunday. Friday. Wednesday. Tuesday,<br />
Monday and Thursday.<br />
Ninety-one per cent reported gross admissions<br />
up nine per cent over the last quarter<br />
but attendance down 11 per cent. As for the<br />
print situation. 92 per cent claimed it was<br />
getting worse. As for print quality, repwrts<br />
were evenly divided on its being no worse<br />
and becoming poorer. Sales drives were not<br />
approved of by 92 per cent, but 78 per cent<br />
have supported them.<br />
Children's admissions ranged from 20 to<br />
35 cents, with by far the most of them at 25<br />
cents. Adult matinee admissions ranged from<br />
100% Exhibitor Backing<br />
For TV Film<br />
Clearance<br />
New York—New Jersey .Allied members<br />
are 100 per cent for a clearance system<br />
for feature films released for home viewing.<br />
In addition, 96 per cent of the exhibitors,<br />
answering an N. J. .\llied questionnaire,<br />
said they believed that the release<br />
of old films to television will become<br />
increasingly damaging to them.<br />
On the question of television shows<br />
produced by major film companies. 95 per<br />
cent felt the producers were doing themselves<br />
more harm than good. ,\s for TV<br />
appearances by movie stars, 75 per cent<br />
of the exhibitors favored appearances of<br />
top ranking players to plug their pictures,<br />
but 8,T per cent were opposed to their<br />
going on dramatic or musical shows.<br />
25 to 75 cents, with the great majority of<br />
them at 40 cents. Adult evening admissions<br />
ranged from 30 to 90 cents, with the vast<br />
majority at 65 cents. Sundays and holidays<br />
ranged from 30 to 90 cents, with most at 75<br />
cents. Eight per cent had teenage admissions.<br />
On the subject of advertising, 82 per cent<br />
felt there should be less national and more<br />
local-level advertising by distribution, 82 per<br />
cent felt that television ads have helped the<br />
boxoffice, 90 per cent i-eported adversely on<br />
radio ads and seven per cent reported the<br />
use of window cards.<br />
Commenting on newspapers, 95 per cent<br />
believed them unfair in their "theatre versus<br />
television policy." Fifty per cent of the New<br />
Jersey papers have TV on the same page and<br />
65 per cent give TV time schedules but not<br />
theatre times. Only 40 per cent have Sunday<br />
papers. Forty per cent felt that the day before<br />
opening was the best day to advertise,<br />
and 60 per cent voted for the day of opening.<br />
As for trailei's, 95 per cent use them and<br />
72 per cent use talking trailers. National<br />
Screen Service supplied 93 per cent of them.<br />
Television was rated the chief competition<br />
by 98 per cent of those reporting. Next came<br />
"better runs than their own" with 70 per cent,<br />
local sporting events with 50 per cent, and<br />
lower admission prices with 22 per cent.<br />
Others mentioned were bingo, evening schools,<br />
a lack of parking space and no baby sitters.<br />
Under the heading of refreshments, cola<br />
drinks were reported the most popular. Ten<br />
cents was charged by 75 per cent of the exhibitors<br />
and five cents by 25 per cent. Popcorn<br />
was sold by 98 per cent, with 70 per cent<br />
selling ten-cent bags and 30 per cent selling<br />
15-cent bags. Ice cream was sold by 85 per<br />
cent. The best seller was chocolate covered<br />
stick. Other sales w-ere as follows: frankfurters,<br />
two per cent: cigarets, 21 per cent:<br />
nuts, four per cent: chewing gum, five pei<br />
cent:. Seventy-five per cent of the exhibitors<br />
used a theatre concessionaii-e. The remainder<br />
operated their own stands. Only 50 pcicent<br />
approved candy prices of six and 12<br />
cents as oppo.sed to five and ten cents.<br />
A three-day convention was favored by 81<br />
per cent, with 75 per cent voting for the<br />
Concord Hotel at Lake Kiamesha, N, Y.. 20<br />
per cent for Atlantic City and five per cent<br />
for Now York<br />
N.J. Exhibitors Re-elect<br />
Stern and Dollinger<br />
NEW YORK -Sidney Stern was re-elected<br />
president of Allied Theatre Owners of New<br />
Jeisey Tuesday (111 and Irving Dollinger was<br />
continued as board chairman. Other officers<br />
elected are Howard Herman and John Harwan.<br />
vice-presidents: A. Louis Martin, treasurer,<br />
and Richard D. Turteltaub. secretai-y.<br />
The other directors ai'e Henry Brown. Petei-<br />
Adams. Dan 'Buddy" Sheer and John Fioravanti.<br />
June 15. 1957
FEATURE REVIEW<br />
The touch of West Indies color in "Island in tlic s<br />
'Island in the Sun<br />
20th Century-Fox<br />
By FRANK LEYENDECKER<br />
TN HIS first independent production for<br />
20th Century-Fox release, Darryl F.<br />
Zanuck again has tackled courageously a<br />
controversial subject dealing with racial<br />
problems—and given it a lavish production,<br />
magnificent camerawork and a top-flight<br />
cast to insure boxoffice success.<br />
Alec Waugh's novel about the human relationships<br />
between white and colored people<br />
in the British West Indies was a best-seller<br />
and this faithful picturization should create<br />
as much new.spaper comment and audience<br />
discussion as did Zanuck's "Pinky," "The<br />
Snake Pit" and "Gentleman's Agreement" of<br />
a few yeai's back. With a cast headed by Harry<br />
Belafonte, currently the nation's biggest<br />
night club and T'V attraction, as well as top<br />
recording artist, plus Dorothy Dandridge of<br />
"Carmen Jones" fame and the marquee value<br />
of James Mason, Joan Fontaine and Joan<br />
Collins, it should do smash business— except<br />
in certain parts of the South, where legislation<br />
and many exhibitors are against films<br />
showing colored people mixing with whites.<br />
However, the resultant newspaper publicity<br />
may increase interest in the picture in other<br />
parts of the country.<br />
Actually, Director Robert Rossen has shown<br />
no romantic clinches between the two mixed<br />
couples in the story—the handsome West Indian.<br />
Harry Belafonte, and the blonde Joan<br />
Fontaine and the dark-skinned Dorothy Dandi-idge<br />
and the British John Justin. The<br />
first two decide to remain apart, but the<br />
others take a chance on finding happiness<br />
together back in England. Rossen has handled<br />
these relationships splendidly so that only a<br />
few inordinately hard-shelled patrons might<br />
object.<br />
In addition to these two romances, the<br />
screenplay by Alfred Hayes includes two<br />
more sub-plots—an estate owner who is insanely<br />
jealous of his young wife, and the<br />
governor's visiting son who is attracted to a<br />
wealthy young resident—but Rossen keeps the<br />
many story skeins disentangled and maintains<br />
audience interest throughout the twohour<br />
film.<br />
In Zanuck's own words, this is "a bold<br />
picture on an unorthodox subject" but, primarily,<br />
it is a tremendously colorful and<br />
beautifully scenic film made on an island in<br />
the British West Indies, where F. A. Young's<br />
Cinemascope and De Luxe Color photography<br />
creates striking views of the 'wide beaches,<br />
the tropical fruit and flowers, the wharfsides<br />
and the sugar cane fields, as well as street<br />
scenes crowded with natives in a carnival<br />
mood. As "Three Coins in the Fountain"<br />
boosted tourist trade to R«me, so this will<br />
increase travel to the West Indies.<br />
Although James Mason and Joan Fontaine<br />
are both long-standing marquee names, it is<br />
Harry Belafonte who will incite the greatest<br />
audience excitement. He gives a convincing<br />
portrayal of a self-made, politically ambitious<br />
West Indian, not a particularly sympathetic<br />
role, but his fans will be grateful that he<br />
sings the title tune (his own composition)<br />
over the screen credits and a Calypso chant<br />
during the action. Dorothy Dandridge also<br />
turns in a nice acting job as the educated<br />
native girl.<br />
Joan Collins has a more colorful and di'amatic<br />
role than does Miss Fontaine, but both<br />
are capable enough even if a lovely and<br />
promising newcomer, Patricia Owens, will<br />
attract more audience attention and the<br />
regally handsome Diana Wynyard contributes<br />
the most inmpressive histrionic moments.<br />
Mason is excellent, as always, and such stalwart<br />
British actors as Michael Rennie, John<br />
Williams, Basil Sydney, John Justin and<br />
Ronald Squire are perfectly cast.<br />
But, again<br />
Twentieth Century-Fox<br />
by arrangement with Darryl f. Zanuck Producpresents<br />
"ISLAND IN THE SUN"<br />
Running time: 119 minutes<br />
CREDITS<br />
Produced by Darryl F. Zonuck. Directed by<br />
Robert Rossen. Screenplay by Altred Hayes. From<br />
the novel by Alec Wough. Music, Malcolm Arnold<br />
conducting the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.<br />
Director of F. photography, A. Young. Second<br />
unit photography, John Wilcox. Art director, William<br />
C. Andrews. Film editor, Reginald Beck.<br />
Production managers, John Palmer, Ernest Holding,<br />
Assistant director, Gerry O'Hora. Continuity,<br />
Margaret Shipway. Costume designer, David<br />
Ftolkes. Cinemascope lenses by Bausch & Lomb.<br />
Color by De Luxe.<br />
THE CAST<br />
Fleury Maxwell James Mason<br />
Mavis Joan Fontaine<br />
Margot s'eafon Dorothy Dandridge<br />
Jocelyn Joan Collins<br />
Hilary Michael Rennie<br />
Corsor%<br />
Mrs. Fleury Diana Wynyard<br />
Colonel Whittingham John Williams<br />
Euan Templeton Stephen Boyd<br />
Sylvia Patricia Owens<br />
Julian Fleury Basil Sydney<br />
David Archer John Justin<br />
The Governor Ronald Squire<br />
Brodshaw Hartley Power<br />
Dovid Boyeur Harry Belofonte<br />
it is another newcomer, the ruggedly handsome<br />
Stephen Boyd, who will win the most<br />
attention from the feminine patrons.<br />
The story is laid on a small West Indies<br />
i.sland where the politically ambitious<br />
native. Harry Belafonte, is scorned by James<br />
Mason, an arrogant land-owner, who decides<br />
to run against him in the local elections.<br />
Mistakenly jealous of his young wife. Patricia<br />
Owens, Mason murders an Englishman. Mason's<br />
sister-in-law, Joan Fontaine, becomes<br />
romantically interested in Belafonte whUe<br />
Mason's sister, Joan Collins, falls in love with<br />
Stephen Boyd, the governor's son, before she<br />
suspects she has colored ancestry. Some of<br />
these romances are resolved happily, but<br />
Belafonte convinces Joan Fontaine that they<br />
should not fight racial prejudice.<br />
'Cinerama-South Pacific'<br />
To Be Next in Medium<br />
NEW YORK — "Cinerama-South Pacific"<br />
will be the next Cinerama production under<br />
a deal concluded Tuesday (11) by Nathaniel<br />
Lapkin. first vice-president of Stanley Warner<br />
Corp.. and Carl Dudley, president of Dudley<br />
Pictures Corp. Pioduction started Wednesday<br />
(121 in Hawaii.<br />
According to Lapkin, this will be the most<br />
ambitious Cinerama picture to date. It has<br />
a five-month shooting schedule. A 26-man<br />
production crew, on board the 140-foot<br />
schooner Te Vega, will traverse the course<br />
charted by Captain Cook in his voyages of<br />
discovery. It will make landings in Tahiti,<br />
Samoa, the New Hebrides, Australia and New<br />
Zealand.<br />
In preparation of the script, Dudley, who<br />
covered 67 countries with a camera, has under<br />
development a series of "audience participation"<br />
sequences unlike anything hitherto<br />
presented by Cinerama, Lapkin said.<br />
Walter Thompson, one of the directors of<br />
"This Is Cinerama" and "Seven Wonders of<br />
the World," will be associated with Dudley<br />
on the directorial side. Richard Goldstone<br />
will be associated with the production.<br />
Hecht-Hill-Lancaster Co.<br />
Signs Sir Carol Reed<br />
NEW YORK—Sir Carol Reed will direct<br />
three pictures for Hecht-Hill-Lancaster<br />
tlrrough a contract just signed. The first<br />
be "The Rock Cried Out," based on the<br />
will<br />
Ray Bradbury story, which will be made<br />
later in the year for United Artists release.<br />
Bradbury is in London working with Reed<br />
on the .screenplay.<br />
The second will be "Kimberly," a story of<br />
the African diamond mines based on the<br />
Robert W. Krepps novel, "Tell It on the<br />
Drums." Philip Yordan is doing the screenplay.<br />
That will also be a UA release.<br />
The third film will be based on an original<br />
idea suggested by Reed. The action<br />
takes place in five countries, including the<br />
U. S.. and the film will be shot in the actual<br />
locales.<br />
Helen Morgan Film Retitled<br />
NEW YORK—"Both Ends of the Candle"<br />
has been set as the final title for "The Helen<br />
Morgan Story," the forthcoming Warner<br />
Bros, picture starring Ann Blyth as the<br />
famous singer. Paul Newman and Richard<br />
Carlson are costarred and Rudy Vallee and<br />
Walter Winchell make guest appearances in<br />
the picture which was directed by Michael<br />
Curtiz.<br />
22<br />
BOXOFFICE June 15, 1957
STELLINGS HAILS NEW SPIRIT<br />
OF HARMONY WITHIN INDUSTRY<br />
Applauds Distribution Aid<br />
To Distressed Theatres;<br />
Sees Arbitration a Fact<br />
OLD POINT COMFORT, VA. — 'T am<br />
happy to tell you today that the attitude<br />
and feeling which<br />
exist in oiu' industiy<br />
is probably<br />
the most harmonious,<br />
most progressive<br />
and most coopeiative<br />
it has<br />
ever been," Ernest<br />
G Stellings, president<br />
of Theatre<br />
Owneis of America<br />
told the annual<br />
convention of the<br />
Vuginia Theatre<br />
Owners Ass'n at<br />
the Chamberlain<br />
„. Hotel Wednesday<br />
^ ^,^<br />
Ernest Stellings ^.„^<br />
Stellings also credited distribution through<br />
TOA with having aided several hundred<br />
distressed small-town theatres. He repeated<br />
his backing of an arbitration and conciliation<br />
system within the industry and discussed the<br />
business-building program.<br />
SPIRIT OF CONFIDENCE NEEDED<br />
"When I was elected president eight months<br />
ago," Stellings said, "we recognized that the<br />
chasm between exhibition and distribution<br />
was widening week by week, all for no apparent<br />
good sound reason. It was our belief<br />
that before we could accomplish too much<br />
for the benefit of the industry in general,<br />
and exhibition in particular, it would be<br />
necessary to bring all segments of the industry<br />
closer together in a spirit of harmonious<br />
confidence.<br />
"Even I do not know just how this was<br />
accomplished, except that through friendly<br />
contacts with distribution executives they<br />
were convinced that TOA was unselfish, determined<br />
and completely desirous of working<br />
with the entire industry in an effort to bring<br />
about an all-out cooperative effort to attack<br />
the problems confronting us. We exhibitors<br />
are exceedingly grateful to all those who assisted<br />
us. because without all segments of the<br />
industry working together nothing could be<br />
accomplished. This was the first step in the<br />
TOA program adopted in September 1956."<br />
TOA PLAYS A ROLE<br />
Stellings went on to say that TOA had<br />
been engaged in an activity which, while<br />
important, had had little publicity.<br />
"With the shortage of product and the demands<br />
for higher terms and longer playing<br />
time," he said, "many small-town theatres<br />
have been squeezed to the point where they<br />
were ready to throw in the towel and forget<br />
our business. In my earlier meetings with distribution<br />
officials, the dire need of these<br />
small-town exhibitors was brought to their<br />
attention.<br />
"I was convinced that this industry could<br />
Business-Building Radio<br />
Tests to Start July I<br />
NEW YORK—The first tests of the radio<br />
phase of the industi-y's business-building<br />
campaign are expected to get under way July<br />
1 in Rochester, N. Y., and Denver. In the<br />
former city an exhibitor committee has already<br />
been formed to work in cooperation<br />
with the advertising-publicity directors committee<br />
of the Motion Picture Ass'n of America.<br />
The same progress is expected within<br />
a few days in Denver where, because it is a<br />
di.stribution center, it is expected there will<br />
also be a distribution committee.<br />
Rodney Bush of 20th Century-Fox has already<br />
completed the Rochester arrangements.<br />
Herb Steinberg of Paramount will leave at<br />
the weekend for Denver. They received the<br />
assignments as members of the committee<br />
headed by Roger H. Lewis of United Artists.<br />
Bu.sh reported on his return Wednesday<br />
(12 1 that the Rochester exhibitor committee<br />
consists of Jay Golden, division manager of<br />
RKO Theatres, chairman; Francis Anderson<br />
of American Broadcasting-Paramount Theatres,<br />
Lester Pollack of Loew's Theatres and<br />
Carl Dickerson of the Schine circuit.<br />
Also at the meeting with the exhibitors<br />
were Arthur Krolick, division manager of<br />
AB-PT, and Harry Unterfort, Schine division<br />
manager.<br />
Bush met with executives of four radio stations<br />
and explained the purpose of the drive.<br />
The emphasis will be on the use of disc<br />
jockeys. They will be provided with spot<br />
announcements and will be free to "translate"<br />
not benefit by any closed theatres. I believed<br />
and have so informed distribution officials<br />
that they would be better off having a smaller<br />
sum in the way of film rentals coming from<br />
a theatre than to have no income at all, if<br />
these theatres were forced to close.<br />
"A number of these cases were called to<br />
the attention of distribution. In every instance,<br />
distribution was ready and willing to<br />
do what they could to be of assistance to<br />
these distressed theatres.<br />
"This is the first opportunity I have had<br />
to .say that I am happy and proud at the<br />
way in which the various distributors have<br />
followed through on their promises. They<br />
have fulfilled their expressed desires and<br />
have delivered 100 per cent. It is only fitting<br />
that a public acknowledgement of their cooperation<br />
and interest be made at this time.<br />
"I do not know just how many theatres<br />
have been affected, but I suspect that directly<br />
or indirectly this TOA activity has<br />
been beneficial to several hundred. All of us<br />
say, 'Thank you Mr. Distributor.' "<br />
them into their own type of language and<br />
delivery. All spots will be live, none transcribed.<br />
The target date of July 1 was set<br />
for the start of the drive.<br />
Steinberg has .scheduled a Tuesday (18)<br />
meeting with Denver exhibitors and distributors.<br />
He will meet with radio station executives<br />
the next day, outline the campaign and<br />
show suggested spots. There are 17 radio<br />
stations in the area from which a selection<br />
will be made.<br />
The Lewis committee did not meet Wednesday<br />
112) as planned because of the inability<br />
of some members to attend. The<br />
tentative date of Monday (17 1 was set. In the<br />
meantime, committee members are closely<br />
studying a presentation to be made to editors<br />
and publishers by members of the industry,<br />
prepared by Oscar Doob, consultant. Members<br />
said they were impressed with the presentation.<br />
Visits to editors and publishers to "sell"<br />
the industry and correct misconceptions about<br />
it will be made only in those areas where exhibitors<br />
request them.<br />
Robert S. Ferguson of Columbia, chairman<br />
of a committee to recommend personnel for<br />
drive offices to be set up in New York and<br />
Hollywood, said Wednesday (12t that few<br />
applications had been received. The committee<br />
was set up the week before. Its other<br />
members are Phil Gerard of Universal-International<br />
and Al Tamarin of United Artists,<br />
As to arbitration and conciliation, Stellings<br />
said "considerable progress" was being<br />
made and that the conciliation portion<br />
had been approved in principle for presentation<br />
in New York Monday (17 1. He spoke<br />
out strongly in support of arbitration as well.<br />
He hoped to see a complete system "on the<br />
way in the very near future."<br />
Stellings also predicted that "sometime this<br />
summer" TOA contributions to<br />
the businessbuilding<br />
program will become evident with<br />
the beginning of the drive.<br />
"This will be the most important industry<br />
effort in which all segments have ever joined<br />
forces and finances," he said.<br />
Funeral Services Held<br />
For Jacques Kopfstein<br />
NEW YORK— Funeral services were held<br />
Wednesday (12i for Jacques K.ipfstem, 65,<br />
motion picture executive, who died the day<br />
before in Lenox Hill Hospital after a long<br />
illness. Interment was in Old Mount Carmel<br />
Cemetery in Queens.<br />
Kopfstein was well known through his associations<br />
with Astor Pictures and .^tlai;';.<br />
Television Corp.<br />
BOXOFFICE ;: June 15, 1957 23
.MODERN<br />
(and<br />
in TECHNICOLOR® for the<br />
first time)<br />
r^
i/IUSICAL<br />
J<br />
...EXCITING STORYI<br />
I<br />
THE<br />
SEVEN<br />
SONGS<br />
SINGS MAKE<br />
A PROMOTION<br />
FIELD DAY...<br />
"LOVING YOU"<br />
"HOT DOG"<br />
"LONESOME COWBOY"<br />
LET ME BE YOUR TEDDY BEAR"<br />
'GOT A LOT OF LOVING TO DO"<br />
"MEAN-WOMAN BLUES"<br />
'LET'S HAVE A PARTY"<br />
J<br />
PARAMOUNT PRESENTS<br />
Lvis Presley<br />
lizABETH Scott<br />
Wendell Corey<br />
HAL WALLIS<br />
PRODUCTION<br />
-^**<br />
Directed by<br />
Screenplay by<br />
HAL KANTER • HERBERT BAKER and HAL KANTER<br />
From a Story by Mary Agnes Thompson<br />
TPPI-IMIPri' PP
. . This<br />
. . Certainly<br />
. .<br />
'Boy on a Dolphin' (20th-Fox) Is<br />
HOPING TO SHARE SEA TREASURE: PIERO GIAGNONI.<br />
SOPHIA LQREN, LAURENCE NAISMITH, JORGE MISTRAL<br />
May Blue Ribbon Award Winner<br />
By VELMA WEST SYKES<br />
J^ATIONAL Screen Council members voted "Boy on a Dolphin" (20th-Fox) the BOX-<br />
OFFICE Blue Ribbon Award for May. Ancient Greek temples in their scenic Aegean<br />
Sea settings are accented by color photography, adding appeal to a dramatic story with<br />
historic overtones. The contrast between a covetous desire for possession and a regard<br />
for a country's right to keep its own traditional treasures, is well drawn. The Greek<br />
peasant girl's moral struggle between her desire for an education for her young brother<br />
and a growing sense of personal obligation to honor her country's pride in keeping its<br />
own art objects, adds interest. The romantic development is well handled, as are all<br />
acting roles, from Alan Ladd to young Piero Giagnoni. Sophia Loren's swimming scenes<br />
have natural charm, but are unique and arresting, depending more on the underseas<br />
beauties of flora and fauna rather than personal "cheesecake" shots. Clifton Webb<br />
carries off his role with his typical suave sang-froid.<br />
The picture has done excellent business in<br />
key cities, judging by first run reports,<br />
grossing an average of 158 per cent, and as<br />
Detroit Motion Picture Council.<br />
"Boy on a Dolphin" is such a colorful,<br />
different kind of story. I felt I was really<br />
CLIFTON<br />
WEBB.<br />
HE PIECE. WITH SOPHIA LOREN-<br />
UNSCRUPULOUS ART CONNOISSEUR<br />
high as 240 per cent in Los Angeles in its<br />
fir.st week. Reviewed in the April 20 issue<br />
of BOXOPFICE, this comment was made:<br />
"Jean Negulesco . . . gets the utmost in<br />
suspense out of the somewhat predictable<br />
story and. if he lets the camera linger on<br />
the striking locales and interrupts the plot<br />
for charming native music and folk dancing.<br />
it adds to the audience enjoyment."<br />
Comments from NSC members stressed<br />
the various entertainment features which<br />
the picture has, as shown by these few<br />
publislied here:<br />
The fine underseas shots in "Boy on a<br />
Dolphin" and the fine work of Sophia<br />
Loren, is most enjoyable, with Miss Loren<br />
stealing the show. It is a very entertaining<br />
feature. Ladd and the rest of the cast are<br />
fine.—Frank Grosjean. Shreveport Journal<br />
... A magnificent production in which<br />
Sophia Loren is excellent and the Greek<br />
folk dances in native costumes are beautiful.<br />
It is fine entertainment for the entire<br />
family—Mrs. Arthur D. Kerwin, Greater<br />
visiting Greece, with its picturesque settings.<br />
—Mrs. Paul Gebhart, Cleveland Cinema<br />
Club . picture was beautifully filmed.<br />
—Mrs. Leslie T. Barco, Better Films Council<br />
of Greater St. Louis . this is<br />
an educational travel picture.—Mrs. B. C.<br />
Christopher, Campfire Girls, Kansas City.<br />
A beautiful picture of Greek life and<br />
ancient culture.—Mrs. Arretus P. Burt,<br />
Greater St. Louis BFC ... I didn't read<br />
the book but thought the movie exciting.<br />
The art work was outstanding.—Ruth Henderson,<br />
Kennebec Journal, Augusta, Me. .<br />
Superb .scenery and the story well done.<br />
Mrs. George F. Wilson, General Federated<br />
Women's Clubs, Easton, Pa.<br />
The scenery, color, acting, casting and<br />
story are excellent. Those not too familiar<br />
with Greece will take away much knowledge<br />
and obtain an understanding of the<br />
customs of these people.—Mrs. W. Lashley<br />
Nelson jr., 1st vice-president. Federation of<br />
Motion Picture Councils, Upper Darby, Pa.<br />
;HE0L0GIST ALAN LADD (SEATtU) IS<br />
DRAWN TO THE GREEK PEASANT GIRL<br />
James Calder Alan Ladd<br />
Victor Parmalee Clifton Webb<br />
Phaedra<br />
Governvient Man<br />
Sophia Loren<br />
Alexis Minotis<br />
Rhi) Jorge Mistral<br />
Dr. Hawkins<br />
Laurence Naismith<br />
Niko<br />
Miss Dill<br />
PiERO Giagnoni<br />
Gertrude Flynn<br />
The Cast<br />
Greek Folk Dances and Songs<br />
Society "Panegyris"<br />
Dora Siratou. Director<br />
Fivos Anoyanakis, Artistic and<br />
Music Director<br />
YiANNi Fleury, Choreography<br />
William B. Baldwin Charles Fawcett<br />
Mrs. Baldwin Charlotte Terrabust<br />
Miss Baldwin<br />
Margaret Stahl<br />
Chief of Police<br />
Orestes Rallis<br />
Production Staii<br />
Produced by<br />
Samuel G. Engel Assistant Directors Eli Dunn,<br />
Directed by Jean Negulesco<br />
Carlo Lastricati<br />
Screenplay by<br />
Ivan Moffat, Music Conducted by Lionel Newman<br />
DwiGHT Taylor<br />
Sound<br />
W. D. Flick,<br />
From the Novel by<br />
David Divine<br />
Harry M. Leonard<br />
Music<br />
Hugo Friedhofer<br />
Orchestration Edward B. Powell<br />
Director of Photography<br />
Milton<br />
Song ''Boy on a Dolphin":<br />
Krasner. A.S.C.<br />
Based<br />
Art Direction<br />
Lyle R. Wheeler.<br />
on Tin Afto. Music by<br />
Takis Morakis<br />
Jack Martin Smith<br />
Set Decorations<br />
Bruno Avesani. Greek Text by<br />
J. Fermanglou<br />
Uco Pericle American Lyric by..PAVL Francis Webster<br />
Special Photographic Effects<br />
Color by<br />
De Luxe<br />
Ray Kellogg /Interiors Photographed at Cinecitta<br />
Film Editor William Mace Studios. Rome. Italy/<br />
ihis Award is given Each month by the National Screen Council on the basis of outstandino merit<br />
suitability for family entertainment. Council membership comprises motion picture editors, radio<br />
i repiesentatives of better film councils, civic and educational organizations.
'<br />
I00K
, Ohio,<br />
I<br />
c I Automobile<br />
On the Tele-Movies Scene:<br />
Offer Text of a Model<br />
Tele-Movies Ordinance<br />
COLUMBUS—A standard ordinance form,<br />
which exhibitors may use in applying for<br />
franchises to build and operate a cable theatre<br />
system in a community, was distributed<br />
to members of Independent Theatre Owners<br />
of Ohio this week.<br />
Tlie model ordinance is similar to one recently<br />
sent to Allied members in Indiana. It<br />
may be u.sed by exhibitors in any community<br />
by merely inserting the name of the town<br />
where indicated. The text follows:<br />
ORDINANCE NO<br />
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF<br />
OHIO. GRANTING TO<br />
AND ITS SUCCESSORS AND AS-<br />
SIGNS, A FRANCHISE TO BUILD, CON-<br />
STRUCT, LOCATE. MAINTAIN AND OP-<br />
ERATE AN ELECTRONIC HOME THEATRE<br />
SYSTEM IN THE CITY OF<br />
OHIO, AUTHORIZING THE USE, RIGHT.<br />
PRIVILEGE. POWER. AND AUTHORITY<br />
TO CONSTRUCT. MAINTAIN. OPERATE,<br />
AND REMOVE IN, OVER, AND ACROSS<br />
THE STREETS, AVENUES, PARKWAYS,<br />
AND PUBLIC PLACES THE NECESSARY<br />
EQUIPMENT FOR THE OPERATION OF<br />
SUCH ELECTRONIC HOME THEATRE<br />
SYSTEM IN THE CITY OF<br />
OHIO; PROVIDING FOR THE REGULA-<br />
TION THEREOF: ALSO PROVIDING FOR<br />
THE PROPER INSURANCE AND FRAN-<br />
CHISE FEES<br />
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COMMON<br />
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF<br />
OHIO:<br />
SECTION 1. That there is hereby granted<br />
by the City of Ohio, (hereinafter<br />
called City) to the (hereinafter<br />
called Grantee), and its successors and<br />
assigns, for a period of twenty-five (25) years<br />
from the effective date of this Ordinance,<br />
the right, power, authority, and privilege to<br />
build, construct, equip, own, maintain, and<br />
operate in the present and future streets,<br />
ailey.s, and public places of the City of<br />
Ohio, wires, lines, poles, arms, cables,<br />
appuricnances, fixtures, and other apparatus<br />
for the purpose of operating, conducting, and<br />
extending to the citizens of the City of<br />
and the inhabitants thereof,<br />
an Electronic Home Theatre System. There<br />
is hereby granted the further right, privilege,<br />
and authority to the Grantee to lease, rent,<br />
or in any other manner obtain the use of<br />
such towers, poles, lines, cables, and other<br />
equipment and facihties from any and all<br />
holders of public licenses and franchises<br />
within the corporate limits of the City of<br />
Ohio, and to use such towers,<br />
poles, lines, cables, and other such equipment<br />
and facilities, subject to all the existing<br />
and future ordinances and regulations of<br />
the City.<br />
There is also hereby granted the right to<br />
buy, purchase, lease, erect, equip, maintain,<br />
own, or operate such plants, machinery,<br />
equipment, or buildings as are necessary to<br />
maintain and operate such Electronic Home<br />
Theatre System; the right to buy, hold, own,<br />
or lease any and all real estate necessary to<br />
conduct such business; the right to connect<br />
with other Electronic Home Theatre System<br />
lines and cables, within the City; and such<br />
other and further rights as ai-e granted and<br />
necessary, proper, and enjoyed by Electronic<br />
Home Theatre Systems.<br />
Commonwealth in a Bid<br />
For Tele-Movies Right<br />
Garden City, Kas. — Commonwealth<br />
circuit, which operates more than<br />
100 theatres in the Midwest, this week<br />
applied for a franchise to Install and run<br />
a cable theatre system in this community.<br />
The circuit asked for a 20-year franchise,<br />
with a two-year grace period for starting<br />
operations. Shelby Bourne, local manager,<br />
said the circuit also was seeking<br />
franchises in Manhattan and Great<br />
Bend, Kas.<br />
In applying for the cable theatre<br />
permit. Commonwealth joined such top<br />
Midwest and Southwest circuits as Video<br />
Independent Theatres, Frontier Theatres,<br />
Interstate, United Theatres and United<br />
Rowley in the field of entertainment for<br />
which Video has coined the tradename,<br />
Tele-Movies.<br />
SECTION 2. The Grantee shall, at all<br />
times, malce and keep full and complete plats,<br />
maps, and records showing the exact location<br />
of all Electronic Home Theatre System equipment<br />
located and used by the Grantee in the<br />
City of<br />
Ohio.<br />
SECTION 3. The Grantee shall defend the<br />
City against any lawful claim for injury to<br />
any property caused by the Grantee in the<br />
construction or operation of its property; and<br />
in the event of such determination of such<br />
liability shall indemnify the City. The<br />
Grantee herein, its successors, and assigns,<br />
shall indemnify and hold harmless the City<br />
of Ohio, from any and all liabilities,<br />
claims, demand, or judgment growing<br />
out of any injury to any person or property<br />
as the result of the violation or failure on the<br />
part of the Grantee, its successors, and assigns,<br />
to observe its proper duty, or because<br />
of negligence in whole or in part arising out<br />
of construction, repair, extension, maintenance,<br />
or operation of its equipment of any<br />
kind or character used in connection with<br />
this permit.<br />
SECTION 4. All installation of equipment<br />
shall be of a permanent nature, durable and<br />
installed in accordance with good engineering<br />
practice, and of sufficient height to comply<br />
with all existing City regulations, ordinances,<br />
and state laws so as not to interfere<br />
in any manner with the rights of the public<br />
or individual property owner, and shall not<br />
interfere with the travel and use of public<br />
places by the public, and during the construction,<br />
repair, or removal thereof, shall not obstruct<br />
or impede traffic.<br />
SECTION 5. The City of Ohio,<br />
reserves the right of reasonable regulation of<br />
the erection and construction of any work<br />
by the Grantee and to reasonably designate<br />
where such works and construction are to<br />
be placed. The Grantee shall, when requested<br />
by the City, make minor changes in its equipment<br />
to conform to the reasonably necessary<br />
requirements of small localized areas. Such<br />
changes to be effected within a reasonable<br />
time after request is made.<br />
SECTION 6. The Grantee shall have the<br />
right to assign this permit, subject to the<br />
approval of the Common Council of the City<br />
of<br />
Ohio.<br />
SECTION 7. The Grantee shall procure<br />
and furnish and file with the City Clerk the<br />
following insurance policies:<br />
(a) Workmen's Compensation insurance in<br />
accordance with the laws of the State<br />
of Ohio.<br />
(b) Public Liability insurance with limits<br />
of not less than $25,000 to any one person<br />
and $50,000 to any one accident.<br />
liability insurance with<br />
limits of not less than $25,000/$50,000<br />
property damage and public liability.<br />
(d) Property damage insurance with a limit<br />
of not less than $5,000 for any one<br />
singular<br />
accident.<br />
SECTION 8. This permit may be forfeited<br />
by the City upon the failure or refusal of<br />
the Grantee, its successors and assigns, to<br />
observe the terms and provisions of this permit.<br />
Such forfeiture may be exercised by<br />
service of notice upon the Grantee of failure<br />
to observe the terms hereof and upon the refusal,<br />
within said ninety-day period, to eliminate<br />
and obviate such failure or violation.<br />
SECTION 9. The Grantee shall pay to the<br />
City of Ohio, as a permit fee<br />
and as compensation for the rights and<br />
privileges enjoyed hereunder, the sum equal<br />
to .../"r of its total gross receipts received by<br />
Grantee from its customers within the City<br />
of Ohio. Such fee shall be paid<br />
annually and the payment thereof shall be<br />
due on or before the day of January of<br />
each succeeding year. This payment shall<br />
be in lieu of any other tax or increased rate<br />
of tax. or other imposed assessment or charges<br />
except ad valorem taxes.<br />
SECTION 10. This franchise is to be exclusive<br />
for the period of twenty-five (25)<br />
years with an option for a renewal of said<br />
franchise for a like period of time at the expiration<br />
of<br />
the period hereinbefore set out.<br />
SECTION n. If any section, sentence,<br />
clause or phase of the ordinance is for any<br />
reason held illegal, invalid, or unconstitutional,<br />
such invalidity shall not affect the<br />
validity of the ordinance and any portions in<br />
conflict are hereby repealed.<br />
Cable TV Systems Going<br />
Into 1 and 2-Channel Tov/ns<br />
PHILADELPHIA — Even though television<br />
broadcasting is reaching into more and more<br />
communities, the number of "fringe reception"<br />
areas is Increasing rather than diminishing,<br />
Jerrold Electronics Corp. declared<br />
in its annual report issued this week.<br />
Only communities completely blacked out<br />
from TV reception were once considered<br />
fringe areas, Milton Shapp, president, pointed<br />
out, whereas the rapid acceptance of television<br />
has now enlarged the fringe area concept<br />
to include communities "once satisfied<br />
with one or two-channel reception but which<br />
now feel isolated without full television network<br />
coverage."<br />
The result, said Shapp, is that the community<br />
antenna system industry, originally<br />
founded to introduce TV to completely<br />
blacked out communities, is now extending<br />
its services into areas which can pick up one<br />
or two channels directly on rooftop antennas.<br />
There are now more than 550 community<br />
antenna systems, extending TV reception to<br />
more than 1,500,000 viewers from coast to<br />
coast. In the year ending Feb. 25, 1957,<br />
Jerrold installed systems in 25 new cities.<br />
BOXOFFICE June 15. 1957
ATLANTA, RIALTO • CHATTANOOGA, STATE • KNGXVILLE, RIVIERA •<br />
BIRMING-<br />
HAM, EMPIRE • CHICAGO, CHICAGO • ELGIN, CROCKER<br />
•<br />
CEDAR RAPIDS,<br />
PARAMOUNT • DAVENPORT, CAPITOL •<br />
ROCK ISLAND, FORT<br />
•<br />
FORT WORTH,<br />
WORTH • DALLAS, PALACE • WICHITA FALLS, WICHITA • AMARILLO, STATE<br />
SAN ANTONIO, MAJESTIC • AUSTIN, PARAMOUNT • BUFFALO, LAFAYETTE<br />
TROY, PROCTOR • WATERTOWN. TOWN •<br />
LOWELL. DRIVE IN • CLEVELAND.<br />
HIPPODROME • COLORADO SPRINGS, CHIEF • GREELY. CHIEF • CHEYENNE,<br />
PARAMOUNT • SANTA FE, LENSIC • LOS ANGELES. MULTIPLE RUN<br />
•<br />
LOS<br />
ANGELES. WILTERN • HOT SPRINGS, MALCO •<br />
FAYETTEVILLE. UARK<br />
• JONES-<br />
BORO. STRAND • HARTFORD. E. M. LOEW •<br />
LAWTON. RITZ •<br />
NEW YORK. ASTOR<br />
ROCK ISLAND. PORT • CHARLOTTE. MANOR •<br />
GREENVILLE, FOX<br />
•<br />
FAYETTE-<br />
VILLE, CAROLINA • WILMINGTON, COLONY • ST. PAUL, ORPHEUM<br />
•<br />
WASHING-<br />
TON, TRANS LUX • PHILADELPHIA, STANLEY •<br />
COLUMBIA, PALMETTO<br />
•<br />
SPAR-<br />
TANBURG, PALMETTO • EVANSVILLE, GRAND •<br />
MIAMI, MIAMI •<br />
BRIDGEPORT,<br />
HIGHWAY • SALT LAKE CITY, VILLA •<br />
BIRMINGHAM, MELBA •<br />
MONTGOMERY,<br />
EMPIRE . MACON, BIBB • MEMPHIS. MALCO • PEORIA, MADISON •<br />
WAUKEGAN,<br />
GENESEE • DES MOINES, DES MOINES • WATERLOO, PARAMOUNT • DALLAS,<br />
MAJESTIC • EL PASO, PLAZA • WACO, WACO • TYLER, TYLER<br />
•<br />
HOUSTON,<br />
MAJESTIC • GALVESTON, STATE • SAN FRANCISCO, PARAMOUNT • ALBANY,<br />
PALACE • SCHENECTADY, PROCTOR • SPRINGFIELD. BIJOU •<br />
CINCINNATI,<br />
KEITH • DENVER, DENVER • PUEBLO, CHIEF • GRAND JUNCTION, MESA<br />
•<br />
CAS-<br />
PER. AMERICA • DETROIT, PALMS STATE • SAN DIEGO, SPRECKLES • LOS<br />
ANGELES, HOLLYWOOD •<br />
FORT SMITH, MALCO • JACKSON, MALCO<br />
•<br />
OWENS-<br />
BORO, MALCO • OKLAHOMA CITY. CENTER<br />
•<br />
PITTSBURGH. J. P. HARRIS<br />
PORTLAND. FOX • MILWAUKEE. WARNER • DAVENPORT, CAPITOL • GREENS-<br />
BORO. CENTER • RALEIGH. VILLAGE • WINSTON SALEM. FLAMINGO DRIVE IN<br />
MINNEAPOLIS. ORPHEUM •<br />
NEW ORLEANS. ORPHEUM •<br />
SEATTLE. 5th AVENUE<br />
CHARLESTON. GLORIA -DURHAM, CAROLINA -TAMPA, PALACE -MIAMI, CARIB-<br />
BEAN • MIAMI, MIRACLE •<br />
STRATFORD. BEVERLY •<br />
SALT LAKE CITY. UPTOWN<br />
THEY'LL<br />
PUT<br />
OUT<br />
A<br />
ONE!<br />
:^AsK the .----r.-r«-' \n\ng t^®<br />
ce\ebrat\on<br />
in tV^e V ear s<br />
RITA HAYWORTH M?. ROBERT MITCHUM !<br />
1 JACK LEMMON<br />
^in^Doymii^Loy/<br />
TECHNICOLOR
. . . Being<br />
. . After<br />
. .<br />
^oU^ffw^ ^eftont<br />
Two More Independents<br />
Sign MGM Contracts<br />
Continuing to augment its stable of independent<br />
filmmakers, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer<br />
booked two erstwhile members of the Universal-International<br />
stable to long-term,<br />
multiple-picture contracts. They are Albert<br />
Zugsmith and Aaron Rosenberg.<br />
Zugsmith, one of filmdom's more prolific<br />
producers, turned out seven features for U-I<br />
last year, including "Tlie Incredible Shrinking<br />
Man," now in release, and "Badge of<br />
Evil," "Pylon," "Slaughter on Tenth Avenue"<br />
and "The Female Animal." He will<br />
function at MGM under the banner of Albert<br />
Zugsmith Pi'oductions.<br />
Rosenberg spent eight years with U-I and,<br />
among the many movies he turned out during<br />
that span, made six starring James Stewart.<br />
His most recent entry, "Night Passage,"<br />
toplined Stewai-t and Audie Murphy and will<br />
have its national release next month. Other<br />
Rosenberg productions include "To Hell and<br />
Back" and "The Glenn Miller Story." He<br />
has set up Ai'cola Pictares as his unit at<br />
MGM.<br />
Neither Zugsmith nor Rosenberg have as<br />
yet revealed what their respective initial enterprises<br />
for the Culver City film foundry<br />
will be.<br />
Television Beating Films<br />
To Jeanne Eagels Story<br />
Once more that ol' debbil television is<br />
beating the theatrical screen to the punch in<br />
the presentation of a story property.<br />
Fryman Enterprises, a newly formed unit<br />
headed by Red Doff—and in which Mickey<br />
Rooney reportedly has a substantial interest<br />
—made it known it has secured video rights<br />
to the life of the late Jeanne Eagels and has<br />
•I KI1;MJLY' award—Producer-director<br />
William VV'yler, rig:ht, receives congratulations<br />
from Gregory Peck after<br />
Wyler's "Friendly Persuasion," which Allied<br />
Artists is releasing, won the coveted<br />
Cannes Film Festival's golden palm award<br />
as the best motion picture of 1956. Peck<br />
and Wyler will be associated in the making<br />
of "The Big Country" later this year.<br />
By IVAN SPEAR<br />
begun negotiations whereby such a teleplay<br />
may reach the living room squawk boxes as<br />
an entry in CBS-TV's Playhouse 90 series.<br />
That's all well and good—but there's a fly<br />
in the ointment. Not long ago Columbia<br />
finished filming "Jeanne Eagels," a biography<br />
of the same actress, with Kim Novak in the<br />
title role, and scheduled the opus for theatrical<br />
distribution this fall.<br />
The case parallels that confronting<br />
Warners, which lists as an upcoming release<br />
"Both Ends of the Candle," starring Ann<br />
Blyth as the torch-singin' Helen Morgan.<br />
Video viewers will recall that the same<br />
Playhouse 90 recently telecast "The Helen<br />
Morgan Story."<br />
Light Holl'ywood Week<br />
For Story Purchases<br />
Strictly from hunger was the literary<br />
market—and, along with it, the writers and<br />
purveyors of story fodder to Cinemania. Only<br />
two sales were recorded during the period.<br />
Picked up by 20th Century-Fox was "The<br />
Remarkable Mr. Pennypacker," a comedy by<br />
Liam O'Brien that had a Broadway run a<br />
few years back. In the stage version it toplined<br />
Burgess Meredith, but the Westwood<br />
studio hasn't as yet gotten around to casting<br />
the projected filmization thereof . . . Gramercy<br />
Pictures, the independent unit headed by<br />
Ar-thur Gardner, Jules Levy and Arnold Laven,<br />
acquired screen rights to "Claire," a<br />
script by Pat Fielder with a gambling background.<br />
Role in Cowboy Feature<br />
To an Indian Actress<br />
An offbeat entry in the casting category<br />
was the selection by Columbia of Anna<br />
Kashfi, a native of Indian who came to Hollywood<br />
via London, for the stellar femme role<br />
opposite Glenn Ford and Jack Lemmon in<br />
the tentatively-titled "Reminiscences of a<br />
Cowboy." Columbia borrowed La Kashfi from<br />
her home studio, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, for<br />
the as.signment.<br />
Over at Universal-International Studios<br />
the powers that be picked Gilbert Roland to<br />
star with Jock Mahoney in "The Western<br />
Story." which is—you guessed it—a galloper<br />
filmed by producer-director Charles<br />
Marquis Warren for 20th-Fox release,<br />
"The Copper Sky," a frontier drama, has<br />
Coleen Gray as its feminine topliner.<br />
Story of California Set<br />
Next for C. V. Whitney<br />
As a third entry in his American series,<br />
C. V. Whitney has picked "The Young Land,"<br />
a story of California in the 1950s, and scheduled<br />
it for camera work beginning in July.<br />
Under the banner of C. V. Whitney Pictures.<br />
Inc., "Land" will mark the first starring<br />
role for Pat Wayne, son of John Wayne. The<br />
opus will be produced by Patrick Ford from a<br />
script being prepared by Norman S.<br />
Hall.<br />
L B.<br />
Mayer, Cummings<br />
Form Production Unit<br />
Plans have been finalized whereby L. B.<br />
Mayer Enterprises, Inc., and Jack Cummings<br />
Productions,<br />
Inc., will pool their<br />
resources in<br />
creating<br />
the screen version<br />
of the Broadway<br />
stage success,<br />
"Paint Your Wagon."<br />
Cummings is now<br />
hunting studio<br />
space and beginning<br />
casting activities,<br />
while John<br />
Lee Mahin and<br />
Louis B. Mayer William L u d w i g<br />
are putting finishing touches on the<br />
screenplay. The musical score will include<br />
new songs by Alan Jay Lerner and<br />
Frederick Loew.<br />
Negotiations are under way as concerns<br />
distribution, photographic and<br />
color processes, and the selection of a director.<br />
Rehearsals tentatively will get<br />
under way in July.<br />
A Big-Shot Promotion Set<br />
For Kramer's New Film<br />
As ballyhoo for the end-of-Jmie opening of<br />
Stanley Kramer's "The Pride and the Passion,"<br />
United Artists release due to premiere<br />
in Beverly Hills, a giant five-and-a-half ton<br />
replica of an 1810 Spanish cannon made its<br />
appearance at a busy Beverly Hills intersection<br />
and will remain there until the<br />
Kramer film makes its bow. Tliereafter the<br />
gun will begin a nationwide tour, ending at<br />
the Boy Scouts Valley Forge Jamboree late<br />
in July.<br />
As his next directorial assignment at<br />
Columbia, Richard Quine drew "The Roses,"<br />
a Lewis J. Rachmil production to be shot in<br />
Italy beginning later this summer. It's a<br />
romantic drama based on a French short<br />
story .<br />
launching their Broadway<br />
comedy, "L'il Abner," Norman Panama and<br />
Melvin Frank have returned to their offices<br />
at Paramount and are readying two outdoor<br />
adventure dramas, "The Jayhawkers" and<br />
"The Transfer," for lensing this year. Under<br />
the banner of Triad Productions, Panama<br />
and Frank co-authored both yarns, with<br />
Panama to meg "The Transfer" and Fi'ank to<br />
handle direction of "The Jayhawkers" .<br />
Associated Artists Productions inked a fourpicture<br />
releasing deal with Columbia, under<br />
which the first two properties will be "Let's<br />
Go Steady," starring Carol Lee Ladd, Harold<br />
Lloyd jr. and Melinda Markey, and "Between<br />
the Thunder and the Sun," toplining Susan<br />
Hayward.<br />
On the musical front, Metro-Goldwyn-<br />
Mayer booked recording artist Nat "King"<br />
Cole to vocalize the opening and end title<br />
music of "Raintree County," while Universal-<br />
International set rock-'n'-roller Fats Domino<br />
for a specialty number in "The Big Beat"<br />
. . . British megaphonist Sir Carol Reed<br />
signed a three-pictm-e deal with Hecht-Hill-<br />
Lancaster under which his first piloting job<br />
will be "The Rock Cried Out," to be followed<br />
by "Kimberly," a story of the South African<br />
diamond mines.<br />
BOXOFFICE June 15, 1957
BETWEEN THE LINES<br />
By AL STEEN<br />
-Appreciative -Audience<br />
pHE following was lifted from The Wall<br />
Street Journal:<br />
A critic was lecturing to a women's club<br />
on the cinema. "And." he wound up, "that's<br />
what we get these days. I ask you. is this<br />
all they have to write about? An escaped<br />
convict gets into a home, holds the wife<br />
and children as hostages: fire burns down<br />
an orphanage: a man robs the employer in<br />
oi-der to gamble, flees to Monte Carlo,<br />
breaks himself but not the bank and jumps<br />
off a high cliff into the sea: two pals love<br />
the same girl and one shoots the other; a<br />
man fights his way into the apartment of<br />
a beautiful model, abducts her in a car and<br />
they both plunge over a cliff at 80 miles an<br />
hour. Oh, why go on? Why indeed? And<br />
now, ladies, are there any questions?"<br />
"Oh, my yes." said a thrilled voice.<br />
"Where is it playing?"<br />
John Ford Says—<br />
DIRECTOR John Ford says that 'The<br />
Rising of the Moon" is the best picture<br />
he's ever made and. if so, that's saying a<br />
mouthful. The picture, a Warner Bros,<br />
release, actually is made up of three short<br />
stories, written for the screen by Prank<br />
Nugent and based on the works of three<br />
Irish authors. Lady Gregory, Frank O'Connor<br />
and Martin J. McHugh,<br />
Ford retui-ned from Dublin last week<br />
after attending the world premiere at the<br />
Dublin International Film Festival. He met<br />
with the press at Sardi's Monday when he<br />
expressed the opinion that this was his<br />
best. However, he spent most of the time<br />
telling what a good time he and Nugent<br />
had in Ireland, about the Irish actors who<br />
A drive-in operator friend of ours was<br />
telling us the other day about a<br />
real cheap-skate patron of his. This patron<br />
puts instant coffee in his mustache<br />
and then goes to the concession booth and<br />
asks for a glass of hot water.<br />
This same exhibitor said that some years<br />
ago he had an usher who had the makings<br />
of a real showman. One of the newsreel<br />
clips showed a six-day bicycle race and so<br />
the kid put up a sign reading: "Fastest<br />
Leg Show in Town."<br />
An industryite just back from a visit<br />
to Hollywood tells us that the need for<br />
new talent is getting right serious. He<br />
said that one studio out there had hired<br />
a plastic surgeon to create new faces.<br />
Proponents of subscription television<br />
have a theme song ready in case they get<br />
government approval for their baby. The<br />
title is "The Sweetest Story Ever Toll-ed."<br />
Spyros Skouras told the 20th Century-<br />
Fox stockholders recently that Eidophor,<br />
the big screen theatre television system<br />
which his company has been developing,<br />
would be ready for use by this time next<br />
year. If so, 20th-Fox may have a competitor<br />
in J. Arthur Rank. It's reported that<br />
one of the Rank subsidiaries has been<br />
working quietly on a similar system and<br />
has been making some rapid progress. The<br />
Rank gadget may be introduced in this<br />
country before the end of the year.<br />
Detroit Circuit Seeks<br />
Young Film Reporter<br />
DETROIT — United Detroit Theatres is<br />
promoting a contest "to find a youngster<br />
who is interested in movies and show busi-<br />
average about $29 a<br />
Indoor-Outdoor<br />
week and how Nugent<br />
ness." giving<br />
bought up enough him—or—her cloth to make an<br />
50<br />
opportunity<br />
suits.<br />
^OW that Piudential Playhouses' allweather<br />
drive-in on Long Island has<br />
mentator. Qualifications include some knowl-<br />
to get actual experience as a film<br />
Somebody asked him<br />
com-<br />
if he had quit making<br />
westerns. "Never! he<br />
been in operation for more than a month,<br />
cried. When edge about film stars and the ability to<br />
somebody else suggested that he make a express<br />
we were curious<br />
opinions<br />
as to which theatre—the<br />
about actors, stories and<br />
western in Ireland, he didn't think it was songs.<br />
indoor or the outdoor—got the most patronage.<br />
So we phoned Seymour Seider,<br />
funny. "You can't kid westerns," he said. The first place winner will receive a 13-<br />
"A lot of people have tried but they never week contract as the WXYZ Teenage Reporter,<br />
to handle this section of the popular<br />
circuit executive, and popped the question<br />
paid off."<br />
to him.<br />
Mickey Shoor show as a junior edition ot<br />
"Right now," he said, "the outdoor portion<br />
of the project gets the biggest play, but<br />
years by tlie veteran<br />
Show World Commentator, presented for<br />
Casual<br />
Dick<br />
Comment<br />
Osgood. The<br />
when summer is over, we expect that the<br />
winner will also receive a year's scholarship<br />
patrons will prefer the auditorium. But J^ P^W years ago, Skouras Theatres filed<br />
to Wayne State University.<br />
we still get a good crowd<br />
an $85,000,000 antitrust suit<br />
in the hard-top."<br />
against The contest is open to youngsters from<br />
the distributors, On only two occasions<br />
the largest<br />
has the outdoor<br />
individual film 13 to 18, in the important movie going age<br />
suit<br />
theatre been "fogged<br />
on record. After<br />
out." In such<br />
the first<br />
cases,<br />
flurry of brackets. Entry blanks are secured from any<br />
the patrons have<br />
excitement that followed<br />
their choice of taking a<br />
the news break, theatre in the circuit, or a dealer for Webcor.<br />
"fog pass" and coming<br />
nothing<br />
back some<br />
more was heard<br />
other<br />
about it and then which is tied in on the contest. Each entrant<br />
is<br />
night<br />
there<br />
or going<br />
were requii'ed to<br />
into the indoor theatre. In<br />
some rumors take<br />
that the<br />
considerable<br />
action had<br />
pains with<br />
the entry, thereby assuring<br />
most<br />
been<br />
cases, however.<br />
dropped.<br />
development of<br />
Seider said, the patrons<br />
The<br />
an intelligent interest in fUms.<br />
go into the enclosed<br />
other day we<br />
A threeminute<br />
script, plus a taperecording and<br />
asked<br />
section.<br />
George Skom-as<br />
Currently, when patrons want<br />
what happened to the litigation<br />
to get<br />
and if it photograph, are required, along with signed<br />
home were still alive.<br />
early, they naturally He replied<br />
attend the<br />
very emphatically<br />
inside<br />
parental approval.<br />
in<br />
theatre.<br />
the affirmative, stating that he Runnerup prizes include a Webcor recorder<br />
had given depositions over an eight-month valued at $199.50; a Webcor phonograph: and<br />
period. He said the case definitely would 17 prizes consisting of a record album plus<br />
go to trial, but he didn't know when.<br />
a pair of ducats to any UDT house.<br />
Buena Vista Conventions<br />
Set for August 26 Week<br />
NEW YORK—Buena Vista will hold its<br />
second national sales convention, combined<br />
with its first international sales convention,<br />
the week of August 26 at the Burbank studio<br />
of Walt Disney, according to Leo F. Samuels,<br />
general sales manager.<br />
Attending delegates will discuss activities<br />
in their individual districts and give a collective<br />
survey of the national situation. There<br />
will be screenings of "Perri," fii-st Ti-ue-Life<br />
Fantasy, and "Old Yeller." starring Dorothy<br />
McGuire and Fess Parker; rushes of "The<br />
Light in the Forest," starring James Mc-<br />
Arthur; sequences from "Sleeping Beauty."<br />
all-cartoon feature, and special short subjects.<br />
London Variety Sponsors<br />
'Prince and Showgirl'<br />
NEW YORK— -Tlie Piince and the Showgirl"<br />
will open in London June 25 at the<br />
Warner Theatre. It will be a "Sit With the<br />
Stars" benefit sponsored by the Variety Club<br />
of Great Britain and Warner Bros, for the<br />
Actors' Orphanage and the Variety Club<br />
Heart Fund for Under-Pi-ivileged ChUdren.<br />
The stars will be seated throughout the theatre<br />
instead of being concentrated in the<br />
circle.<br />
Microwave Stock Offering<br />
NEW YORK—Microwave A.sso.:ites, Inc.,<br />
in which American Broadcasting-Paramount<br />
Theatres has a one-third stock interest, has<br />
notified the Securities and Exchange Commission<br />
of a proposed public offering of 50,-<br />
000 shares of common stock. It would be used<br />
to reduce debts and loans and for working<br />
capital.<br />
BOXOFFICE :: June 15, 1957
So,<br />
OU %!<br />
%,<br />
fn,<br />
ed.<br />
«l fo,<br />
X J<br />
There's only one<br />
Marilyn Monroe but there<br />
isn't one Marilyn tAonroe picture<br />
that teases and tickles like<br />
Mi^v'ily'^ MOn^pe<br />
."^uri^PkCe Olivier<br />
'lin^iyilfSI 1 1*^1<br />
TECHMCOLOR®<br />
with SYBIL THORNDIKE Screen Play by TERENCE RA TTIGAN Produced and Directed by LAURENCE OLIVIER Executive Producer MIL TON H GREENE<br />
A FILM BY MARIL YN MONROE PRODUCTIONS. INC. and L. O P. L TD. presented by WARNER BROS.
Her biggest picture<br />
is now at the nation's<br />
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WARNER BROS:<br />
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TRADE-IN<br />
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WRITE TODAY TO SUPURDISPLAY 1324 West Wisconsin Avenue • Miiwaul
June<br />
A NEW ERA FOR EXHIBITORS<br />
SEEN WITH CABLE THEATRE<br />
Will Increase Audiences.<br />
Milton Shapp Tells<br />
Virginia Ass'n<br />
(More fonvention News on Page 23)<br />
OLD POINT COMFORT. VA.—The Jerrold<br />
cable theatre, when stripped of its<br />
electronic complexity, "is just another step<br />
in the exhibitor's 'battle of bulge'—his<br />
continuous effort to push out the bulging<br />
walls of his theatre to encompass ever<br />
larger audiences at one film showing."<br />
Milton J. Shapp. president of the Jerrold<br />
Electronics Corp., told some 250 exhibitors<br />
and guests at the annual Virginia Motion<br />
Picture Theatre Ass'n convention here this<br />
week.<br />
EXPL.\INS BARTLESVILLE TEST<br />
Shapp, speaking at the Wednesday (12<br />
morning session, explained the Bartlesville,<br />
Okla., test installation of cable theatre, and<br />
added:<br />
"If this cable theatre installation . . .<br />
proves financially as successful as every preliminary<br />
study indicates, then I can assure<br />
you that cable theatre will open a new era of<br />
motion picture exhibition to the theatre<br />
owner of America. For it will weld together<br />
the showmanship, exhibition talent and<br />
business experience of the motion picture<br />
industry with the technological magic of coaxial<br />
cable television distribution. And in<br />
the center of this great development, in the<br />
hub of every cable theatre in the country,<br />
will stand the motion picture exhibitor."<br />
Shapp pointed to the fact that the nickelodeon<br />
gave way to the large entertainment<br />
emporium on Times Square. Then, with the<br />
di-ive-in, he said, three walls came tumbling<br />
down, but the one remaining wall—the<br />
screen—still acts as an effective limit to<br />
the theatre size. Now. he said, cable theatre<br />
extends the theatre walls to encompass an<br />
entire city.<br />
He said that the motion picture exhibitor<br />
of today is caught in the economic backlash<br />
of the television industry. "This gigantic<br />
entertainment medium which devours audience<br />
and product with a rapacious appetite<br />
is squeezing the motion picture exhibitor in<br />
an economic pincer. For television is deftly<br />
strangling the two economic lifelines of motion<br />
picture exhibition— the flow of audience<br />
into the theatre and the flow of product into<br />
the projection booth.<br />
PREDICTS DRIVE-IN RECORDS<br />
Shapp predicted that the cable theatre will<br />
quickly repeat the record of drive-ins and<br />
draw new audiences to motion picture entertainment.<br />
"This audience is the 'stay at home,'" he<br />
said, 'who is imprisoned within his home<br />
either by habit or by family responsibilities.<br />
He is the suburbanite with a young family.<br />
He is the parent who cannot cram the youngsters<br />
into the four-wheeled living room and<br />
transport them to the nearest drive-in. or<br />
the parent who cannot afford separate admission<br />
for each member of the family at<br />
N. y. Theatres May Have<br />
Won Fight Against Tax<br />
NEW YORK—Local exhibitors may have<br />
won their campaign for the abolition of the<br />
city's 5 per cent amusement tax. A factfinding<br />
committee appointed by Mayor Wagner<br />
in February reported Thursday (13 1 that<br />
the New York theatre business is in a "precarious<br />
economic condition" and needs "every<br />
possible assistance."<br />
The 20-page report found the tax a substantial<br />
burden. It noted that the theatres<br />
already pay federal admission taxes, city<br />
sales and real estate taxes and municipal license<br />
fees. It made no specific recommendations.<br />
When the mayor appointed the committee,<br />
he said it would report only on the<br />
facts.<br />
The committee found that the exhibition<br />
industry here is "sick." It said it cannot increase<br />
its market because of the competition<br />
of television, free admissions to TV theatres<br />
the downtown theatre. He is the chap who<br />
just doesn't want to go to all the trouble of<br />
going out to the movies.' "<br />
"This is your lost audience." he continued.<br />
•This is the audience which cable theatre<br />
promises to recapture. In addition, cable<br />
theatre we believe, will draw a new audience<br />
to the traditional four-wall theatre. For<br />
cable theatre will introduce to the American<br />
living room the suave, stylish and sophisticated<br />
Hollywood which has become a part of<br />
American folklore, an image which has been<br />
Syd Gates Is Elected<br />
President of VMPTA<br />
Old Point ( omfort. Va.— Syd Gates of<br />
Norfolk was elected president of the Virginia<br />
Motion Picture Theatre Ass'n at<br />
its annual convention here this week.<br />
Gates, who will sen-e for a two-year term,<br />
succeeds Seymour Hoffman, who was<br />
given an engraved silver tray at the closing<br />
banquet.<br />
Other officers elected were R, G. Flonary of<br />
Richland; Morton Thaihimer jr., Richmond, and<br />
F. M. Westfoll, Martinsville, vice-presidents; Roy<br />
Richardson, Suffolk, secretary; William Doike jr.,<br />
Woodstock, treosurer; Robert Borton jr., Richmond,<br />
counsel; Carlton Duffis, Richmond, execu-<br />
Dircctors elected for the coming yeor ore<br />
past presidents Morton G. Tholhimer, Sidney L.<br />
Bowden, Leonord Gordon and Seymour Hoffmon.<br />
Directors elected by districts are: first congressional<br />
district, Jerome Gordon and William Josper,<br />
second, Sidney Gates ond Jeff Hofheimer;<br />
third, Floyd Stowls ond Ben Somma; fourth, F.<br />
M. Westfoll and W. H. Hester; sixth, W. W.<br />
Grist jr. and Jock Ramsey; seventh, William<br />
Daike pr. ond Denver Aleshire; eighth, D. H.<br />
Covington and Beniamin T. Pitts; ninth, R. G.<br />
Flonary |r. ond Howard C. Chitwood; tenth,<br />
Wade Peorson ond Fronk B. Stover. Also added<br />
to the board were Poul Roth, John Broumos and<br />
Kerry<br />
Crockett.<br />
and other kinds of amusements. Increased<br />
admission prices would be no remedy, the<br />
committee reported. It noted a reduced number<br />
of theatres and reduced payrolls.<br />
"All the evidence, " it said, "points to the<br />
need for giving the industry every possible<br />
assistance in finding a solution to its problem."<br />
City officials have estimated that the<br />
amusement tax would yield $11,000,000 in the<br />
fiscal year ending June 30. 19.58. They were<br />
doubtful if it could be exempted in favor of<br />
the theatres while continued on other amusement<br />
enterprises.<br />
The report stated that the number of picture<br />
theatres decreased from 191 in Manhattan<br />
in 1946 to 151 as of April 1 last, from<br />
204 to 142 in Brooklyn, from 82 to 71 in the<br />
Bronx, from 94 to 76 in Queens and from 15<br />
to eight in Richmond.<br />
the best salesman for<br />
the motion picture industry."<br />
Registered at the convention:<br />
VIRGINIA<br />
WOODSTOCK—William DaIke ir.<br />
RICHLAND— R, G. Flonary |r.<br />
RICHMOND—Seymour Hoffman, Ben Somma, Morton<br />
Tholhimer |r.. Doniel Komsky, Victor Zinder,<br />
Floyd Stowls, Robert Borton, Paul Mezzy<br />
NEWPORT NEWS—William Josper, Julian Gordon,<br />
Leonard Gordon, Bryant Dobson, Jesse Lee Hyott,<br />
Herbert Morewitz, Dove Gorvin, Johnny Bofemon<br />
FAIRFAX— Jack Foussett, Bob Hunnell<br />
ASHLAND— D. H. Covington<br />
CLARKSVILLE—Oliver Chondler jr.<br />
FRANKLIN—Hal Lyon<br />
ARLINGTON—^Wode Pearson<br />
CULPEPPER—T, I, Martin<br />
LEXINGTON—Charles Goodnight<br />
COVINGTON—Jock Rumsey<br />
NORFOLK— Earle Westbrooke, E. J. Hutcheson, Syd<br />
Gates, W. T. Marshall, Lee Hofheimer, Jeff Hofheimer,<br />
Jim Barham, Sidney Bowden, G. P. Stogie<br />
FREDERICKSBURG—^Horry Rath, Paul Roth<br />
SUFFOLK—Roy A. Richardson<br />
PETERSBURG—Albert Bernstein<br />
LURAY—D. F. Aleshire sr., D. F. Aleshire |r., A. E<br />
Bradley<br />
VIRGINIA BEACH— J. K. Crockett<br />
FRIES—W H. Hester<br />
LYNCHBURG— Z. Austin, Willis Grist<br />
LOVINGSTON— J. H McClellan<br />
SOUTH NORFOLK— B. A. Hoyes<br />
WAYNESBORO—Ellison Loth<br />
MARTINSVILLE— F. M. Westfoll<br />
WASHINGTON, D, C.—Jennings Rondolph, Joseph<br />
Wolsh, Alvin Johnson, Mortin Coopersmith, Sid<br />
Zins, Phil Ershler, Joke Flax, T. N. Mudd, Julian<br />
Brylowski, Fronk Cules, Arthur McConn, Francis<br />
Storty, Horry Vogelstein, Rolph Binns, Don Cole,<br />
Ben Backe, William Michaleson, Jerry SorxJy, Ben<br />
Coplon, Miles Simons, Horry Balintine, Erwin Lust,<br />
John Rose, Fritz Goldschmidt, Elmer McKinley,<br />
Tom Monnix, Herb Gillis, Herb Bennin, Iro Sickelman,<br />
Abe Dickstein<br />
CHARLOTTE, N. C.—Ernest Stellings<br />
PHILADELPHIA, PA.—Milton Shopp<br />
VANDERGRIFT, PA.—Clyde Voughomon<br />
GREENSBORO, N. C—J. W. Markmon, Lawsor,<br />
Ronkin<br />
CHEVY CHASE, MD.—John C. Broumos, W. C. He'<br />
NEW YORK, N. Y.—George Roscoe, Fronk Dout<br />
Herb Bornett<br />
ATLANTA, GA.— Philip H. Freeman, H. M. Rutled.i<br />
BALTIMORE, MD.—Jim Bullington, Victor DoCesort<br />
Simpson Pike, L. P. Sieber, Don Atkinson<br />
TOWNSON, MD.—Mildred Wolsh<br />
WAYNE, PA.—M. M. Coffey<br />
BOSTON, MASS.—Joe Gins<br />
BOXOFFICE<br />
:<br />
15. 1957
y<br />
The D-l' and 'Wayward Bus Start<br />
Off Strong; 'O.K. Corral' Holds Up<br />
Moyfoir- The Girl in the Kremlin (U-l);<br />
Kettles on Old MacDonald's Farm (U-<br />
New— Desk Set (20th-Fox), 2nd wk..<br />
Playhouse 12 Angry Men !UA), 8th w<br />
Stanley Gunfight at the O.K. Corral<br />
2nd wk<br />
Town— The Little Hut (MGM), 3rd wk..<br />
Weekend Weather<br />
"Ideal'<br />
Knocks Buffalo First Runs<br />
BUFFALO—The fij-st ideal Sunday of the<br />
summer hit town last week and the w'eekend<br />
business was off all around. "The Wayward<br />
Buffalo The Woyword Bus (20th-Fox) 90<br />
Center Desk Set (20th-F«ix) 95<br />
Century Around the World 80 Days 90<br />
in (UA)..<br />
Cinema—The King and I (20th-Fox), return<br />
engagement, 3rd wk 85<br />
Lafayette Joe Butterfly (U-l) 85<br />
Paramount—Gunfight at the O.K. Corrol (Para)<br />
2nd wk 90<br />
HOIDOVER STILL DIt.WVS— ( rowds ii>iUiiiued to be attracted to the Sutton<br />
Theatre in New York for the second weeks showing of "The Third Key," the Scotland<br />
Yard drama starring Jack Hawkins. The film is a Michael Balcon-Ealing<br />
Studios production for the Rank Organization.<br />
Pittsburgh Grosses Sag;<br />
"Gunfight' Scores 110<br />
PITTSBURGH—Leading grosser of the<br />
week was the Penn Theatre's "Gunfight at<br />
the O.K. Corral."<br />
Fulton—Desk Set (20th-Fox), 2nd wk 50<br />
Horns—The Woyword Bus (20th-Fox) 65<br />
Penn Gunfight at the O. K. Corral (Paro) . . . . 1 1<br />
Stanlev A Face in the Crowd (WB) 70<br />
NEW YORK—Two new Broadway first<br />
runs, "The D.I." and "The Wayward Bus,"<br />
had strong opening weeks at the Paramount<br />
and Victoria theatres, respectively, while<br />
"Gunfight at the O.K. Corral" held up exceptionally<br />
well in its second week at the<br />
Capitol, all of these benefiting by pleasant<br />
weather and crowds of visiting New Yorkers.<br />
"A Face in the Crowd" did comparatively<br />
better in its second week at the Globe than<br />
the opening stanza, which was slightly disappointing<br />
in the face of the opening night<br />
ballyhoo. "Designing Woman" also held up<br />
well enough in its foui'th and final week at<br />
to capacity business or almost sellout trade.<br />
"Around the World in 80 Days" was again<br />
absolute capacity in its 34th week at the<br />
Rivoli; "The Ten Commandments" was strong<br />
with one extra Saturday morning show added<br />
in its 31st week at the Criterion, and<br />
"Seven Wonders of the World" still did well<br />
in its 61st week at the Warner, with no succeeding<br />
Cinerama picture set.<br />
In the art spots, "The Third Key," second<br />
Rank picture at the Sutton, is strong, better<br />
than "Reach for the Sky." the first Rank<br />
fDm there, and "Torero" in its third week at<br />
the Pine Arts; "The Green Man," in its<br />
SPECIAL<br />
TRAILERS<br />
FILMACK<br />
lk^^W.'BTBl>l!ffWmmtf<br />
NUF"<br />
SED!_<br />
third week at the Guild; "The French They<br />
Are a Funny Race," in its third week at the<br />
Baronet, were among the other foreign-made<br />
pictures that continued to big business. Even<br />
"La Strada" continued to attract trade in<br />
its 47th week at the Trans-Lux 52nd St..<br />
where the final weeks are announced.<br />
Two important new films opened on Wednesday<br />
and Thursday (12. 13). They were<br />
"Island in the Sun" at the Roxy and "The<br />
Prince and the Showgirl" at the Radio City<br />
Music Hall. Also new were two Sophia Loren-<br />
Vittorio de Sica films from DCA, "The Miller's<br />
Beautiful Wife" and "Scandal in Sorrento."<br />
the Radio City Music Hall, where the total<br />
(Average Is 100)<br />
take was close to $600,000. and "Something of<br />
Astor Something of Value (MGM), 5th wk 120<br />
Value" did good busines.s in its fifth week at<br />
Baronet The French They Are o Funny Race<br />
(Continental), 3rd wk 125<br />
the Astor.<br />
Capitol Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (Para),<br />
Some of the other Broadway holdovers<br />
2nd wk 150<br />
Criterion The Ten Commandments (Para)<br />
were way down, especially "Joe Butterfly," 3l5t wk. of two-G-day 140<br />
which lasted only part of a second week at<br />
Fine Arts Torero (Col Int'l), 3rd wk 150<br />
5th Avenue The Naked Eye (Films Rep.), 8th wk. 125<br />
55th Street—Three Feet in a Bed (Janus), 3rd wk. 125<br />
the Mayfair, and "Desk Set," which was<br />
very mild in its fourth and final week at the<br />
Globe A Face in the Crowd (V/B), 2nd wk 140<br />
Guild The Green Mon (DCA), 3rd wk 140<br />
Little Cornegie Nona (Times), 9th wk Ro.xy. "Monkey on My Back" also dropped<br />
115<br />
to average in its second W'eek at Loew's State.<br />
Loew's State Monkey On My Bock (UA), 2nd wk. 100<br />
The three two-a-day attractions continued<br />
Mayfoir Joe Butterfly (U-l), 2nd wk 95<br />
Normandie For Whom the Bell Tolls (Para),<br />
reissue, 5th wk<br />
] 00<br />
Palace Boilout at 43,000 (UA), plus vaudeville 110<br />
150<br />
Poramount The D.I. (WB) .<br />
Pans Gold of Naples (DCA), 17th wk. 110<br />
Plaza Lust For Life (MGM), 38th wk 115<br />
Radio City Music Hall Designing Woman (MGM),<br />
plus stage show, 4th wk 120<br />
Rivoli Around the World in 80 Days (UA),<br />
34th wk. of two-a-day 200<br />
Roxy Desk Set (20th-Fox), plus Tommy Sands on<br />
stage, 4th wk no<br />
Sutton The Third 150<br />
Key (Rank), 2nd wk<br />
Trans-Lux 52nd La Strada (Irons-Lux)<br />
St.<br />
2nd wk 120<br />
Victoria The Woyword Bus (20th-Fox) 150<br />
Warner Seven Wonders of World the (SW),<br />
61 St wk. of two-a-day<br />
1 40<br />
World The Devil's General (Times), 8th wk...llO<br />
at the O.K. Corral" showed best grosses.<br />
"The Green Man" at an art house drew well.<br />
Century The Wayward Bus (20th-Fox), 2nd wk. 95<br />
Cinema The Magnificent Seven (Col), 2nd wk.. . 85<br />
Film Centre Around the World in 80 Days (UA),<br />
25th wk 130<br />
Five West—The 125<br />
Green Man (DCA)<br />
Hippodrome The Garment Jungle (Col); The<br />
Burglar (Col) 95<br />
Little Reor Window (Para); To Catch a Thief<br />
(Para), reissues 90<br />
Industry Golf Tournament<br />
Attended by 150 Players<br />
TUCKAHOE. N. Y.—Almost 150 golf players<br />
teed off in ideal weather conditions for<br />
the sixth annual Film Industry Golf Tournament,<br />
sponsored by New York's Cinema IiOdge<br />
of B'nai B'rith at the Vernon Hills Country<br />
Club Thursday il3).<br />
The number was swelled to approximately<br />
250 for the banquet, funfest and prize awarding<br />
ceremonies at the Club in the evening.<br />
More than 100 prizes donated by industry<br />
companies and individuals were distributed<br />
as door prizes at the banquet. These were<br />
in addition to the prizes for proficiency In<br />
golf.<br />
The committee for the tournament included:<br />
Marvin Kirsch, Harold Rinzler, Abe<br />
Dickstein and Joe Rosen as co-chairmen and<br />
Norman Robbins, Milt Livingston, Jack Hoffberg,<br />
Cy Seymour. Bob Shapiro, Cinema<br />
Lodge president, Burt Robbins. Alan Robbins.<br />
Charles Alicoate and Don Mersereau of BOX-<br />
OFFICE.<br />
Skouras Plans Promotion<br />
On Three Faces of Eve'<br />
NEW YORK—Details of a specialized distribution<br />
and promotion program for "The<br />
Three Faces of Eve" were outlined Wednesday<br />
1 12<br />
1 Spyros P. Skouras. president, at<br />
a home office meeting of sales, promotion<br />
and international executives. He termed it<br />
"one of the most important motion picture<br />
subjects ever turned out by the studio."<br />
Skouras said the picture, which introduces<br />
Joanne Woodward as a star, will open fu-st<br />
Holdover Grosses Slump;<br />
"World' Leads With 130<br />
in New York late in the summer and then<br />
be released<br />
BALTIMORE—Holdovers and double<br />
across the country in a<br />
features<br />
comprised most<br />
way to<br />
take full<br />
of the first run<br />
advantage of promotion<br />
fare<br />
via magazines,<br />
here. As a result, boxoffices were<br />
newspapers,<br />
only<br />
radio and television.<br />
fairly<br />
bu.sy. Of those in a second week, "Gunfight<br />
Lou Miller Dies<br />
NEW YORK—Lou Miller of Allied Artistscontract<br />
approval department dropped dead<br />
of a heart attack at the 19th hole during the<br />
industry golf tournament Thursday il3i. He<br />
had had a heart ailment for several years.<br />
Miller was with RKO contract department<br />
from 1925 to 1956. He was 64 years old.<br />
E-2 BOXOFFICE :: June 15. 1957
BROADW Ay<br />
•THE press and industi-yites were taken for<br />
a sail on the Christian Radich, one of<br />
the few square-rigged ships left in the world,<br />
on Saturday i8). She's the school ship for<br />
the Norwegian Merchant Marine and Louis<br />
de Rochemont has been shooting "Cinemiracle<br />
Adventure" aboard her. The ship<br />
left Norway last December and, after unloading<br />
the party at King's Point, .she headed<br />
back for Norway. The picture should be as<br />
thrilling as the cruise. Among those aboard<br />
were Russell Downing. Bob Rothafel. Al<br />
Steen. Mike Beck. Martin Quigley jr., Mel<br />
Konecoff and that Hoosier. Herb Shriner.<br />
" * Max Fellerman. vice-president and general<br />
manager of Lopert Films, and Mis. Fellerman<br />
flew to Europe Wednesday (12) to<br />
look over foreign product for possible exhibition<br />
in Lopert's New York and Washington<br />
theatres. They will visit England, France and<br />
Italy, returning on the Liberie on July 4.<br />
• • • Joseph R. 'Vogel. president of Loew's,<br />
Inc., is in Hollywood on his eighth trip since<br />
taking over the top spot,<br />
Leopold Friedman, president of Loew's Theatres,<br />
is on the coast taking a gander at forthcoming<br />
product. Mrs. Fi-iedman is with him<br />
• • • Bob Hope is cutting short his European<br />
stay in order to be present at the world premiere<br />
of "Beau James" at the Astor The-<br />
State, featuring (yd Charisse. star in the film, had the city of Norfolk. Va., agog.<br />
A .MONKNTOIS KVKNT—."MCIM'S wiirkl premiere of "Silk Stoikines" at Loew's<br />
atre June 26. * * " Joseph Hazen, paitner of There was a concentration of naval craft there and full use of it for publicity purposes<br />
was made by. top, left to right: Tom Baldridge, mid-Atlantic press repre-<br />
Hal Wallis, is on the coast for product conferences,<br />
* • * Win Barron, who used to do sentative; Milton Kaufman, manager of the State; Orville Crouch, division zone<br />
the narration for the Canadian edition of manager, and Emery Austin, exploitation head. Below: the decorated theatre and<br />
Paramount News, used to come to New 'Vork street is shown.<br />
every Monday from Toronto for the chore,<br />
so his arrivals and departures weren't news.<br />
Pictures International, is on an extended featured role in "'Sabrina Fair," al the North<br />
But he was in town this week for the first<br />
business trip to London, Paris and Rome. * '<br />
time since the newsreel was suspended. Win<br />
Jersey Playhouse, Fort Lee, N. J., early in<br />
Rudolf Bach has been appointed DCA sales June. * * * Sal Mineo, star of Allied Artists'<br />
is ad-publicity director for Paramount in<br />
representative in the Albany and Buffalo "Dino," is confined to his Bronx home for<br />
Canada. * * *<br />
James E. Perkins, executive<br />
territories.<br />
veepee of Paramount International, returned<br />
George ' Roth, vice-president the next few weeks while undergoing treatment<br />
for an eye infection. ' * * Burgess Mere-<br />
'<br />
of Ti-ans-Lux Distributing Corp.. will be<br />
Friday from London. ^ - * Another arrival<br />
spending next week in Dallas, New Orleans, dith, who plays the title role in Universal's<br />
from Europe was Howard Dietz. vice-president<br />
of Loew's. who has been vacationing<br />
Cleveland and Pittsburgh. " * Charles J. "Joe Butterfly," made completely in Japan.<br />
Feldman, vice-president and general sales went to Washington and Newport News to<br />
abroad. * • ' Ditto Thomas O'Neil and Walter<br />
manager of Universal Pictures, is due back participate in the openings there and addressed<br />
the Japan Society in New York on<br />
Branson of RKO.<br />
in New York next week from a six-week tour<br />
of the Orient.<br />
the making of pictures in that country.<br />
Arthur DeBra of the Motion Picture Ass'n<br />
of America went to St. Francis Hospital.<br />
Jean Seberg. star of "Saint Joan" and Otto Cyd Charisse, star of MGM's "Silk Stockings,"<br />
returned to the coast Wednesday <br />
Poughkeepsie, N. Y., for a checkup and a<br />
Preminger. producer-director of the United<br />
series of tests this week. He recently resigned<br />
Artists film, arrived June 12. Miss Seberg after attending the world premiere al Loew's<br />
as director of the MPAA's community relations<br />
department and now is a consultant.<br />
planing in from Los Angeles and Preminger State, Norfolk. * * ' Eva Marie Saint, star<br />
flying in from Paris. » * * Gene Kelly, star of "A Hatful of Rain" for 20th-Fox, headed<br />
Taylor Mills of the MPAA public relations<br />
of MGM's "The Happy Road," arrived from back for the coast June 7. * * * Erin O'Brien,<br />
division also was on the sick list this week.<br />
the coast the same day for activities in connection<br />
with the benefit opening at the Plaza Hollywood to prepare for her second lead<br />
recently signed by Warner Bros., went to<br />
• * • Max Herschmann, eastern sales manager<br />
of Filniack Trailer Co.. is recuperating at his<br />
Theatre June 20. Also from MGM, Inger in "Marjorie Morningstar, " to be produced by<br />
Long Island home after undergoing surgery<br />
Stevens, who plays opposite Bing Crosby in MUton Sperling. ' ' ' David Wayne, who just<br />
at St. Joseph's Hospital. Par Rockaway. N. Y. "Man on Fire," came in from the coast for completed "Sad Sack," starring Jerry Lewis,<br />
* ' Munio Podhorzer. president of United interviews to promote the film.<br />
German Film planed to New York and sailed for Europe on<br />
Enterprises, is off for a sixweek<br />
European trip to acquire new German for United Artists, returned from Rome June MGM cameraman, was also abroad.<br />
Dauphin, starred in "The Quiet American" the Liberie June 11. Joseph Ruttenberg.<br />
pictures for release in the U. S. next<br />
mi<br />
year. 13 after completing the final shooting. • * •<br />
• * • Charles Boasberg. sales head for "The Nunnally Johnson, writer-producer-director Ray Milland and his wife arrived from England<br />
and proceeded on to Hollywood. ' ' '<br />
Ten Commandments." back from Dallas. ' • * for 20th-Fox. returned from abroad on the<br />
Two extra showings of "Seven Wonders of Liberie June 10. Julie Harris, stage-screen Edwin Zabel, president of Bel-Air Pioductions,<br />
and Herbert Baerwitz, legal counsel for<br />
the World" have been slated for the Warner actress, and her stage producer husband<br />
Theatre on July 4. • ' * Halsey Raines of Manning Gurian returned from London on the company, came in from Europe. * ' *<br />
MGM's publicity department, hais returned the America.<br />
Producer-director Stanley Kramer is in town<br />
from a vacation down south.<br />
to promote his "The Pi-ide and the Passion."<br />
• * •<br />
Carlelon Carpenter, former MGM star, who Seymour Krawitz off to Venezuela to<br />
Wynn Loewenthal, formerly with RKO was featured in "Hotel Paradiso," starring supervise the premiere of "Around the World<br />
Radio Pictures and the Film Daily, has joined Bert Lahr. has been upped to starring status in 80 Days" in Caracas. • ' * Norton Ritchey,<br />
the publicity staff of Warner Bros. Pictures. with Angela Lansbury and John Emery. • • * president of Allied Artists International, is in<br />
• ° • Bernard Zeeman. treasurer of Columbia Marjorie Gateson, film and TV player, had a London and will cover the Continent later.<br />
June 15, 1957
. . The<br />
. .<br />
. .<br />
ALBANY<br />
lyjorris Klein postponed the opening of his<br />
Jericho Road Drive-In at Bethlehem.<br />
south of Albany, from Thursday il3i to Friday<br />
(14). "Battle Hymn" headlined the opening<br />
bill. The automobiler, recently completed,<br />
accommodates 400 and 500 cars. Its availability<br />
is the same as that of neighboring airers,<br />
according to Pilmrow. Morris' younger<br />
brother, Raphael, and his mother, Frieda,<br />
are associated with him in the venture. The<br />
Kleins also operate ozoners in Castleton,<br />
Hud.son and Hunter.<br />
Guests at a sneak preview of "This Could<br />
Be the Night" at the Palace included a number<br />
who had received invitation cards through<br />
Forrest Willis and WOKO. Willis had<br />
plugged the special MGM screening on his<br />
morning show for two weeks. It was reported<br />
200 passes were awarded in this promotion.<br />
The comedy starring Jean Simmons and Paul<br />
Douglas drew a steady stream of laughs from<br />
a fairly good-sized evening audience. Eddie<br />
Susse, MGM resident manager, arranged the<br />
preview with Elias Schlenger, Fabian division<br />
manager, and Bill With, Palace chief.<br />
Schlenger attended. "Designing Woman" was<br />
the regular feature.<br />
"The Ten Commandments" will play a<br />
summer engagement of two weeks minimum<br />
at Walter Reade jr.'s Congress in Saratoga.<br />
It will open a four-week run at Fabian's<br />
Plaza, Schenectady, in July June<br />
meeting of Local F-43, comprising office<br />
workers in local exchanges, was a dinnerparty<br />
at Larkin's, attended by 26 members.<br />
Nancy Di Sorrento of Warners was arrangements<br />
chairman. Monthly se.ssions of the<br />
union will be resumed in the fall<br />
Mrs. Charlotte Lansing, Warner assistant<br />
cashier, will take a September vacation in<br />
Florida.<br />
Active and successful in the art theatre<br />
field of Rochester and Buffalo is Morri.s<br />
Slotnick, nephew of Sam Slotnick, operator<br />
of indoor and outdoor theatres in the Syracuse<br />
area and lessee of the Lyric in Waterford.<br />
"Morry" is also a nephew of Morris<br />
Slotnick, formerly active as a theatreman<br />
around Utica. The younger Slotnick, associated<br />
with Cinema Theatres in Rochester<br />
and Buffalo, volunteered to run the Webster,<br />
Rochester, for Max Fogel, after the latter<br />
suffered a heart attack last January. He<br />
did so until Fogel recovered. Scheduled as<br />
a witness on behalf of Fogel in the trial<br />
before U.S. District Court Judge James T.<br />
Foley here of the Webster Rosewood Corp.<br />
antitrust suit against Schine Theatres, Slotnick<br />
ran into a plane delay at Syracuse.<br />
When he arrived at the Federal Building, the<br />
case had just been closed. However, by<br />
stipulation, Francis T. Anderson, attorney for<br />
plaintiff, entered into the record testimony<br />
which Slotnick would have given. James<br />
O. Moore jr., counsel for the Schine defendants,<br />
agreed to this,<br />
"Poppo," the television clown, advertised as<br />
an added feature at the recent premiere of<br />
a new playground at Alan Iselin's Auto-<br />
Vision, East Greenbush, is Marty Ross, local<br />
video-i-adio personality and brother of Herb<br />
Schwartz, Columbia manager. The Knickerbocker<br />
News printed a picture of the bearded,<br />
baggy-pants clown, with several of the attending<br />
children. Supervisor George Moore<br />
of East Greenbush and Iselin. A playground<br />
safety sign was conspicuous in the photograph.<br />
Ross has done the clown regularly on<br />
a WCDA-TV program but had never made<br />
such an appearance at a drive-in. He had<br />
"played" supermarkets. Iselin's young daughter<br />
was among those suggesting the engagement<br />
of "Poppo," who worked among the<br />
kids at the Auto-Vision. A mechanical<br />
merry-go-round is one of the playground's<br />
highlights, according to word on Filmrow.<br />
Sid Kulick of Bell Film Exchange arrived<br />
from New York to call on local accounts.<br />
He was selling "Angels of Darkness," starring<br />
Linda Darnell, and Moderne advertising<br />
shorts. Kulick planned to attend the annual<br />
B'nai B'rith golf tournament and dinner in<br />
New York, then return here for Variety's<br />
yearly tournament and dinner at Shaker<br />
Ridge Country Club June 24<br />
Antoinette, projectionist at the Stanley<br />
Warner Strand, and Al Antoinette, boothman<br />
at Fabian's Palace, received condolences on<br />
the death of their mother. Al Antoinette is<br />
an officer of the operators union.<br />
The James E. Strates Shows opened a 12-<br />
day engagement on the Albany-Troy road<br />
circus grounds (just below the Watervliet city<br />
line I. The 50-car carnival usually draws big<br />
business on its local stand and adversely affects<br />
theatre patronage. It features children's<br />
matinees Wednesday and Saturday .<br />
Stephen Weitman. younger brother of U-I<br />
Manager Norman Weitman, was graduated<br />
from Brandeis University, Waltham, Mass.,<br />
June 9. He wiU enter the New York University<br />
School of Dentistry in the fall. Stephen,<br />
who visited here several months ago,<br />
will pass the summer in a lifeguard's role at<br />
Grossinger's in the Catskills. Attending the<br />
graduation exercises were his mother and<br />
father, brother, and other relatives.<br />
A second former RKO employe has joined<br />
the staff of a going exchange. Zygmund<br />
Chmielewski is now assistant to head shipper<br />
Jim Tunney at U-I. Chmielewski served<br />
with Clark Film Service for a time. U-I's<br />
print load required an assistant shipper, accordiiig<br />
to Manager Norman Weitman.<br />
Kallet's Shopping Center Theatre at De<br />
Witt did fine business with "Around the<br />
World in 80 Days," according to a report<br />
from the Oneida headquarters of the circuit.<br />
"Ma and Pa Kettle" proved a good grosser<br />
for Kallet situations in Deposit, Port Henry,<br />
Ticonderoga and Canastota . . . Vacationers<br />
included: Harry Aranove, Warner booker,<br />
who flew with his wife to Miami: Tony Lombardo,<br />
U-I booker, who trekked to Atlantic<br />
City. U-I staffers leaving in mid-July for<br />
two-week aways will be: Ethel Anameier,<br />
manager's secretary: Mrs. Ruth Winkowski.<br />
switchboard operator: Jim Tunney, head<br />
shipper.<br />
Max Westebbe, former RKO manager, visited<br />
Filmrow. He filled a special assignment<br />
at the Smalley Theatre offices in Cooperstown<br />
after the RKO exchange was closed.<br />
Westebbe had long experience in the foreign<br />
field—including one stretch as RKO manager<br />
in the Netherlands and Belgium and<br />
another in the Philippines before coming to<br />
Albany more than a dozen years ago. He<br />
underwent bombing by the Nazis at Rotterdam<br />
during World War II. Westebbe does<br />
not care to return to the foreign end of<br />
industry<br />
operations.<br />
Minimum Wage Rales<br />
In N.Y. to Be Studied<br />
ALBANY—Minimum wage rates for ushers,<br />
cashiers, porters, cleaners, matrons, doormen<br />
and ticket-takers in motion picture theatres<br />
of New York state will be studied by<br />
a minimum wage board which Industrial<br />
Commissioner Isador Lubin expects to name<br />
soon. The present "floors" for these categories<br />
were fixed by an order which took effect<br />
April 21, 1951.<br />
The State Labor Department has for some<br />
months been re-examining, via wage boards,<br />
the minimums in fields for which rates are<br />
fixed. The amusement and recreation industry<br />
is next on the slate for consideration.<br />
The amusement and recreation industry<br />
board, when appointed, will meet with Commissioner<br />
Lubin and will chart a course of<br />
study.<br />
The recommendations of the board will<br />
be taken under advisement by Commissioner<br />
Lubin, who will make the final decision and<br />
set an effective date for any new order.<br />
The current rates are: ushers, 55 cents an<br />
hour in New York City, plus Nassau and<br />
Westchester Counties, and 50 cents elsewhere<br />
in the state: cashiers, matrons, cleaners<br />
and porters, 75 cents in communities of<br />
more than 50,000 population, 70 cents, from<br />
10,000 to 50,000. and 65 cents, under 10,000;<br />
doormen and ticket-takers, 70, 65 and 60<br />
cents, respectively.<br />
For all other types of employment in amusement-recreation,<br />
the minimum scale is fixed<br />
at 75 cents an hour.<br />
A bill introduced by Senator Nathaniel T.<br />
Helman, Bronx Democrat, at the last session<br />
of the legislature, would have required<br />
the industrial commissioner to establish a<br />
minimum wage order requiring the payment<br />
to motion picture theatre employes of 75 cents<br />
an hour for ushers and usherettes, 85 cents<br />
for doormen, and 95 cents for cashiers. It<br />
was not reported from the labor committee.<br />
Paper Will Support<br />
Camp Thacher Drive<br />
ALBANY—The Times-Union, in a Sunday<br />
story under a four-column caption that it<br />
"Joins Variety in 'Save Camp Thacher'<br />
Drive," promised that it would publish the<br />
name of "every individual or organization<br />
making a contribution to the campaign."<br />
The Hearst paper explained that it was<br />
joining the Variety Club in the special di'ive<br />
because of a conviction that "Albany's underprivileged<br />
boys become better citizens as the<br />
result of supervised activities at a summer<br />
camp." Goal of the effort, chairmanned by<br />
Jules Perlmutter, is $12,000.<br />
Contributions to the Camp Thacher fund<br />
may be sent in care of the Times-Union,<br />
Chief Barker Al Kellert had stated Tent<br />
9's annual Denial Week, which normally produces<br />
sufficient money to finance two-week<br />
free vacations for approximately 300 needy<br />
boys, had fallen "far short" of the $15,000<br />
objective "because of numerous other area<br />
fund drives at the same time." Kellert<br />
pledged that "regardless" Camp Thacher will<br />
be opened July 1.<br />
In the last 15 years, the Variety Club, the<br />
Times-Union reported, had raised more than<br />
$155,000 to provide free camping for some<br />
3,600 boys.<br />
BOXOFFICE :: June 15, 1957
. . Frank<br />
. . Jack<br />
. . James<br />
. . The<br />
. Gloria<br />
. . Buffalo<br />
. .<br />
. . Randall<br />
. , The<br />
. . Elmer<br />
Marilyn Monroe Attends<br />
'Showgirl' Benefit<br />
NEW YORK—Marilyn Monroe, star of<br />
"The Prince and the Showgirl," and Mayor<br />
Robert F. Wagner, headed the celebrities<br />
Marilyn Monroe and Jack L. Warner,<br />
in New Yorli attend the benefit world<br />
premiere of "The Prince and the Showgirl,"<br />
in which Miss Monroe stars with<br />
Laurence Olivier, for the Free Milk Fund<br />
for Babies. Inc, at Radio City Music Hall<br />
Thursday (13).<br />
who attended the special 9 p.m. performance<br />
of the Warner Bros, release at the Radio<br />
City Music Hall Thur.sday (13 > for the benefit<br />
of the Free Milk Fund for Babies. Inc.<br />
Following the performance, the benefit<br />
ticket-holders attended a champagne supperdance<br />
in the grand ballroom of the Waldorf-<br />
Astoria Hotel, which had Emil Coleman and<br />
his orchestra supplying the music. Tickets<br />
were priced at $50 each.<br />
Other notables on hand included:<br />
Gene Kelly, Momie Van Doren, John Raitt, Ava<br />
Gardner and Andy Griffith with such Broadway stars<br />
OS Rosalind Russell, Ethel Merman, Fredric March,<br />
Rex Harrison, Walter Pidgeon, Beotrice Lillie, Bert<br />
Lohr and Judy Holliday attending the supper-dance<br />
offer their stoge performances.<br />
Others present included:<br />
Hon. Winthrop W, Aldrich, Vincent Astor, Bernard<br />
M. Boruch, Mrs. Irving Berlin, Sherman Billingsley.<br />
Bob Considine, Countess Irene Cittodini,<br />
Duchess de Talleyrand, Morton Downey, Hope Hampton,<br />
Jomes A. Farley, Bernard F, Gimbel, Mrs. Clarence<br />
Mackay, Perle Mesta, Gilbert Miller, John<br />
Ringling North, Baroness Rothschild, Leonora Warned,<br />
Mrs. Cornelius Vonderbllt Whitney, Mrs. Clork<br />
Willioms ond Robert Young.<br />
Mrs. William Randolph Hearst, founder and president<br />
of the Milk Fund, was choirman of the benefit<br />
ond Mrs. Robert F. Wagner was honorary chairman.<br />
Serving os co-chairmen were: Mrs. Jack L. Worner,<br />
Mrs. Edgor Leonard, Mrs. Ralph K. Robertson,<br />
C. Breed, Ma<br />
TV and radio facilities which covered the<br />
benefit and the champagne supper-dance<br />
afterward included: NBC-TV, CBS-TV, Voice<br />
of America, Monitor, NBC, and Tex and Jinx,<br />
NBC, as well as 100 independent stations.<br />
Rites for Ben Wirth<br />
BUFFALO<br />
prank Lindoamp, manager of the RKO Palace<br />
in Rochester, has discovered anew<br />
the relationships between entertainment<br />
prices and the clothes that people wear.<br />
"The Ten Commandments." current at the<br />
Palace, is an advance price film, and the old<br />
customers are showing up with a new look.<br />
One of them explained to him: "If we're going<br />
to pay these stylish prices, we might as<br />
well look stylish" . S. Savage. 66,<br />
of Palm Beach Shores, Fla., former manager<br />
of the Buffalo Universal Pictures branch<br />
back in 1919, died in Florida. Savage was<br />
born in Detroit and moved to Buffalo with<br />
his parents at the age of three. He established<br />
the old Como theatre on South Park<br />
avenue in 1907. Later the Como was converted<br />
into a bowling alley, then a tavern<br />
night club. Later Savage opened the Abbott<br />
At one time he owned four Buffalo<br />
theatre.<br />
theatres. Savage was appointed Buffalo<br />
manager for Universal in 1919 and nine years<br />
later took over the management of the<br />
Buffalo and Albany offices for Columbia.<br />
is Surviving his wife Gertrude of Palm<br />
Beach<br />
Shores.<br />
Mrs. Thelma Willo.\, former secretary to<br />
Jack Chinell when the latter was manager<br />
at RKO. is now a booker's .secretary at the<br />
Buffalo U-I branch Green of<br />
.<br />
Brantford. Ont., Canada, is a new contract<br />
clerk at U-I . Kelly. U-I office manager,<br />
has been passing out stogies because<br />
of the arrival of a baby boy, named Darrow<br />
Kelly . Neumister, shipper at U-I<br />
is anticipating and his wife is expecting .<br />
Ike Ehrlichman, U-I manager, had his .son<br />
on a fishing expedition at Indian Falls last<br />
weekend and gave the younger Ehrlichman<br />
some important fisherman rules, such as always<br />
carrying an "elastic ruler" . . . Carole<br />
Michaels. 19-year-old honey blonde of Washington.<br />
New York and U-I Pictures and a<br />
Maryland University student, was in Buffalo<br />
the other day to do some tub-thumping for<br />
"Joe Butterfly," carrent at Basil's Lafayette.<br />
According to the Basil circuit and ad-pub<br />
chief Bill Brereton, Carole is the most charming<br />
saleswoman of many a movie moon.<br />
Elmer Lux, past chief barker of Variety<br />
Tent 7, and Marvin Jacobs, chairman of the<br />
Tent 7 heart committee, are among the Industryites<br />
who will attend the annual Ad<br />
Club cruise this year at Scaroon Manor on<br />
Schroon Lake in the Adirondacks June 19-23.<br />
Murray Whiteman, past chief barker of<br />
Variety, has recovered sufficiently that his<br />
doctor has advised him to take a trip to<br />
Florida for complete recuperation. He left<br />
for the sunny southland last Monday. Whiteman<br />
recently underwent a checkup in Millard<br />
Fillmore Hospital . Kallet Shoppingtown<br />
Theatre in Dewitt, N. Y., where "Around<br />
the World in 80 Days" is the current attrac-<br />
tion, is advertising "parking for 5,000<br />
NEW YORK—Funeral .services were held<br />
something pretty nice to offer patrons.<br />
cars,"<br />
The<br />
Thursday il3i for Ben Wirth, 52, head of the<br />
big space is made possible becau.se the theatre<br />
part of the huge Shoppingtown Plaza.<br />
Stanley Warner Corp real estate department,<br />
is<br />
who died two days before at his home after<br />
a long illness. He was in the real estate "Picnic" and "The Eddy Duchin Story"<br />
department for 27 years, first with Warner<br />
Bros. He leaves his wife Ruth, son Howard,<br />
was the double bill at three drive-ins. Lakeshore,<br />
DeWitt and North, near Syracuse the<br />
daughter-in-law Diane, two grandchildren other night. The films were advertised as<br />
and two brothers and two sisters.<br />
Award winning pictures Theatre<br />
Equipment & Seating supplied the following<br />
Trevor Bardette is a member of the equipment for the Super 50 Drive-In at Balston<br />
featured cast of Columbia's "The Hard Man."<br />
Lake. N. Y., according to Carl E. Bell.<br />
manager of the company's office; Ashcraft<br />
Super Cinex lamps, Ballantyne MX-2 dual<br />
channel sound and Dub'l Cone speakers,<br />
Century water-cooled projectors with cui-ved<br />
gates and Bausch & Lomb lenses.<br />
Three oldtime pictures were shown last<br />
weekend in the Dryden Theatre in George<br />
Eastman House in Rochester. They were<br />
"Jezebel." .starring Bette Davis; "A Fool<br />
There Was," with Theda Bara, and "Fric<br />
Frac," a Fi-ench film with English titles and<br />
starring Michel Simon and Arletty, with Fernandel<br />
C. Satterwhite jr, has<br />
been appointed .superintendent of the paper<br />
sensitizing division at Kodak Park Works of<br />
Eastman Kodak, Ivar N. Hultman, Eastman<br />
vice-president and plant general manager<br />
announces . F. Lux, past chief<br />
barker of Tent 7, was the principal speaker at<br />
the luncheon of the Main Street Ass'n the<br />
other day in<br />
Hotel Lafayette, which was presided<br />
over by George H. Mackenna, president<br />
of the as.sociation and general manager of<br />
Basil's Lafayette. Lux. president of the Buffalo<br />
Redevelopment Foundation, said many<br />
steps are being taken to put new life into<br />
Buffalo's downtown section.<br />
SYRACUSE<br />
To publicize the coming of "Love in the<br />
Afternoon" French actress Denise Dorin<br />
was in the city for a couple of days giving<br />
radio, TV and press interviews. The film<br />
will open July 10 at RKO Keith's, according<br />
to Sol Sorkin, manager ... "A Face in the<br />
Crowd" contest was conducted with newspaper<br />
readers invited to identify themselves<br />
in crowd pictures to win two S25 bonds. The<br />
contest was run by RKO Keith's in conjunction<br />
with the Post-Sandai'd.<br />
Bob Randall, assistant manager of Loew's<br />
Theatres, is deferring his honeymoon 'till<br />
vacationtime . local summer theatres<br />
are getting ready to open. A straight play<br />
will be presented for the first time at the<br />
Lyric Circus at Skaneateles when "The Teahouse<br />
of the August Moon" opens June 18.<br />
At the Country Playhouse in Fayetteville.<br />
the coming shows will include stars Dorothy<br />
Lamour, Joan Bennett and Marilyn Maxwell.<br />
Lions to Curb Vandalism<br />
In Reopened Theatre<br />
WILSON. N. Y—The Wilson Theatre here,<br />
clo.sed last month after Francis Tate, ow^ner,<br />
reported several instances of damage, which<br />
he attributed to teenagers, reopened Friday<br />
(14) with members of the local Lions Club<br />
acting as monitors.<br />
Since the theatre was closed, the marquee<br />
has carried posters reading: "Teenagers<br />
Closed This Theatre.<br />
Charlton Bulmer, president of the Lions,<br />
said members prefer that children remain<br />
in Wilson to attend motion pictures,<br />
"With this in mind we have offered to assist<br />
with the operation of the theatre on<br />
weekends when young people attend in large<br />
numbers," Bulmer continued. "Members will<br />
set a work schedule at a meeting to be held<br />
before the opening."<br />
The theatre has been equipped with a newscreen<br />
and has been rejuvenated, Tat€ said.<br />
BOXOFFICE :: June 15. 1957
''<br />
. .<br />
Committee<br />
. . Paramount<br />
. . May<br />
. . The<br />
. .<br />
. .<br />
. . Tony<br />
. . Jack<br />
. . Clay<br />
.<br />
. .<br />
PITTSBURGH<br />
Tack Kalmenson Week will be a special book-<br />
ing event August 25-31, honoring the local<br />
Warner Bros, manager John (Harris)<br />
.<br />
McGreeveys were at Dartmouth College when<br />
son Tom received his master's degree in<br />
chemistry for the "National<br />
.<br />
Newt" Williams noon luncheon June 27 at<br />
the Park Schenley includes Lou Hanna, Bert<br />
Stearn. Dave Silverman and Bill Scott . . .<br />
Chuck Mason, formerly here with SW cii--<br />
cuit, "Dinty" Moore booking agency, his own<br />
booking service and with UA. now is a member<br />
of the SW northeastern zone booking department<br />
at Hartford, and later will handle<br />
similar duties at the circuit's Boston suboffice<br />
under zone manager Harry Feinstein,<br />
also a former Pittsburgh showman.<br />
Three months ago B. F. Moore. SW district<br />
manager, appeared before the Ambridge<br />
school board and urged that the amusement<br />
tax which yields some $14,000 annually for<br />
the school system be reduced or eliminated,<br />
as the theatre industry showed distress signals.<br />
He said that the "bad season" was approaching<br />
for indoor theatres as the outdoor<br />
theatres "reap the harvest" in summer<br />
weather. However, the levy will be continued.<br />
Estimated income for the Ambridge school<br />
district in its budget this week includes an<br />
estimate of $13,500 to be received for the new<br />
school year from the board's amusement tax.<br />
Gabe Rubin calls attention to the report<br />
that "Around the World in 80 Days" at the<br />
Nixon has played at reduced rates and he<br />
marks this as incorrect. However, group rates<br />
are available to substantial purchasers .<br />
Sam Wheeler, filmman here who has operated<br />
an independent exchange at Washington,<br />
D. C, for a number of years with his son<br />
Ross, was here for the 81st birthday of Mrs.<br />
Wheeler's mother. Sam visited oldtime Filmrow<br />
friends and spent much of his time with<br />
his brother, local film salesman Hymie<br />
Wheeler of XJA . Weir. WB booker,<br />
resumed duties after recuperating from an<br />
operation.<br />
Rudy and Sam Navari were hosts to a<br />
number of East Borough and township Cath-<br />
ABC Drive-In Theatre on Route 88 between<br />
Baden and Conway recently introduced a new<br />
show starter, a 16mm cartoon exhibition<br />
furnished by Ed Keys of Cincinnati . . . The<br />
20th-Fox exchange annual picnic was enjoyed<br />
last Monday afternoon at the Daniel<br />
farm off McKnight road . V. Hake,<br />
former local 20th-Fox manager and in recent<br />
years Paramount managing director in<br />
Australia and New Zealand, presided as chairman<br />
of the London conference on the international<br />
presentation of "The Ten Commandments"<br />
. Morocco's new drivein<br />
under construction in the rear of his Blue<br />
Dell swimming pool on Route 30 in North<br />
Huntington township, will be licensed and<br />
booked by Frank J. "Bud" Thomas. Atlas<br />
Theare Supply building. The concrete block<br />
screen is completed except for painting and<br />
the 75x75-foot concession building is under<br />
roof; most of the grading is completed and<br />
wiring is progressing. Grand opening is<br />
looked for before July 1.<br />
.<br />
Joe Wayne, WB salesman, is enjoying this<br />
weekend in New York visiting friends . . .<br />
Columbia Theatre, Kittanning, featured<br />
Bobby Spiker and his Krazy Kats on stage .<br />
Screen Guild here now is releasing the product<br />
of Republic, American International,<br />
DCA, RKO, EPI, Warner Bros, reissues,<br />
Lippert product Kaufman has<br />
settled down with offset pz'inting busi-<br />
his<br />
ness, ADV Agency, in two rooms on the first<br />
floor of the Atlas Theatre Supply building<br />
next to the Bud Thomas booking office . . .<br />
Bill Thomas. U-I fashion designer, was here<br />
to exploit "Tammy and the Bachelor" .<br />
Variety Club Tent 1 telethon on KDKA-TV<br />
last Thur.sday-Sunday brought in about $100,-<br />
000.<br />
Hampton Township Denies<br />
Wildwood Road Permit<br />
four<br />
PITTSBURGH—For the second time in<br />
months Hampton township supervisors<br />
rejected a rezoning proposal to permit a<br />
"recreation center district" on Wildwood<br />
Road near North Park where a drive-in theatre<br />
would be constructed. More than 125<br />
persons attended a hearing in the Hampton<br />
High School to protest the proposal. The<br />
hearing was marked by bitter denunciation<br />
of lurid films shown in some outdoor theatres<br />
olic nuns for a special matinee screening of<br />
around Pittsburgh.<br />
"Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison" at their Eastwood<br />
Theatre.<br />
Rev. Francis R. Stifter, pastor of St. Catherine<br />
Catholic Church in Wildwood, issued<br />
A Filmrow visitor from the west coast was a scathing denunciation of the kinds of films<br />
Joe Moritz. fonnerly a Verona exhibitor, who<br />
later went into exhibition in Los Angeles .<br />
shown at drive-ins.<br />
theatres are known<br />
He said these outdoor<br />
as "pa.ssion pits" for the<br />
Former city exhibitor Dave Fineman is a worst teenage elements. "Do we want the riffraff<br />
producing agent for the Carsten Agency and<br />
of lower northside coming out here?"<br />
Father Stifter asked. Paul A. Smith, engineer<br />
recently he was the guest of Paul Revere<br />
Life Insurance Co. at Wentworth-by-thesea.<br />
and real estate man, estimated all property<br />
is di-scontinuing its within a mile would depreciate 15 per cent<br />
N. H. .<br />
district office here July 1, and Howard Min- in value if the township supervisors would allow<br />
the proposed rezoning. A petition with<br />
.sky is moving to Philadelphia. Ann Cohen,<br />
who has been Minsky's secretary, will move 328 names opposing a drive-in theatre was<br />
her office upstairs to be secretary to Manager<br />
read by J. Kenneth Andrews.<br />
Eugene Jacobs. Kay Grotticelli, man-<br />
ager's secretary, moves into the booking department;<br />
Harry Passarell, booking and of-<br />
Luncheon ior Newt Williams<br />
PITTSBURGH—Film industry friends of<br />
fice manager, will remain office manager and<br />
"National Newt" Williams will give him a<br />
assume duties of cashier; Helen O'Connell<br />
luncheon June 27 at the Park Schenley, adjoining<br />
the SW Schenley Theatre. Oakland<br />
becomes assistant cashier. Jacobs recently<br />
replaced Dave Kimelman, who had been employed<br />
Representative of the theatre equipment<br />
by this company for 36 years.<br />
business here for 43 years, 30 years with<br />
district.<br />
National Theatre Supply, Newton F. Williams<br />
has retired, with Harry Russell, salesman under<br />
Williams for 11 years, succeeding him as<br />
NTS branch manager. William Scott of Allied<br />
Artists is handling luncheon tickets.<br />
Three Censor Bills<br />
Before Pa. Solons<br />
HARRISBURG—Three censor bills were<br />
before the Pennsylvania General Assembly,<br />
advanced by the Senate law and order committee.<br />
Efforts to revive censorship in the<br />
Keystone State gained headway during the<br />
last fortnight with agreement between the<br />
administration and Republicans and Democrats<br />
in the Senate. Amendments and revisions<br />
were di-afted by the state Justice Department.<br />
The bills would not authorize<br />
blanket censorship, but the proposed board<br />
would review films on complaint. Persons<br />
convicted of exhibiting films violating the<br />
law would be liable to $500 fines and jail<br />
terms of one year.<br />
bills Active for the various are sponsors<br />
Sen. William J. Lane (D., Washington);<br />
Sens. John H. Dent iD.. Westmoreland) and<br />
Hugh J. McMenamin (D., Lackawanna), and<br />
Sen. Rowland B. Mahany, Republican floor<br />
leader. The legislature's problem is the choice<br />
of the various bills aimed at reviving a state<br />
cen.sor board. Members are asked to select<br />
the one that they believe meets possible tests<br />
of legality before the U. S. Supreme Court<br />
which has ruled previous censorship boards<br />
in Pennsylvania and several other states unconstitutional.<br />
Solons Hold Up Action<br />
On Tax Law Amendment<br />
HARRISBURG—The controversy over Republican<br />
slashes in Pemisylvania Gov. George<br />
M. Leader's budget was a possible reason for<br />
holdup of House of Representatives action on<br />
the Senate bill which amends the enabling<br />
act of 1947 and would disallow enactment<br />
and collection of a 10 per cent amusement<br />
tax in political subdivisions of the state. The<br />
Senate passed the bill several weeks ago, 42<br />
to 4. the 4 negative votes being from Davie<br />
Lawrence Democrats of Pittsburgh. Some<br />
exhibitors believe if the House passes the bill,<br />
the governor will veto it, if cuts in his budget<br />
are not restored.<br />
For a decade 300 political subdivisions of<br />
the state have enacted and collected the<br />
discriminatory amusement levy which has<br />
helped to close hundreds of theatres in<br />
Penn.sylvania, and which has seriously damaged<br />
all amusement businesses. Senate Bill<br />
446 was amended to include elimination of<br />
the local amusement taxes where drive-in<br />
theatres are concerned. Formerly the<br />
measure applied to hardtop theatres and did<br />
not include ozoners, although originally the<br />
bill did not discriminate between indoor and<br />
outdoor theatres.<br />
Back to Tarentum as Mgr.<br />
TARENTUM, PA.—Thomas A. Morris has<br />
returned here as manager of the Stanley<br />
Warner Harris Theatre. After a short stint<br />
here in 1955. he was transferred to the Nittany<br />
at State College, Pa. Tom, who has been<br />
with SW since 1948, will move into the apartment<br />
above the theatre with his wife Margie<br />
and their two children, Deborah, 3, and<br />
Thomas jr., six months.<br />
Stanley E. Clemens, 34, Dies<br />
GAULEY BRIDGE, W. VA.—Stanley E.<br />
Clemens, 34-year-old owner and operator of<br />
the Gauley Theatre, died at his home here<br />
recently after a short illness.<br />
BOXOFFICE June 15, 1957
. . . Home<br />
. . . Cliff<br />
. . John<br />
with<br />
. . Washington<br />
. . MGM<br />
. .<br />
. .<br />
. .<br />
I<br />
'^<br />
. . Charles<br />
. . James<br />
. . Mahoning<br />
WASHINGTON<br />
Ray Powell, manager of the SW Warner<br />
Theatre in West Chester, died at the West<br />
Chester Hospital after a long illness . . . It's<br />
a baby boy for Mr. and Mrs. Al Strulson. He's<br />
the 20th Century-Fox salesman.<br />
Joseph Kirner, 54, motion picture operator<br />
for Warner Bros., died at the Orpheum Theatre<br />
in Germantown, where he worked. Surviving<br />
aie his wife Sarah, three .sons, Charles,<br />
Earl and Edward, and a daughter Sally Ann.<br />
Rodney Collier Shifted<br />
To SW District Chief<br />
BALTIMORE— After 23 years as manager<br />
in costume and in person for a .sendoff of<br />
"The Silent World" at his Cameo Theatre.<br />
After tearing down several buildings in the<br />
rear of the theatre, the Cinema is completing<br />
its own parking lot for patrons. It will<br />
accommodate approximately 80 cars.<br />
PHILADELPHIA<br />
'Thv VVOMI'I of Washington held an installation<br />
The Belmont Theatre in West Philadelphia<br />
(if llio Stanley Theatre, Rodney Collier is<br />
being transferred to has been sold for a nonthealncal enter-<br />
dinner at the Elks Club Tuesday<br />
evening (11 the following officers installed:<br />
Cyd Charisse, star of "Silk Stock-<br />
t Wiishington to become<br />
president, Thelma Powell; vice-<br />
* a district manager for ings," was the guest of honor for the opening<br />
jf<br />
presidents, Mary Louise Parry and Madeline<br />
""'^^ Stanley<br />
/<br />
Warner of two new scientific productions in the Fels<br />
1<br />
Ackerman; recording secretary, Ethel Curtis;<br />
. . . the<br />
. . Manual<br />
7i^€lA^la^t
of<br />
"<br />
HOLLYWOOD<br />
NEWS AND VIEWS OF THE PRODUCTION CENTER<br />
Hnllmrood Office—Suite 219 at 6404 HoUi/irood Blvd.. Ivan Sprar. Wrst(<br />
Augment Film Crews<br />
For Island' Debut<br />
HOLLYWOOD—For world premiere coverage<br />
on Thursday 1 13 1 Darryl F. Zanuck's<br />
"Island in the Sun" at Grauman's Chinese<br />
Theatre, Arthur DeTitta, west coast head of<br />
Muvietonews. planned to bring in extra crews<br />
from San Francisco and Seattle to augment<br />
the Los Angeles crew.<br />
A special filmed report of the film's debut<br />
was to be rushed to New York for showing<br />
on Ed Sullivan's CBS show Sunday (16i.<br />
Released by 20th-Fox, 'Island" was filmed<br />
in the British 'West Indies and stars James<br />
Mason. Joan Fontaine, Dorothy Dandridge,<br />
Joan Collins, Michael Rennie and Harry<br />
Belafonte.<br />
MGM's "The Happy Road." produced and<br />
directed by its star. Gene Kelly, under his<br />
Kerry banner, is scheduled to be premiered<br />
at New York's Plaza Theatre on Thursday<br />
1 201, with all proceeds to be donated to<br />
Manhattan's French Hospital.<br />
Kelly plans to fly east for the film's bow,<br />
to which celebrities of screen, stage, television,<br />
radio, society and civic life have been<br />
invited.<br />
Regular continuous performances of "Road<br />
are to begin the following day, Friday i21i.<br />
In conjunction with the w^orld premiere<br />
of MGM's "Silk Stockings" on Friday (7)<br />
at Loew-'s Theatre in Norfolk, Va., Cyd<br />
Charisse, who stars in the musical with Fred<br />
Astaire and Janis Paige, made a personal<br />
appearance and participated in a number of<br />
activities linked with the film's engagement.<br />
Named "Sweetheart of the Navies," Miss<br />
Charisse was officially acclaimed at the International<br />
Naval review of 18 navies and<br />
met officers and sailors of some of the 105<br />
ships in the navies during a special tour.<br />
"Band of Angels," Warner Bros." motion<br />
picture version of Robert Penn Warren's<br />
best-selling novel of the Civil War, is scheduled<br />
to make its bow this summer at the<br />
New York Paramount Theatre. Filmed largely<br />
on location in Louisiana, "Angels" stars<br />
Clark Gable and Yvonne DeCarlo.<br />
Kicking off a nationwide campaign to<br />
capitalize on the fame of the late Jimmy<br />
Walker, mayor of New York during the Roaring<br />
Twenties, Paramount has selected Wednesday<br />
il9i. Walker's birthday, for joint<br />
celebrations in Manhattan and Los Angeles,<br />
highlighted by previews of "Beau James." the<br />
Mel Shavelson-Jack Rose production.<br />
Titanus Films' "The Monte Carlo Story,"<br />
HONORED FOR 'SPIRIT' — Currently<br />
cast as an army corporal in Warners'<br />
"Darby's Rangers," actor Murray Hamilton<br />
is shown admiring the BOXOFFICE<br />
Blue Ribbon Award he received when the<br />
National Screen Council selected "The<br />
Spirit of St. Louis," also a Warner release,<br />
as the "best picture of the month for the<br />
whole family" to go into distribution during<br />
.\pril. Produced by Leiand Hayward<br />
and megged by Billy Wilder. "Spirit"<br />
toplined James Stewart as Charles A.<br />
Lindbergh. Hamilton portrayed his pal,<br />
Bud Gurney. in the opus.<br />
starring Marlene Dietrich, Vittoria DeSica<br />
and Ai-thur O'Connell, released through United<br />
Artists, will have its first U. S. showing at<br />
the Fine Arts Theatre here beginning Friday<br />
(281<br />
Batjac Completes First<br />
Calamity Jane TV Show<br />
HOLLYWOOD — Markin-; tlie company's<br />
second project in the field ol filmed television,<br />
Batjac Productions completed the first<br />
show in a new half-hour western teleseries<br />
titled Calamity Jane, produced by Donald<br />
Barry and directed by Frank McDonald.<br />
Selected to portray the famous frontier gal<br />
was Elaine Davis.<br />
Plans for the production of a new TV series,<br />
Lisbon, which will star Dennis O'Keefe and<br />
will be filmed in Portugal, were announced<br />
by Gordon S. Griffith and Robert Bradford,<br />
heads of the recently organized Grifford<br />
Productions. Alvin Ganzer has been signed<br />
to direct the entire group of 39 half-hour<br />
shows, which will be filmed at the Tobis<br />
Studios in Lisbon, beginning in August. Wilton<br />
Schiller and Jack Laird will write the<br />
SDG Renames Sidney<br />
To His Seventh Term<br />
HOLLYWOOD — George Sidney was reelected<br />
to his seventh term as president of<br />
the Screen Directors Guild of America at the<br />
annual membership meeting Friday i7> night.<br />
Highlights of tlie session were the pre.sentation<br />
by Sidney of the first SDG annual award<br />
for direction of a foreign film to Federico<br />
Fellini ("La Strada"i and an honorary life<br />
membership to onetime silent film megaphonist<br />
and veteran actor Donald Crisp, with<br />
John Ford making the presentation.<br />
Other officers elected were Rouben Mamoulian,<br />
first vice-president; George Stevens,<br />
.second vice-president: Lesley Selander, treasurer,<br />
and John Sturges, secretary.<br />
New board members for a two-year tern,<br />
are Delmer Daves, Cecil B. DeMille, Henry<br />
King, Mark Robson, George Seaton, King<br />
Vidor, George Waggner and Don Wei.ss. Remaining<br />
on the board are David Butler, Tay<br />
Garnett, Mamoulian, Leo McCarey, H. C.<br />
Potter, Selander, Sturges and Fred Zinne-<br />
Emmett Emerson was elected president of<br />
the assistant director's council of the guild:<br />
Dick Moder, first vice-president: Ridgeway<br />
Callow, second vice-president; Jack R. Berne,<br />
secretary and Mark Sandrich, treasurer.<br />
New council members elected for two years<br />
are Eugene Anderson jr.. Rex Bailey, Jack<br />
R. Berne, Callow, Carter De Haven jr., Moder.<br />
Sandi-ich, Eric Stacey. Continuing on the<br />
council for another year are William Beaudine<br />
jr., John E. Burch, Walton Carter, Ben<br />
Chapman. Francesco Day, Emer.son. Austen<br />
Jewell and Arthur Lasker.<br />
Juanita Hall Signed<br />
HOLLYWOOD — Producer Buddy Adler<br />
booked Juanita Hall, the original Bloody<br />
Mary of Rodgers and Hammerstein's "South<br />
Pacific," to recreate her role for the 20th-<br />
Fox picturization ol the dramatic musical,<br />
which Joshua Logan will direct, with Mitzi<br />
Gaynor and Rossano Brazzi costarred.<br />
Pier Angeli to Star<br />
HOLLYWOOD — Portraying a<br />
trapeze artist.<br />
Pier Angeli will star with Danny Kaye<br />
in MGM's "Merry Andrew." being produced<br />
by Sol. C Siegel and directed by Michael<br />
Kidd. It is slated to roll July 1<br />
Gramercy Adds 'Claire'<br />
HOLLYWOOD — Arthur Gardner, Jules<br />
Levy and Arnold Laven have added "Claire,"<br />
a screenplay by Pat Fielder with a gambling<br />
background, to their Gramercy Pictures production<br />
schedule.<br />
BOXOFFICE :; June 15. 1957 W-1
C^ecuiiijLe ^n^uueUni<br />
West: Aftei- attending the world premiere<br />
of U-I's "Tammy and the Bachelor" in New<br />
Orleans, Charles Simonelli, U-I's eastern advertising<br />
and publicity department manager,<br />
planed in for a series of conferences at the<br />
studio with Vice-President David A. Lipton.<br />
West: Morey R. Goldstein, Allied Artists<br />
vice-president and general sales manager, arrived<br />
from New York for huddles anent release<br />
plans for upcoming pictures.<br />
West: William Dozier, RKO vice-president<br />
in charge of production, returned from<br />
Europe, where he visited the company's exchanges<br />
and distribution representatives in<br />
London, Paris. Madiid and Rome and also<br />
discussed proposed eoproduction deals for<br />
RKO with Continental production companies.<br />
Before coming back to the coast, Dozier<br />
stopped off in New York for parleys with<br />
Daniel T. O'Shea, RKO president.<br />
East: Aboard the Queen Elizabeth, Edwin<br />
H. Knopf departed tor England. In London,<br />
he plans to discuss with Carol Reed filming<br />
of "Black Virgin of Gold Mountain." which<br />
he recently sold to Reed. Next Knopf plans<br />
to head for Paris to confer with Mel Ferrer,<br />
who will direct his production of "Venus and<br />
the Cat." Accompanied by his wife, Knopf<br />
then expects to go to Switzerland to write<br />
and prepare for the fall filming of "Venus."<br />
West: Joseph Hazen arrived from New<br />
York for confabs with his partner Hal Wallis<br />
on productions plans.<br />
West: Producer Robert Bassler returned<br />
from Gotham meetings with Max Youngstein<br />
and other United Artists executives on release<br />
plans for his "Gunsight Ridge."<br />
West: Leopold Friedman, Loew's Theatres<br />
president, arrived from New York on<br />
a combination vacation and look-see at new<br />
product, both major and independent. On<br />
his return trip to Gotham, he plans to visit<br />
cities in which his company's theatres are<br />
located.<br />
West: Stanley Kramer returned from<br />
New York, where he participated in press<br />
interviews and television appearances in connection<br />
with the Capitol Theatre opening on<br />
the 28th of "The Pride and the Passion."<br />
which he produced and dii-ected for United<br />
Artists<br />
distribution.<br />
West: Director Henry King, after three<br />
months in Mexico and two weeks in France<br />
filming Darryl F. Zanuck's "The Sun Also<br />
Rises." returned to 20th-Fox studios to supervise<br />
the cutting and editing of the production.<br />
West: Producer Robert Aldrich is back<br />
from New York, where he was working with<br />
UA toppers on release exploitation plans for<br />
"The Ride Back."<br />
West: Director John Sturges and cinematographer<br />
James Wong Howe departed for<br />
Honolulu to prepare for location filming of<br />
"The Old Man and the Sea," Leland Hayward's<br />
forthcoming production for Warner<br />
Bros. Hayward plans to join them shortly.<br />
: West Fred Zinnemann returned from the<br />
Belgian Congo, where he has been scouting<br />
locations for "The Nun's Story," which he<br />
will direct for Warners.<br />
West: Harry L. Mandell, vice-president of<br />
AB-PT Pictures, returned from Gotham,<br />
where he was conferring with home office<br />
executives regarding the newly negotiated<br />
deal providing for release of AB-PT product<br />
by Republic Pictures Corp.<br />
June 28 London Opening<br />
Is Set for 'Big Show'<br />
NEW YORK — A special international<br />
version of "The Big Show." 20th Century-Fox<br />
product feature, will<br />
have its Eui'opean<br />
premiere June 28 at<br />
the Carlton Theatre,<br />
London, and set for<br />
showings in all major<br />
cities in the world, according<br />
to Murray Silverstone.<br />
president of<br />
the international company<br />
and Intra-American<br />
Corp.<br />
Silverstone will leave<br />
June 19 for London<br />
Murray Silverstone and Paris to complete<br />
arrangements for presentations with Albert<br />
Cornfield, supervisor for England and Europe.<br />
Other key showings will be held in Paris,<br />
4: 9, July Frankfurt, July and Rome, July 17.<br />
Silverstone said he will attend all.<br />
After the London premiere, "The Big Show"<br />
will be shown in the British provinces, appearing<br />
in Cardiff, July 3; Dublin, July 4;<br />
Birmingham, July 5: Glasgow, July 8; Newcastle.<br />
July 9; Leeds. July 10; Manchester,<br />
July 11, and Liverpool. July 12. Exhibitors,<br />
media representatives and civic and religious<br />
leaders will then see it in Belgium, Sweden,<br />
Switzerland, Holland, Greece. Egypt. Portugal.<br />
Norway, Denmark, Finland and Israel.<br />
Silverstone said that showings will start at<br />
about the same time in all Latin American<br />
countries, the far east, Australia. New Zealand<br />
and South Africa.<br />
The international version features Spyros<br />
P. Skouras. president; Buddy Adler. executive<br />
producer, and Silverstone in descriptions of<br />
the company's 55-picture schedule for the<br />
coming year.<br />
Title Changes<br />
Tender Fury (WBi to THE SEVEN TEN-<br />
DER FURIES.<br />
Burst of Vermilion iPara) to COMAN-<br />
CHERO.<br />
The Islander lU-Ii to RAW WIND IN<br />
EDEN.<br />
Lafayette Escadrille (WBi to WITH YOU<br />
IN MY ARMS.<br />
No Place to Die (AAi to MAN FROM<br />
MONTEREY,<br />
Smoke Cancels Program<br />
DUNSMUIR. ORE. — Smoke from burning<br />
lint and dust around flue pipes in the Dunsmuir<br />
Masonic Temple caused cancellation of<br />
an evening's show in the California Theatre<br />
located in the building. Mrs. Anna McClintock.<br />
theatre manager, was of the opinion<br />
that theatre .seats and possibly the screen<br />
would have to be cleaned because of the<br />
smoke. Little or no actual fire damage occurred.<br />
Calif. Press Women<br />
Honor Doris Day<br />
HOLLYWOOD—Doris Day was to be presented<br />
an honorary lifetime membership in<br />
the California Ass'n of Press Women at their<br />
annual Golden Flame luncheon Saturday<br />
(15) at the Ambassador Hotel, marking the<br />
first time an actress has been so honored by<br />
the organization. The award was voted Miss<br />
Day for "her cooperative attitude toward the<br />
Cedric Francis, head of Warner Bros.' short<br />
subjects department, has received a special<br />
awards medal from the Freedom Foundation<br />
at Valley Forge for the short, "Down Liberty<br />
Road."<br />
Crown and Helprin Form<br />
New Production Company<br />
NEW YORK—Alfred Crown has resigned<br />
as vice-president of Allied Artists in order<br />
to form a partnership with Morris Helprin<br />
for the production of pictures for both theatres<br />
and television. The new organization<br />
will be known as Barbizon Productions Corp.<br />
and will have its headquarters in New York.<br />
Crown has been a vice-president of Allied<br />
Artists for the last two years, handling many<br />
of the company's co-production deals. Previously,<br />
he was president of Moulin Pi-oductions,<br />
vice-president of RKO Pictures and<br />
vice-president of Samuel Goldwyn Productions.<br />
Helprin formerly was president of London<br />
Films Productions and for many years was<br />
Western Hemisphere representative for Alexander<br />
Korda.<br />
Expressing regret in Crown's resignation.<br />
Steve Broidy. AA president, in a personal<br />
message to Crown said he was happy that<br />
he was getting to do the thing he wanted<br />
to do. adding. "May I take this opportunity<br />
to extend my gratitude for your efforts on<br />
behalf of Allied Artists and my very best<br />
wishes for success in your undertaking."<br />
Screen Producers Guild<br />
Names Committee Head<br />
HOLLYWOOD — Selected by the Screen<br />
Producers Guild boai-d of directors as the<br />
new season's committee chairmen were Frank<br />
McCarthy, public relations; Walter M. Mii'-<br />
isch, aims and objectives, and Pandro S. Berman,<br />
finance.<br />
Re-elected as committee chairmen were<br />
Louis F, Edelman, membership, and Samuel<br />
J. Briskin. negotiations.<br />
Additionally. President Samuel G. Engel<br />
announced that Carey Wilson has been appointed<br />
editor of the SPG Journal and that<br />
William H. Wright will continue as editor of<br />
the guild's<br />
newsletter.<br />
Brian Donlevy Signed<br />
HOLLYWOOD — Undertaking the part<br />
a gunfighter, Brian Donlevy will star with<br />
Glenn Ford, Jack Lemmon and Anna Kashfi<br />
in Columbia's tentatively titled "Reminiscences<br />
of a Cowboy," to be directed by Delmer<br />
Daves and produced by Julian Blaustein.<br />
of<br />
W-2 BOXOFFICE June 15, 1957
Disney Signs Stars<br />
For 'Ghosl' Serial<br />
HOLLYWOOD—Teenaged actors Tim Coiisidine<br />
and Tommy Kirk have been inked to<br />
star in Walt Disney's forthcoming serial,<br />
"The Mystery of Ghost Farm." which will be<br />
presented in 14 consecutive segments on Disney's<br />
Mickey Mouse Club ABC-T'V program<br />
for the 1957-58 season.<br />
Considine and Kirk will portray two teenagers.<br />
Frank and Joe Hardy, who become involved<br />
in a number of exploits at a "ghost"<br />
farm.<br />
Signed for featured roles in the same serits<br />
were Russ Conway and Sara Selby. who will<br />
e.ssay the roles of private detective Fenton<br />
Hardy and Aunt Gertrude, respectively.<br />
Filming is slated to get under way this<br />
month under the direction of Robert G.<br />
Springsteen. Jackson Gillls scripted.<br />
Local Censorship Is Only<br />
Second Best. Pastor Says<br />
MEMPHIS— "Movie producers aren't justified<br />
in making dirty films just because it<br />
means a dollar at the boxoffice," Dr. W. J.<br />
Cunningham, pastor of St. John's Methodist<br />
Church, told 80 members of Better Films<br />
Council at the monthly meeting.<br />
Localized censorship, however, is "only<br />
second best," the minister said. "If America<br />
is to protect the morals of its motion pictures,<br />
censorship must be at the place of production."<br />
Better Films Council announced its Movie<br />
of the Month selection as "The Spirit of St.<br />
Louis." Mrs. Harry B. Allen is president and<br />
Mrs. Clarence Hossley is review committee<br />
chairman.<br />
Inexpensive Light Meter<br />
Is Developed by MPRC<br />
HOLLYWOOD — An inexpensive and accurate<br />
screen brightne.s.s meter which can<br />
be operated without any special training has<br />
been developed by the Motion Pictuj-e Research<br />
Council. The device, it is claimed,<br />
will enable theatres to make regular check.s<br />
of screen light so that they can furnish<br />
studios with pertinent and accurate information<br />
on print density for release prints.<br />
Previous meters have been too expensive for<br />
general use.<br />
Associated Chain Plans<br />
To Add Two Indoorers<br />
LOS ANGELES — As.sociated Theatres,<br />
which operates ten motion picture houses<br />
and ozoners in the southern California area,<br />
plans to add two hardtops to its chain during<br />
the next several weeks. One theatre will be<br />
near San Diego.<br />
The circuit, headed by Sam Decker. Alfred<br />
J. Olander and Edward Ashkins, has .set the<br />
Earie J. Johnson Booking Service to handle<br />
booking; and buying of product.<br />
Signs Herschel Dougherty<br />
HOLLYWOOD — Walt Disney has signed<br />
Herschel Daugherty to direct his live-action<br />
Technicolor feature. "Light in the Forest,"<br />
starring James MacArthur. Based on Conrad<br />
Richter's novel, it was scripted by Lawrence<br />
E. Watkin.<br />
lir-'OR some inexplicable reason. Time<br />
Jr^ magazine has always taken a dim and<br />
jaundiced view of motion pictures and<br />
the Hollywoodians who work in and on them.<br />
Down through the years, this obviously<br />
prejudiced perspective has reflected itself in<br />
critiques, articles and even in the occasional<br />
cover story that the publication has devoted<br />
to one or another of Cinemania's acting<br />
Recently that acidity again was displayed<br />
in the news journal's spacious Television and<br />
Radio department in a glaringly-inconsistent<br />
article that undertook to establish that the<br />
making of motion pictures for theatrical exhibition<br />
has developed into a mere and<br />
meager adjunct to video. Most of the comparisons<br />
and statistics set forth in the Time<br />
symposium were too ludicrous to warrant<br />
much consideration. There was, however,<br />
one statement that invites passing comment,<br />
to wit:<br />
"The best new creative talent that the<br />
movies can find comes from TV: such directors<br />
as Delbert ("Marty"! Mann. 37, John<br />
("The Young Stranger") Frankenheimer,<br />
28, Robert ("Fear Strikes Ouf'i Mulligan,<br />
30, such writers as Rod ("Patterns"! Serling,<br />
32, Reginald ("Twelve Angry Men"i<br />
Rose. 36, and Paddy (."The Bachelor Party" i<br />
Chayefsky, 34.<br />
"By contrast, the old Hollywood of the<br />
movie studios seems staled by age, caution<br />
and fear."<br />
Ironically enough, the same issue of the<br />
periodical, in its comparatively niggardly<br />
Cinema department, listed "the most popular<br />
movies in the U. S. last month." A dozen<br />
contemporary features were named. In only<br />
one instance—and that was the 12th in the<br />
lineup—did one of the "best new creative"<br />
men above listed have anything to do with<br />
the making thereof. The inconsistency is<br />
magnified through a gander at this trade<br />
journal's weekly reports on top-grossing pictures<br />
and, on a broader plane, by reviewing<br />
the hit films of 1956 as tabulated in its recently-published<br />
annual issue, BOXOFFICE<br />
BAROMETER.<br />
In view of which, those whose livelihoods<br />
depend upon the production and exhibition<br />
of theatrical celluloid should be happy that<br />
"the old Hollywood . . . staled by age, caution<br />
and fear" can still muster the talents of<br />
enough decrepit, prudent and apprehensive<br />
creators to produce the moneymakers.<br />
But while it is impossible at this point to<br />
believe—as the Time article indicated—that<br />
pressive. engros,sing videoplay, ably directed,<br />
adequately enacted and, over-all, noteworthy<br />
in view of the mechanical and productional<br />
limitations of the medium through which<br />
it was projected. Tracing the career of the<br />
torch singer who was part and parcel of the<br />
saga of the torrid '20s, the offering had about<br />
it an aura of realism unleavened by attempts<br />
to provide a "happy" ending.<br />
Now, out at the Burbank studio of the<br />
Freres Warner, they have completed a loudlytouted<br />
and unusually promising feature utilizing<br />
the same theme. Produced as "The<br />
Helen Morgan Story," it underwent a change<br />
in tag—just after the Playhouse 90 presentation,<br />
by the way—and is now known as "Both<br />
Ends of the Candle." Essaying the role of the<br />
nightclub thrush is Ann Blyth and the offering,<br />
a Martin Kackin production in CinemaSeope,<br />
was directed by no less a personage<br />
than Michael Curtiz. Cast in support of Miss<br />
Blyth are Paul Newman and Richard Carlson,<br />
both established names that can help<br />
measurably as marquee bait.<br />
With .such an array of established talent<br />
and proven filmmaking knowhow, there can<br />
be little doubt that a well-above-average<br />
photoplay will result.<br />
Whether the earlier TV treatment of the<br />
subject will function as an annoying hurdle<br />
in its promising financial path or will serve<br />
to whet the appetites of<br />
viewers to patronize<br />
the theatrical screen version—which has to<br />
be bigger and better, per se—time alone can<br />
reveal.<br />
NAMES IS NAMES<br />
Chuck Moses informs that "Johnny Western<br />
has been cast for a role in Bel-Air Productions'<br />
'Fort Bowie.' "<br />
Those industryites who have been hoping<br />
and praying for unrestricted pay-as-youview<br />
television as the solution to all of filmdom's<br />
woes will find pause for thought in the<br />
report that the Vermont Federation of<br />
Women's Clubs has voted to ask Congress to<br />
ban any form of pay TV that would blackout<br />
channels used for free home reception.<br />
The outfit's contention that "no charge,<br />
direct or indirect, from any source whatsoever"<br />
should he imposed on the video-viewing<br />
public was scheduled for discussion at a<br />
slated national convention this month of the<br />
General Federation of Women's Clubs down<br />
in Asheville. N. C.<br />
While the action taken by the Vermont<br />
clubwomen and the possibility of its extension<br />
may at this writing be considered little<br />
more than a wilderness voice, it nevertheless<br />
indicates that public opinion may erect<br />
many formidable hurdles in the path of<br />
coin-in-the-slot video to delay its becoming<br />
the tail is wagging the dog, nonetheless there the universal entertainment medium its vociferous<br />
are ever-increasing manifestations that that<br />
disciples are prophesying.<br />
posterior appendage can be troublesome and<br />
is not to be ignored.<br />
\ recent example: As an entry in its Playhouse<br />
90 scries of dramatic offerings, CBS<br />
Intelligence<br />
flackery of Arthur<br />
from the<br />
Supermouse<br />
catch-as-catch-can<br />
Jacobs reveals<br />
that it is handling—and the term is<br />
telecast a 90-minute biographira! drama<br />
based on the life of Helen Morgan. With looseJy used— publicity for "Sleep No More,"<br />
an Associated Dragon opus to be lensed in<br />
Polly Bergen in the title role, it was an im-<br />
England and Spain.<br />
Despite which. Spring street bookies will<br />
BOXOFFICE W-3<br />
lay two to one that Artful Arthur and associates<br />
will continue to slumber on undisturbed.
I Am<br />
.<br />
. . Deitz<br />
. . Jumping<br />
. .<br />
7wo World Pictures Are Big Scorers<br />
In L.A.; 'Gunfight' Stays Strong<br />
LOS ANGELES—Launching of Cinerama's<br />
"Seven Wonders of the World" gave local<br />
first run business a shot in the arm as it<br />
registered 240 per cent in its initialer. However,<br />
"Around the World in 80 Days" could<br />
not be nudged from top position, scoring 360<br />
in its 25th stanza. But the hard-ticket attractions<br />
were not the only ones which racked<br />
up impressive grosses. In its second week.<br />
"Gunfight at the O.K. Corral" tallied 205.<br />
while "Something of Value," in its first canto,<br />
clocked in at 185.<br />
(Averaae Is 100)<br />
Be^erly Canon— Gold of Naples (DCA), 7th wk 75<br />
(UA)<br />
Carthoy Cirr'e Around the World in 80 Days<br />
25th wk 360<br />
Set (20th-Fox), Chinese—Desk 4th wk 60<br />
Egyptian, Paramount Downtown, Wiitern A Face<br />
the Crowd (WB); Shoot-Out at Medicine Bend<br />
in<br />
(WB), 2nd wk<br />
Rey—Albert<br />
50<br />
El Schweitzer (DeRochemont), 3rd<br />
,<br />
Fme Arts—The Bachelor Party (UA), 9th wk<br />
Four Star The Baby and the BaHleship (DCA);<br />
a Comera (DCA), reissue, 2nd wk<br />
Fox Wilshire, Loyolo, Vogue, Worners Downtowr<br />
Public Pigeon No 1 (U-l), Mon Afraid U-l)<br />
Hillstreet, Ins, Uptown The Oklohomon (AA),<br />
Badmen (AA)<br />
Lost of the<br />
Hollywood, Los Angeles The Wayward Bus (20th-<br />
Fox); in Break the Circle (20th-Fox), 2nd wk<br />
New Fox, Ritz, State The Little Hut (MGM); Sierro<br />
Stranger (Col), 2nd wk<br />
Pontages Something of Value (MGM)<br />
Paramount Hollywood Gunfight at the O.K. Corral<br />
(Poro), 2nd wk<br />
Vogobond Lady Chatterley's Lover (Kingsley),<br />
7th wk<br />
-The Ten Commar<br />
Drners<br />
(Par.<br />
Bi<br />
30th wk<br />
d Seven Wonder<br />
'80 Days' and "Corral' Stay<br />
Strongest in Denver<br />
DENVER —"Around the World in 80 Days"<br />
stayed at the Tabor, going into its fifth week,<br />
and "Gunfight at the O.K. Corral" got a<br />
third week at the Denham. "War Drums" at<br />
the Lakeshore Drive-In and "Joe Butterfly"<br />
at the Paramount headed the other two bills<br />
that were above average.<br />
Denver Beyond Momboso (Col); Ten Toll Men<br />
Lakeshore Drive-In War Drums (UA); Dance<br />
With Me Henry (UA)<br />
Orpheum Garment Jungle The Burglar<br />
(Col);<br />
(Col)<br />
Poramount Joe Butterfly (U-l); The Cruel Tower<br />
4th<br />
World 80 Days (UA)<br />
120<br />
Fox—The Wayward Bus (20th-FQx) 120<br />
Golden Gate—The Oklohomon (AA) 70<br />
Paramount—Gunfight of the O.K. Corral (Poro) 250<br />
Froncis—A Face the Crowd (WB) 100<br />
St. in<br />
United Artists— Monkey on My Bock (UA) 100<br />
Little Vorfield The Hut (MGM), 2nd wk 120<br />
"loe Butterfly' a Perky 130<br />
At Seattle Music Hall<br />
SEATTLE —Although Mike Todd's brainchild<br />
continued to monopolize the outsize<br />
percentages, "Joe Butterfly" opened well at<br />
130, and "Gunfight at the O.K. Corral"<br />
scored 120 in its second week.<br />
Blue Mouse Around the World in 80 Days (UA)<br />
8th wk 300<br />
Coliseum Gunfight ot the O.K. Corral (Para);<br />
Fear Strikes (Poro), Out 2nd wk 120<br />
. Fifth Avenue—The Lonely Man (Para); Buster.<br />
Keaton Story (Para) 100<br />
Music Box Torzon and the Lost Safori (MGM) .110<br />
1<br />
Music Hall—Joe Butterfly (U-l) 30<br />
Long Run Pictures Hold<br />
Top Scores in Portland<br />
PORTLAND—"Around the World in 80<br />
Days" retained its lead as the boxoffice<br />
champion here, with an estimate of 325 per<br />
cent at the Broadway.<br />
Broadway—Around the World in 80 Days (UA) 325<br />
Fox—Garment Jungle (Col) 90<br />
Guild Wee Geordie (Trans-Lux), 5th wk 165<br />
Liberty Little The Hut (MGM), 2nd wk 110<br />
Orpheum Oklohomo! (20th-Fox) 85<br />
Paramount Gunfight at the O.K. 150<br />
Corral (Para).<br />
'Johnny Tremain' Due<br />
Al Boston on June 26<br />
NEW YORK—Walt Disney's "Johnny Ti-emain"<br />
has been booked for Boston in an 18-<br />
theatre day-and-date opening at Boston June<br />
26 by Irving Ludwig. Buena Vista general<br />
sales manager; James V. O'Gara. eastern division<br />
manager, and Herb Schaefer, northeastern<br />
district manager.<br />
The 18 theatres, including the downtown<br />
Mayflower and principal suburban and neighborhood<br />
houses, have a total of 27,000 seats.<br />
Charles Levy has gone to Boston with exploiteers<br />
Bob Dorfman and Ed Hale to direct<br />
the promotion campaign.<br />
M&R Freight Terminal<br />
Is Opened in Omaha<br />
OMAHA—Rapid Film Service of Gi'and<br />
Island and Mills Film Tiansport of Lincoln<br />
opened the M&R Freight Terminal at 414<br />
North Fourteenth St. here.<br />
Manager of the Omaha terminal is Chet<br />
Waterman, who had been with Film Ti-ansport<br />
of Omaha since 1940.<br />
Glenn Mills is the owner of the Mills company.<br />
Dick and Nick Lysinger are operators<br />
of Rapid transfer. Both have been in the<br />
LOS ANGELES<br />
pilmrow Club plans to hold its annual picnic<br />
July 27 at Crystal Springs in Griffith<br />
Park. All members are invited to attend<br />
with their families O. N. "Bill" Srere,<br />
. . .<br />
.<br />
.<br />
chief barker ot Variety Tent 25, presided over<br />
both the crew meeting and membership session<br />
Lloyd Miller<br />
held Monday ilOi . . . & Associates of the 99 Drive-In and South<br />
Chester ozoner, ha-s taken over the Terrace<br />
Drive-In from Scott Theatres, Inc. It is<br />
. . Richard<br />
located in the Bakersfield area<br />
Stockton has acquired the Congress Theatre<br />
in Los Angeles from Milt Lefton<br />
Jim Boyd, who operates a theatre supply<br />
company on the Row, opened his 400-car<br />
Lake Drive-In at Big Bear.<br />
.Accompanied by his wife, Al O'Keefe,<br />
O'Keefe & Gamble circuit, is visiting New<br />
york and Washington, D. C., on a combined<br />
business and pleasure trip . . . Warner Bros,<br />
exploitation chief Max Burkett returned<br />
from a northern California trek . . . Jerry<br />
Persell, DCA manager, departed for Phoenix<br />
on business . Newlund, president of<br />
Tater Products Co.. accompanied by Walt<br />
Clayton, the organization's eastern representative,<br />
met with Hollis Wood, purchasing<br />
agent of the Sero Amusement Co. Wood has<br />
since left for Salt Lake City to check concessions<br />
in his outfit's theatres in that area.<br />
M. J. E. McCarthy, manager of Allied Artists<br />
exchange, returned to his office following<br />
a two-week vacation, which he spent in<br />
northern California and Oregon . . . Wendell<br />
Bjorkman, district manager for Buena Vista,<br />
is vacationing . off a diving<br />
board. Republic Pictures Manager Jack Dowd<br />
pulled a ligament in his leg and hence is<br />
walking with the aid of a cane.<br />
Booking and buying along Filmrow were<br />
Harry Agron. Apache Drive-In, Tucson:<br />
George Diamos and George Caveloris. Lyric<br />
in Bisbee, Ariz.; Bob Berken, Ken Theatre,<br />
San Diego, and Al Stetson, West Coast Theatre,<br />
San Bernardino.<br />
film transport business 27 years.<br />
"Corral' Hits Sizzling 250<br />
Tlie three companies. Film Ti-ansport of the publication and the necessary ballots will<br />
In First Frisco Week<br />
Omaha, Rapid and Mills formerly were in be distributed at theatres before playdates.<br />
SAN FRANCISCO—A blasting 250 per cent the same building at Eleventh and Davenport<br />
M&R<br />
The winner will receive an Austin car, a<br />
set the Paramount Theatre management into<br />
seven-day flying trip to the Bahamas for<br />
streets. is now a licensed freight carrier<br />
happy grins when the first week of "Gunfight<br />
two people and "a nontransferable lifelong<br />
and more room was needed for its op-<br />
erations.<br />
at the O.K. Corral" tallied up the<br />
lease to Ava-Ava Island" in the South<br />
gro.sses. Second spot honors were far behind<br />
Pacific. To be awarded as consolation<br />
with 120 per cent going to the opening week<br />
prizes are 20 sets of table silverware.<br />
of "The Wayward Bus" and the second week Word Circuit to Operate<br />
of "The Little Hut."<br />
Arabian in Arab, Ala.<br />
ARAB, ALA.—The Arabian Theatre, which Eight Classed 'Adult'<br />
has been leased to Word Tlieatres of Scottsboro<br />
TORONTO—Eight features have been clas-<br />
by Haden Whatley, was reopened by<br />
the new operators after remodeling which<br />
involved changing of the front to provide<br />
more lobby space.<br />
With the reopening of the Arabian, which<br />
has been in operation about ten years, the<br />
new owners closed the Ritz which has been<br />
open about 20 years. Whatley leased the<br />
theatre to devote full time to other business.<br />
A 'Little Hut' Contest<br />
TORONTO—A countrywide limerick contest<br />
for the promotion of "The Little Hut"<br />
has been launched by the Canadian Home<br />
Journal, a monthly magazine published at<br />
Toronto, in conjunction with MGM of<br />
Canada. Entry blanks are obtainable from<br />
sified adult entertainment by the Ontario<br />
censor board as follows: "Attack of the Crab<br />
Monsters," "The Delinquents," "Hit and<br />
Run." "Lizzie." "The Man Who Turned to<br />
Stone," "No Time to Be Young," "The River's<br />
Edge" and "The Undead." A ninth picture,<br />
"Forbidden Women," has been restricted to<br />
adult patronage, meaning persons 18 years<br />
and over.<br />
W-4<br />
BOXOFFICE June 15, 1957
. . The<br />
. . The<br />
. . Verne<br />
. .<br />
SAN FRANCISCO<br />
Irving M. Levin, division direrldr. San<br />
Francisco Theatres, chief barker of Variety<br />
Tent 32 of Northern CaUfornia, received<br />
additional duties as he was named to Mayor<br />
George Christopher's committee to entertain<br />
navy men during San Francisco's Fleet Day.<br />
Over the Flag Day weekend i<br />
June 13-16) more<br />
than 14 navy vessels fill the port with naval<br />
personnel filling both San Francisco and the<br />
East Bay. Levin arranged with the major<br />
number of the Market Street theatres to allow<br />
uniformed servicemen to enter at junior<br />
rates. Several art houses also offered this<br />
price relief.<br />
torio de Sica film. The only picture to top<br />
the Italian feature is the famous ''La Ronde"<br />
which played a 21-week engagement in 1951.<br />
Tlie new picture beat out the longtime second<br />
place holder "Trio," also a 1951 entry.<br />
F. VV. Galvin, division manager of United<br />
California Theatres, was named a member of<br />
a volunteer committee to publicize the United<br />
Crusade's fall campaign . Victory Theatre<br />
in Henderson treated the Girl Scouts<br />
and Brownies of Boulder City to a free movie<br />
as a reward for selling Girl Scout cookies and<br />
peanuts. The Scouts were supposed to have<br />
attended the free show at the El Portal in<br />
Las Vegas but because of other commitments,<br />
the troop leaders were granted the special<br />
privilege in Henderson,<br />
Evelyn Tutt. secretary to Charles Doty of<br />
Fox West Coast, and for many years with the<br />
theatre circuit, is very nearly beside herself<br />
with justifiable excitement. Her son Robert,<br />
who formerly worked for FWC, is returning<br />
to make his home here from his station in<br />
Beruit, Lebanon, where he was associated<br />
with Pan American Airways<br />
celebrities here recently included Groucho<br />
Marx; Alan Ladd, his wife Sue and his<br />
daughter and son; Fred MacMurray and wife<br />
June Haver, and George Sanders. Bing Crosby<br />
flew in from Hollywood to participate in the<br />
second annual Marty Welch Invitational Golf<br />
Tournament, and chalked up a 77.<br />
Michael Todd jr., w'as in town on a tour to<br />
cities where his father's "Around the World<br />
in 80 Days" is playing. He was accompanied<br />
by Bill Doll, recently made a vice-president<br />
of the Todd organization . Zeesman.<br />
partner with John Bowles in Motion Picture<br />
Purchasing, is a mighty proud man. Verne's<br />
three teenaged daughter-s—Diane Marie. Darlynn<br />
Louise and Sharon Judy— all graduate<br />
this month from high school.<br />
.<br />
period . . .<br />
The Pix Theatre at Pixley. August Panero,<br />
has closed temporarily Molino Theatre<br />
in Porterville closed for an indefinite<br />
Trudy Kleiser, PBX receptionist<br />
at Republic, is ill at Mount Zion Hospital .<br />
Bob Broadbent, city manager North Coast<br />
Theatres, was vacationing.<br />
Visitors to the Row included Mr. and Mrs.<br />
Andrew Alverez who are doing theii- own<br />
booking and buying for their Castroville Theatre<br />
in Castroville. The account formerly was<br />
Lloyd Franklin Renamed<br />
New Mexico TOA Head<br />
SANTA FE—Some 80 members of the New^<br />
Mexico Theatre Ass'n met at the La Fonda<br />
Hotel here this week
.<br />
. . Georgia<br />
. . Gene<br />
. . Other<br />
. . Clink<br />
. .<br />
SEATTLE<br />
prank Sinatra gave Seattleites a sock performance<br />
Sunday night at the Civic<br />
Auditorium. For more than an hour he sang<br />
pieces selected to suit his vocal style, backed<br />
by a recording-studio orchestra, plus Frank<br />
D'Amore as master of ceremonies and Hal<br />
Loman and two blonde dancing partners.<br />
The show, playing to a near-capacity audience,<br />
was promoted by the Volchok-Engerman<br />
team.<br />
The women of Variety Tent 46 made over<br />
$800 for the Variety Club Children's Heart<br />
Clinic at their recent special preview party<br />
held at the Green Lake Theatre . . . Harold<br />
G. Tomsett. representative of British Overseas<br />
Airways, was in town last week from<br />
New York to make arrangements for Variety<br />
Club members wishing to attend the Variety<br />
International convention to be held in London<br />
in May of 1958.<br />
Lindsley Parsons, producer, has been in<br />
Portland for two weeks for shooting of his<br />
film, "Portland Expose" . . . H. Neal East,<br />
Paramount western division sales manager,<br />
was in town from Los Angeles . . . Frank<br />
Jenkins has been working on second runs of<br />
"The Ten Commandments" out in the Western<br />
territory, the first being at the Grand<br />
Theatre in Bellingham, -July 2.<br />
Allied Artists' "Love in the Afternoon"<br />
has been set for the Music Box here July 3<br />
and the Orpheum, Portland, July 10 . . .<br />
Paramounfs "Gunfight at the O.K. Corral"<br />
did so well in its first week at the Coliseum<br />
that it was held over for a second week.<br />
The Orpheum Theatre here, has closed for<br />
a 30-day period to permit renovation .<br />
Hannah Tragger, Paramount cashier, returned<br />
from a week's vacation . . . Metro's<br />
"Man on Fire" was previewed at the Music<br />
.<br />
.<br />
.<br />
Hall Hulton. AA cashier, is<br />
back on the job after her wedding trip<br />
The local Paramount offices are undergoing<br />
complete renovation and redecorating, as<br />
Lonie has<br />
well as adding space<br />
left his booking job with AA to accept a<br />
position with National Screen Service.<br />
Variety Tent 46 is sponsoring a coupon book<br />
deal, to go on sale June 17th for a period of<br />
three weeks, in which a $150 value is offered<br />
for only $3.00. Tickets include theatres, race<br />
track, ball park, skating rink, restaurants,<br />
night clubs, and fen-y trips. The books are<br />
available from Variety Club . Wineholt,<br />
former manager of the Music Hall, has<br />
been named Hamrick assistant city manager.<br />
He replaces Cass Smith who left for<br />
southern California which he hopes will be<br />
beneficial to his children's asthmatic condition.<br />
Will Grieme was in town from his Vitaphone<br />
and drive-ins at Wenatchee. and the<br />
Omak Theatre, Omak . Filmrow<br />
visitors included Gene Grosbeck; Harry Wall.<br />
Lewiston. in at Saffles for booking; Ralph<br />
Stout, in from his Grange Theatre: and<br />
Darrell Sanders, over from his Cameo Theatre,<br />
Tacoma.<br />
200-Car Montana Airer<br />
Opened by Herb Bonifas<br />
CHINOOK. MONT. — Chinook's newest<br />
enterpri.se. the Red Rock Drive-In Theatre,<br />
was opened to the public recently for the<br />
first time by Herb Bonifas. The Red Rock,<br />
which will accommodate 200-cars, is equipped<br />
with RCA sound and has a Cinemascope<br />
screen. The snack bar is completely modern<br />
with facilities for dispensing popcorn, hot<br />
dogs, soft drinks and coffee. Admission<br />
prices are 70 cents for adults, 50 cents for<br />
students and 20 cents for children.<br />
DENVER<br />
r?ASfl®_rBiTTR[l<br />
SPECIAL<br />
TRAILERS<br />
niMACK<br />
nniM.ii.ui.i,i.imj,iin,iai.ii<br />
Improve at Jamestown<br />
JAMESTOWN. N. D.~Jamestown Theatres,<br />
headed by Burr W. Cline and Margaret C.<br />
Ludwig, widened the screen to 76 feet and<br />
reopened the Grand Theatre in mid-May.<br />
Cline. operator of the Star Theatre and<br />
Sunset Drive-In. bought the Grand from the<br />
Minnesota Amusement Co. Cline came to<br />
Jamestown in 1935 as manager for the MAC<br />
circuit of the Opera House. In 1949. Cline<br />
and L. J. Ludwig formed the Jamestow^l<br />
Theatres and built the Sunset Drive-In.<br />
HANDY<br />
BOXOFFICE:<br />
825 Van Brunt 31
. . Both<br />
PORT LAND<br />
AAichael Todd jr. and Bill Doll of Michael<br />
Todd enterprises were in town on the<br />
northwest leg of a nationwide tour of theatres<br />
playing Todd's "Around the World in<br />
80 Days." The two were guests at a luncheon<br />
at the Aero Club attended by Tom Walsh,<br />
J. J. Parker, executive assistant: Herb Royster,<br />
Broadway manager; Herb Larsen, Oregonian<br />
motion picture editor, and Arnold<br />
Marks. Oregon Journal motion picture editor.<br />
.M\a.n Weider, MGM exploiteer, was in<br />
working on "Something of Value." set for<br />
the Liberty. Ben Crosby of KWJJ is arranging<br />
a statewide radio saturation campaign<br />
for "Man on Fire." Key towns in Oregon<br />
participated in MGM's i.sland giveaway contest<br />
for "The Little Hut." Weider said. Winners<br />
in the nationwide contest will be announced<br />
in September . Herb Larsen<br />
of the Oregonian and Arnold Marks of the<br />
Journal went to Seattle to interview Jean<br />
Seberg. star of "Saint Joan."<br />
The Portland Chamber of Commerce is<br />
setting up a special committee to encourage<br />
the filming of motion pictures and television<br />
pictures in the northwest. Unusual scenery<br />
and facilities are readily available, the chamber<br />
points out.<br />
Spray Company Adds<br />
Jet<br />
Salesman Al Lamson<br />
BOSTON— Albert O. Lamson, has been appointed<br />
eastern sales-service representative<br />
for Jet Spray Corp.,<br />
Boston, manufacturer of<br />
electrically refrigerated drink dispensers.<br />
William H. Jacobs, president, said: "Mr.<br />
Lamson's appointment is another step forward<br />
in our integrated marketing program<br />
which combines all service and sales activities<br />
under a central department. Our increased<br />
service should greatly help our jobbers<br />
in their relationship with their customers."<br />
Lamson comes to Jet with over eleven<br />
years of experience in sales and engineering<br />
problems. He formerly was a sales engineer<br />
for Lempco Products, Inc.. Cleveland, manufacturer<br />
of automotive machine shop equipment.<br />
Previously, he was a sales representative<br />
for W. J. Connell. Boston, automotive<br />
wholesaler and distributor of parts and equipment,<br />
and with Grinold Auto Parts, Hartford.<br />
Conn.<br />
Lamson will make his headquarters in<br />
Waterbury from where he will cover the New-<br />
England and Middle Atlantic states.<br />
To Meg Bowery Entry<br />
HOLLYWOOD — Megging chores on Allied<br />
Artists' "Looking for Danger" were handed<br />
to Austen Jewell. Ben Schwalb is producing<br />
this feature, which is the 46th in the Bowery<br />
Boys comedy series, starring Huntz Hall and<br />
Stanley Clements. The .screenplay was written<br />
"oy Ehvood UUman,<br />
Wm. Pavlik Owner Now<br />
PRESTON, ONT.—The Park, the only theatre<br />
here, has been sold by Theatre Holding<br />
Corp. of Toronto to William Pavlik of Kitchener,<br />
who has started an improvement program<br />
at the house.<br />
Portland AA Office<br />
Hosts Producer<br />
PORTLAND—The Allied Artists office here<br />
played host to Producer Lindsley Parsons and<br />
his a.s.sociate John H. Burrows at a exhibitors<br />
luncheon at Bergs Chalet here Friday i7i.<br />
The producers of "Portland Expose" w-ere on<br />
location here for a week. Hosts were Ed<br />
Cruea, Seattle AA manager, and R. C. Carlson<br />
of the Portland office.<br />
Parsons and Burrows praised the cooperation<br />
they received in the Portland area<br />
pointing to the "let's get the job done first"<br />
spirit they encountered everywhere. Par-sons<br />
also gave a hand to the local technicians employed<br />
for camera and sound work.<br />
The picture, which will be rushed for release<br />
by August 15 holds something of a<br />
record. Parsons said. Thirty minutes after<br />
a planeload of players and technicians<br />
landed at Portland international airport here,<br />
the first scenes were shot. The exteriors had<br />
been selected a week before by Pai-sons, Burrow.s<br />
and Director Harold Schuster. Final shot<br />
was made Saturday afternoon at the anport<br />
just before the players and crews left for<br />
Los Angeles.<br />
Portland Civic theatre actors, local radio<br />
and TV men. were picked for minor roles.<br />
Even members of the police and fire departments<br />
appeared. Little difficulty was experienced<br />
in making the picture. Despite the<br />
theme of the picture—how a tavern operator,<br />
a family man, gets involved in labor racketeering—police<br />
and labor executives were most<br />
cooperative. Parsons says he was hoping for<br />
.some kind of legal action to give the pictm-e<br />
a further touch of national publicity. So far,<br />
nothing is forthcoming along that line.<br />
Guests at the luncheon included Jesse<br />
Jones of Jones theatres; M. M. Mesher, Paramount<br />
Theatre; Tom Walsh, Parker Theatre;<br />
Art Adamson and Mark MacDougald, Adamson<br />
Theatre; Ray Brown and Andy Anderson.<br />
United Theatres, and other exhibitors.<br />
Martin Theatres Changes<br />
Name of Its TV Station<br />
COLUMBUS. GA. — Officials of Martin<br />
Theatres of Georgia have changed the call<br />
letters of the company's channel 28 TV station<br />
here to WTVM. The station formerly<br />
was called WDAK-TV.<br />
Channel 28 made its bow Oct. 6, 1953 and at<br />
that time was owned 50-50 by Martin Theatres<br />
of Georgia and Radio Columbus, operator of<br />
WDAK radio. On Mar. 15. 1954. the Martin<br />
circuit acquired 75 per cent of the TV station,<br />
and in April 1957 channel 28 became a<br />
full-fledged member of Martin Theatres.<br />
Officers of WTVM are E. D. Martin, president;<br />
R. E. Martin, vice-president, and C. L.<br />
Patrick, secretary-treasurer. E. D. and Roy<br />
Martin own and operate motion picture theatres<br />
in Georgia, Alabama, Florida and Tennessee,<br />
with Patrick as general manager.<br />
Guy Tiller, formerly with Atlanta Newspapers,<br />
Inc., and TV station WLWA in Atlanta,<br />
was named general manager of WTVM<br />
Grandson for Geo. Landers<br />
HARTFORD—George E. Landers, division<br />
manager for E. M. Loew's Theatres, and hi.s<br />
wife became grandparents for the fourth<br />
time, when a baby boy was born to Dr. and<br />
Mrs. Ben Vicas of Burlingame, Calif. Mrs.<br />
Vicas was the former Marilyn Landers.<br />
RESEARCH BUREAU<br />
for<br />
MODERN THEATRE PLANNERS<br />
ENROLLMENT FORM FOR FREE INFORMATION<br />
The MODERN THEATRE<br />
PLANNING mSTFTUTE<br />
825 Van Brunt Blvd.<br />
Kansas City 24, Mo.<br />
Please enroll us in your RESEARCH BUREAU<br />
to receive information regularly, as released, on<br />
the lollowing subjects for Theatre Planning:<br />
n Acoustics<br />
n Air Conditioning<br />
D Architectural Service<br />
n "Black" Lighting<br />
D Building Material<br />
D Carpets<br />
n Lighting Fixtures<br />
\J Plumbing Fixtures<br />
^ projectors<br />
D Projection<br />
° S^"''"'<br />
Lamps<br />
n Coin Machines ^ ^igns and Marquees<br />
Sound Equipment<br />
D Complete Remodeling<br />
D Decorating<br />
El Television<br />
n Drink Dispensers D Theatre Fronts<br />
n Drive-hi Equipment n Vending Equipment<br />
n Other Subjects<br />
rheolre<br />
,<br />
Seating Capacity..<br />
Address<br />
City<br />
State<br />
Signed<br />
Postage-paid reply cards for your further convenience<br />
in obtainiflg injormotion are provided in The MODETTN<br />
THEATRE Section, published with the first Issur of<br />
BOXOFFICE :: June 15. 1957
JOHN I. COllYER Porfroil fay fabian Bachrach<br />
"75% of B. F. Goodrich Employees . .<br />
Save $9,000,000 Per Year'<br />
"B. F. Goodrich people are proud of their many years<br />
of participation in the Payroll Savings Plan. 75% of our<br />
employees are members of the Plan, with payroll deductions<br />
of $9,000,000 a year.<br />
"Thrift is one of the keys to our continued prosperity.<br />
It builds security for the family, retards inflation and<br />
stabilizes the purchasing power of the dollar. I am<br />
proud that Ohio is a leader in this worthwhile endeavor<br />
and that it has been my privilege to serve since 1950<br />
as State Chairman of the Payroll Savings Advisory<br />
Committee."<br />
jq^^^ j coLLYER, Chairman<br />
The B. F. Goodrich Company<br />
A simple person-to-person canvass that puts a Payroll Savings<br />
Application Blank in the i.ands of every employee is all you<br />
have to do to install the Payroll Savings Plan or build employee<br />
participation in your present plan. Your State Sales<br />
Director is ready to help you. Write today to Savings Bond<br />
Division, U. S. Treasury Department, Washington 25, D. C.<br />
The United Slates Government does not pay for thi^ advertising. The Treasury Department<br />
thanks, for their patriotic donation, the Advertising Council and<br />
BOXOFFICE<br />
W-8 June 15, 1957
: June<br />
. Pitcher<br />
Manager<br />
. , . , Ralph<br />
'O.K. Corral' Ups Take<br />
In 2nd Chicago Week<br />
CHICAGO— Grosses tor several films which<br />
were strong in the initial week took something<br />
of a nosedive, but "Gunfight at the<br />
O.K. Corral" at the United Artists scored<br />
a neat increase at the boxoffice during the<br />
second week. Newcomers showing promise<br />
were "The Little Hut" at the Woods: "Pantaloons"<br />
at the Ziegfeld and "Dragstrip Girl"<br />
plus "Rock All Night" at the Garrick.<br />
(Averoge Is 100)<br />
Knows, Mr. Allison Carnegje Heoven (20th-Fox) 185<br />
Chicago—The D.I. (WB), 2nd wk 210<br />
Esquire— Loser Takes All (DCA) 195<br />
Gorrick Dragstrip Girl (AlP), Rock All Night<br />
(AlP) 200<br />
Grond The Deodly Mantis iU-l); The Girl in the<br />
Kremlin (U-ll 195<br />
Loop— This Could Be the Night (MGM), 3rd wk. . .185<br />
McVickers—The Ten Commandments (Poro); 28th<br />
wk 285<br />
Monroe— Monster trom Green Hell (DCA); Half<br />
Human (DCAi ?nd ^k 180<br />
Onentol—The Wayward Bus 20th-Fox), 2nd wk. . .200<br />
Palace Seven Wonders of the World (Cinerama),<br />
26th wk 315<br />
Roosevelt The Lonely Mon (Poro); Dragoon<br />
( Wells Massacre AA) 1 95<br />
in State Loke A Foce the Crowd (WB), 2nd wk. 190<br />
Surf— Gold of Naples ,DCA), 4th wk 185<br />
Todd's Cinestoge Around the World in 80 Days<br />
(UA), 9fh wk 355<br />
United Artists Gunfight at the O.K. Corrol<br />
(Pora), 2nd wk 220<br />
Woods The Little Hut (MGM) 210<br />
World Playhouse The Naked Eye (Film Representations),<br />
2nd wk 1 90<br />
Ziegfeld Pantaloons (UMPO) 195<br />
Rain and Storms Continue<br />
To Cut Kaycee Attendance<br />
KANSAS CITY — The holdovers were<br />
doing well here and the first weeks of most<br />
other first run pictures went above average.<br />
Storms in the area and rain about showtime<br />
cut the attendance, however, particularly<br />
Tuesday night when the city was alerted<br />
for tornadoes forming over the city itself. No<br />
serious damage was done outside of that to<br />
the boxoffice take on that night.<br />
Glen and Dickinson The Ride Back (UA), The Big<br />
Caper (UA) 110<br />
Kimo Invitotion<br />
Midland— Beyond<br />
115<br />
to the Dance MGMl; 3rd wk.<br />
Momboso iCol), Hellcats of the<br />
Navy (Col'<br />
Missouri—Cinerama<br />
90<br />
50<br />
Holiday jCineroma), 13th wk 1<br />
Paramount—Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (Para),<br />
2nd wk . 90<br />
Fox); The River's Edge (20th-Fox) 105<br />
Mo. Assembly 'Stands Pat'<br />
On Controversial Bills<br />
Rockhill Figaro, the Barber of Seville (Artists Producers<br />
Assoc ) 90<br />
Roxy The Ten Commandments (Para), 16th wk .150<br />
Tower—Around the World in 80 Days (UA), 2nd<br />
wk 500<br />
Uptown, Fairway and Granado China Gote (20th-<br />
JEFFERSON CITY—The recently terminated<br />
session of the Mis.souri General Assembly<br />
is being characterized as a "stand<br />
pat" body for its flat rejection of. or failure<br />
to act upon, these proposed measures:<br />
A move to repeal the King-Thompson act<br />
which bars public utility strikes, elimination<br />
of daylight saving time on a statewide basis,<br />
a minimum wage law, legalization of horse<br />
and dog racing and at-the-track parimutuel<br />
betting, a proposal to create a state department<br />
of public safety and fire prevention<br />
that would have regulatory powers over public<br />
places including motion picture theatres,<br />
a bill to permit bingo games for the benefit<br />
of charities, a bill to permit a governor to<br />
succeed himself, one to bar any discrimination<br />
by restaurants, hotels, theatres and<br />
dance halls and a bill to require an industry<br />
to hire a Negro if his qualifications for a<br />
job were greater than those of a white applicant.<br />
MPA Plans Big Evenf<br />
In Picnic Ball Game<br />
KANSAS CITY—What promises to be one<br />
of the most enjoyable industry events in this<br />
area will be the picnic which the Motion<br />
Picture Ass'n of Greater Kansas City is having<br />
at Wildwood Lakes on June 24. Not only<br />
are members urged to bring their families and<br />
as many guests as desired, but the local<br />
Women's Organization of the Motion Picture<br />
Industry (WOMPIi chapter has also been<br />
invited. Tickets are $1 each for adults and<br />
50 cents for children. Each group is asked to<br />
furnish its own food in basket picnic style<br />
or accommodations may be had at the restaurant<br />
in the park. Tlie activities will start<br />
at 2 p.m. and include horseshoe pitching,<br />
swimming, miniature golf, boating, dancing<br />
and shuffleboard. There will be draw prizes<br />
and prizes for horseshoe pitching.<br />
The grand event of the picnic, however,<br />
will be the ball game between exhibitors and<br />
distributors. The lineup for this is as follows:<br />
Distributors Position Exhibitors<br />
Don Foster 1st Base Chet Hilton<br />
Frank Thomas 2nd Base Dick Brous<br />
jr.<br />
Al Adier 3rd Base.. Dickinson<br />
Howard Kinser Shortstop. Adams<br />
Tom Boldwin Left Field Harold Hume<br />
Ralph Amacher Center Field Jim Lewis<br />
Morey Relder Right Field .... Stan Durwood<br />
Roscoe Thompson. Elmer Rhoden jr.<br />
Joe Neger Ed Hartman<br />
Horry Gaffney Utility Bev Miller<br />
Tom Bailey Bat Boy Fred Souttar<br />
Leon Robertson Umpire Joe Manfre<br />
Tickets for the event may be obtained from<br />
Harry Gaffney of Dixie Enterprises, Howard<br />
Thomas of Warner Bros., Abbott Sher of<br />
Exhibitors Film Delivery or Ralph Adams of<br />
Fox Midwest. That ball game alone ought<br />
to be worth three times the admission price!<br />
Harwald to Manufacture<br />
Movie-Mite Projector<br />
CHICAGO — The Harwald Co., Inc. of<br />
Evanston, 111., has taken over the manufacture<br />
and distribution of the Movie-Mite 16<br />
mm sound projector from the Calvin Co. of<br />
Kansas City, Mo. The Harwald company<br />
has been manufacturing products for the<br />
photographic and audio-visual fields since<br />
1946.<br />
One of the first steps to be taken by Harwald<br />
is the establishment of an improved<br />
;ind more extensive nationwide service organization,<br />
as well as closer relations with<br />
photo dealers. The Movie-Mite was recently<br />
re-engineered and now has such advanced<br />
features as a curved film gate, single lamp<br />
for both sound and picture, and automatic<br />
safety trips which stop the machine automatically<br />
if a loop is lost.<br />
Truman to Talk at Lyric<br />
On Theatre Anniversary<br />
BOONVILLE. MO. — Former Pi-esident<br />
Harry S. Tiuman has accepted the invitation<br />
to make the rededication talk at the<br />
100th anniver-sary of the Lyric Theatre (Thespian<br />
Halli on July 2 at 7 p.m. The Fox Midwest<br />
house has many historic associations,<br />
such as serving as a ho.spital and as Union<br />
troop headquarters during the Civil war battle<br />
of Boonville. Truman's talk will be along<br />
historical lines, and Governor Blair and other<br />
state officials will<br />
attend.<br />
'80 Days' Bow Benefits<br />
Symphony Orchestra<br />
ST. LOUIS—The St. Louis premiere of<br />
Mike Todd's "Around the World in 80 Days"<br />
netted the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra<br />
more than $6,500 the night of June 4. The picture<br />
was presented in a special benefit performance<br />
at the Esquire Theatre on Clayton<br />
road in Richmond Heights with the house<br />
scaled at $5 general admission and loge seats<br />
$10.<br />
Mike Todd and the owners of the Esquire<br />
decided to give the first night's receipts to<br />
the St. Louis Symphony Society which has a<br />
drive on to raise $225,000 to support the<br />
orchestra through the 1957-58 season and to<br />
wipe out a deficit from the past season. The<br />
$6,500 from "Around the World in 80 Days,"<br />
puts the funds raised past the $200,000 mark.<br />
NEAR CAPACITY CROWD<br />
The premiere brought out a gala audience<br />
of some 1.500 persons, practically capacity<br />
for the de luxe suburban first run house. Included<br />
were many civic and social leaders.<br />
Before the show a dance orchestra played<br />
on the sidewalk in front of the theatre, as<br />
"Indians" and persons from all around the<br />
world in authentic costumes cavorted on a<br />
large truck parked in Clayton road.<br />
The ceremonies prior to the opening of the<br />
picture in the theatre were very brief. Alfred<br />
Fleishman, board chairman of the<br />
Symphony Society, was presented and spoke<br />
briefly from the stage, thanking the owners<br />
of the Esquire and Mike Todd, producer of<br />
the picture, for the benefit performance. Todd<br />
cabled regrets from Cannes. France, at being<br />
unable to attend the local premiere, and extending<br />
wishes for the success of the Symphony<br />
Society's fund drive.<br />
William J. Heineman. UA vice-president<br />
in charge of distribution, and James R. Velde,<br />
general sales manager, headed a party of 30<br />
to the benefit premiere. They were in St.<br />
Louis for a two-day sales conference at Hotel<br />
Chase on June 5 and 6.<br />
EXPLOITATION BY BEKGER<br />
Jerry Berger. who handles advertising and<br />
publicity for the Esquire Theatre, in cooperation<br />
with William Zalken, Symphony Society<br />
secretary, did a terrific advance exploitation<br />
and advertising campaign for the benefit and,<br />
of course, for the regular engagement of the<br />
picture that opened on June 5. Included in<br />
the campaign was a visit to St. Louis by<br />
Mike Todd jr. He attended a special luncheon<br />
at the Anheuser-Busch executive offices and<br />
saw the world's largest brewery. He visited<br />
the City Hall and received the key to the<br />
city from Mayor Raymond R. Tucker and also<br />
made personal appearances on local television<br />
stations and was interviewed by several<br />
prominent radio disc jockeys. The daily<br />
newspapers also carried featured interviews<br />
from Todd.<br />
Sam Levin, co-owner, and Howard Zulauf,<br />
manager of the Esquire, report a fine advance<br />
sale of tickets for "Around the World<br />
in 80 Days" through some six weeks or more<br />
since they were placed on public sale. The<br />
St. Louis engagement marks the first time<br />
the feature has been shown in a 35mm version.<br />
All other engagements thus far have<br />
been only in the Todd-AO 70mm.<br />
Filming of "The Islander" will start<br />
Italy in the middle of June.<br />
BOXOFFICE ;<br />
15, 1957
. . . LeRoy<br />
. . Alice<br />
. . Ray<br />
. . Dennis<br />
. . Mrs.<br />
. .<br />
Larry<br />
. . Stebbins<br />
. .<br />
. . . Dolores<br />
. . Mrs.<br />
. . The<br />
. . Bernice<br />
. . Connie<br />
. . Few<br />
KANSAS CITY<br />
f*eoTge Roth, sales manager for Trans-Lux<br />
. . .<br />
Pictures, was in town "Heaven<br />
Knows, Mr. Allison" was a record-breaker<br />
here in eight drive-ins over the Decoration<br />
Day weekend, reports Howard Kinser, 20th-<br />
Fox sales manager. "It lifted the spirits of<br />
the exhibitors because it showed them what<br />
could be done with the right picture and<br />
still<br />
a decent break in the weather," he commented.<br />
Harry Wood is winding up the audit<br />
in the local office. Joe Bondank, booker,<br />
is going on what Kinser suspects will be a<br />
"honey-do" vacation — "honey, do this,"<br />
"honey, do that." Lena Orr, head inspector,<br />
comes back from her three weeks and Irene<br />
Sharp starts on hers from that department.<br />
Fox Midwest managers are concentrating<br />
on the big push for Rhoden Weeks, June 26<br />
—July 9, an annual event . . . Jess Spain,<br />
manager of the Vista Theatre, is the father of<br />
a daughter born May 24 in St. Mary's Hospital,<br />
whose name is Peggy Ann . . .<br />
Tyndall<br />
Lewis, manager of the Gillioz Theatre at<br />
Springfield, Mo., and family were fortunate<br />
not to be hurt in a recent auto accident<br />
Nichols, manager of the Regent<br />
Theatre at Wellington, Kas., has a new approach<br />
by using a single column, editorialized<br />
message in the local paper which is proving<br />
effective . Ann Uhrmacher is the<br />
new secretary in L. E. Pope's office . . .<br />
Chief Auditor Lindy Mayberry has his third<br />
son now with the recent ai-rival of Delbert<br />
Neil Mayberry.<br />
"The James Dean Story," produced and<br />
directed by George W. George and Robert<br />
Altman, has been acquired by Warner Bros,<br />
for distribution. This is of special interest<br />
to Kansas Citians for Altman is a local boy<br />
and has worked here for the Calvin Co. and<br />
with Elmer Rhoden Jr., president of Imperial<br />
Productions for whom Altman wrote and<br />
directed "The Delinquents." His sister Joan<br />
Altman is assistant producer at Imperial<br />
Productions. The parents are Mr. and Mrs.<br />
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Fe Hills.<br />
Jim Long-, Fox Midwest district manager,<br />
reports the midwest premiere of "Bernardine"<br />
will be the entertainment feature of the<br />
celebration of the 100th anniversary of the<br />
Lyric Theatre (Thespian Halli at Boonville,<br />
Mo. There will also be some Hollywood personalities<br />
attending whose names will be announced<br />
later . . . Warner Bros, is entertaining<br />
a home office auditor, C. Mendelson<br />
L&L Popcorn reports the sale of a<br />
Servette popcorn waiTner to the city for use<br />
in Swope Park .<br />
Glen Cooper of<br />
Dodge City, Kas., was reported ill.<br />
Uorothie Warneke, Buena Vista office secretary<br />
and booker who recently broke a hip.<br />
is up on crutches and with a telephone in<br />
her room, going ahead with as much of her<br />
work as she can handle at the hospital. She<br />
called to say she has been deeply touched and<br />
is grateful for the cards, flowers, messages<br />
and visits from friends who heard about her<br />
bad luck Montee, Pox Midwest<br />
.<br />
manager at Liberal, Kas.. has been elected<br />
pre.sident of the local Lions Club and will<br />
attend the convention in San Francisco .<br />
Leon Robertson returned from a trip into<br />
his FMW district, calling on managers in<br />
Topeka, Atchison, Marysville, Clay Center<br />
and Concordia, Kas.; Beatrice, Neb., and<br />
Council Bluffs, Iowa.<br />
Bill Jeffries, office manager at Columbia,<br />
says the saturation bookings on "The Giant<br />
Claw" with "The Night the World Exploded"<br />
have brought more than the usual number<br />
of headaches. When the 40 prints on each<br />
one, 80 prints in all. arrived a few days<br />
ahead of the booking date, they still had to<br />
be mounted and had not been censored. Of<br />
Columbia's five inspectors, one was on vacation<br />
and another was off sick, so Central<br />
Shipping was called on to help get the<br />
prints in shape to ship out to the scheduled<br />
theatres. You see, distributors have their<br />
troubles, too.<br />
Zella Faulkner, office secretary for KMTA,<br />
admits to being "all shook up" after tripping<br />
over a hefty brief case someone set down<br />
behind her just before she stepped back<br />
Carter, Paramount booker, has<br />
resigned and has indicated he will probably<br />
. return to Memphis Theatre<br />
Equipment reports the Dwight Theatre at<br />
Dwight, Kas., is being reopened by the local<br />
Booster Club. The theatre's equipment came<br />
in to Stebbins for checking. A popcorn<br />
machine was furnished Herb Jeans of the<br />
Parkade Drive-In at Columbia, Mo., for the<br />
local Cosmopolitan Club.<br />
Ray McKitrick, Universal salesman, brings<br />
word that Cle Bratton ran a "western marathon"<br />
on a recent Saturday at his Chief<br />
Drive-In in Council Grove — four westerns<br />
on one program. The results were so good<br />
that he plans to repeat it. Which calls attention<br />
to the fact that the triple feature<br />
is quite common now and one exhibitor ran<br />
five features on one program which lasted<br />
until almost .sunup, but there were still cars<br />
on the ramps Klein, U-I office<br />
manager, came back from Florida with a<br />
fine tan and some good fish stories. He<br />
says Mrs. Klein accompanied him on his<br />
deep sea fishing trips in both the Atlantic<br />
and the Gulf, but under protest. However.<br />
every time she threw out her line, a fish<br />
grabbed the hook, so she wasn't bored.<br />
They tell us Mrs. Ernie Block has a fine<br />
vegetable and flower garden in the back of<br />
the Nemaha Drive-In at Sabetha, Kas., which<br />
she and her husband operate . . . Second<br />
generation workers on Filmrow now include<br />
Danny Patz at National Screen Service, son<br />
of Lou Patz, district manager, and Jimmie<br />
Jeffries, at Columbia, son of Bill Jeffries,<br />
office manager. Danny is in the shipping<br />
room at NSS and Jimmie is office boy at<br />
Columbia . flowers in the window at<br />
NSS add an aesthetic note to the front office<br />
. Joe Woodward, whose husband<br />
died recently in Milwaukee and was well<br />
known here, visited the Buena Vista Tommy<br />
Thompsons.<br />
Vern Skorey, 20th-Fox salesman, is beaming<br />
and passing out cigars because of his<br />
first granddaughter, Joanne, born June 2 to<br />
his daughter, Mrs. Robert Darby and Mr.<br />
Darby of Edmonton, Alta., Canada. Grandma<br />
Skorey is "on the set" and will remain for<br />
several weeks . Powall, shorts<br />
booker at Commonwealth, is back at her<br />
desk after an attack of vii-us pneumonia<br />
Kneib of Fox Midwest is home<br />
from the hospital and expects to be back<br />
on the job soon .<br />
EUsman is the<br />
new office girl at Capitol Flag & Banner<br />
Co. Nat Hechtman's son Elliott is now at<br />
the Kansas University Medical center in<br />
the<br />
research department. The Capitol's busine.ss<br />
bai-ometer registers these: "Desk Set,"<br />
"Love in the Afternoon," "Joe Butterfly,"<br />
"Island in the Sun."<br />
Current vacationers include these from<br />
National Screen Service; Kenneth Clark,<br />
head shipper, to New Orleans; Anna Mae<br />
Clark, clerk, to Memphis; Virginia Pi-ee,<br />
stock clerk, to Colorado Springs. Marge<br />
Wilson, assistant cashier at Warner Bros.,<br />
went to Grand River. Mo.; and Marie Neely.<br />
switchboard operator at Universal; Jean Miller<br />
(Mrs. John I, secretary at Columbia, is<br />
toui-ing the east with her husband, stopping<br />
at points like Niagara Falls outof-town<br />
exhibitors are seen often on the<br />
Row these days. Among Missourians reported<br />
last week are J. Leo Hayob, Marshall;<br />
Elmer Bills, Salisbury; Mr. and Mrs. Ken<br />
Winkelmeyer, Boonville; Frank Weary jr.,<br />
Henrietta.<br />
. . .<br />
Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Moss of the Ellinwood<br />
Theatre, Ellinwood, Kas., celebrated their<br />
tenth wedding anniversary June 5<br />
Penny Golden, daughter of Ed and Mrs.<br />
Golden of the Golden Booking Agency, had<br />
honors showered on her last week. She was<br />
elected treasurer of the student council at<br />
SCOTSMAN ICE MACHINE<br />
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Everything for the Stage<br />
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LIGHTING • HOUSE DRAPERIES<br />
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1324 Grand Kansai City, Missouri<br />
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June 15, 1957
. . Mr.s.<br />
. .<br />
. .<br />
j<br />
Southwest High School, sweetheart of the<br />
Delta Sigma fraternity and president of<br />
Theta sorority. Penny will be a senior at<br />
Southwest next fall. Bonnie Golden, the<br />
elder daughter, is home from Kansas University<br />
and will attend summer school at<br />
Kansas City University.<br />
Jack Braunagel of United Theatres,<br />
formerly drive-in manager at Commonwealth<br />
Theatres, recently shot a hole-in-one while<br />
playing golf at the North Little Rock Country<br />
Club.<br />
Boris Bernardi, managing director of the<br />
Missouri Theatre which is operated by Cinerama,<br />
went to Holl>'^^•ood to visit his brother<br />
on his vacation. Now word has been received<br />
here that he entered the Leland Hospital<br />
there for surgery after a physical checkup.<br />
John Dobson, United Artists salesman, was<br />
one of three national winners in the second<br />
lap of the company's "Prize Twelve" Playdate<br />
Contest. Bud Ti-oug won second place<br />
in the salesman awards and Robert DeJarnette<br />
was a runnerup in the bookers competition.<br />
James R. Velde. general sales manager,<br />
announced the winners. Dobson receives<br />
a top cash award.<br />
C. C. Murray. Fox Midwest manager from<br />
Wichita, came in for the trade screening of<br />
"Around the World in 80 Days" at the Tower<br />
Theatre. Murray's daughter Sandra has set<br />
the date for her marriage in August .<br />
Tornado warnings in the area last week, even<br />
though no tornadoes struck, did not help business<br />
. . Bill Mclntire. Columbia booker,<br />
was on vacation Lorel Reagan of<br />
Butler, Mo., and Mrs. Fi-ed Davis. Girard.<br />
Kas., were recent Pilmrow visitors .<br />
Frank Oschwald, painter who works for several<br />
of the circuits and others, fell off a ladder<br />
at his home, 4933 Westwood Terrace, and<br />
broke his leg. The accident happened the day<br />
before Decoration Day and he is in St. Luke's<br />
hospital for repairs.<br />
John Gordon Tonge Dies;<br />
39-Year-Old MGM Booker<br />
KANSAS CITY — John Gordon Tonge<br />
sr., a booker at MGM, died Saturday (8) at<br />
the Smithville Community hospital after a<br />
week's illness. He was only 39 years old and<br />
started to work for Exhibitors Film Delivery<br />
in 1936. remaining through 1941 as a shipper.<br />
department of MGM and went Into the armed<br />
In January 1942 he came to the shipping<br />
services in December 1943, returning to<br />
MGM in September 1945.<br />
He became a booker with the company in<br />
April 1951 and has been in that capacity<br />
ever since. Everyone on Filmrow, where he<br />
was very popular, was shocked by his death.<br />
He is survived by his .son John Gordon Tonge<br />
jr., of the home at Gashland and by his<br />
mother, Mrs. Hazel Tonge, his maternal<br />
grandmother and two sisters, all of San Diego,<br />
Calif. His wife, Mrs. Effic Tonge. has been<br />
dead about eight years.<br />
Cashier Is Robbed of $200<br />
By Man Believed Armed<br />
ST. LOUIS—Wanda Garri.son. cashier of<br />
the Varsity Theatre. 6610 Delniar Blvd. in<br />
University City, was robbed of $200 the night<br />
of June 1 by a man who held his hand under<br />
a coat as if he were holding a pistol. After<br />
obtaining the money he ran east on Delmar<br />
boulevard.<br />
The circumstances were similar to those<br />
connected with a robbery at the Fox Theatre<br />
on Grand boulevard in St. Louis some weeks<br />
ago. Theatre cashiers are under orders from<br />
the owners not to take a chance, since the<br />
robber "may really have a gun and use it."<br />
Miss Garrison told police she did not .see a<br />
gun but it could easily have been concealed<br />
from view.<br />
In TV Promotion Post<br />
WICHITA—Ken Finlay, who managed the<br />
Modjeska Theatre in Milwaukee for Fox<br />
Wisconsin until the house was sold to the<br />
Gran Amusement Co., is introducing some<br />
motion picture theatre merchandising techniques<br />
in the television field here. He has<br />
joined Dale Larsen, promotion director of<br />
KT'VH, an affiliate of CBS, on some special<br />
promotional programs. Before joining Fox<br />
Wisconsin, Finlay was with the Alliance<br />
circuit, managing the Fond du Lac in Fond<br />
du Lac,<br />
Wis.<br />
Reopens for Part Week<br />
MARQUETTE, KAS. — R. L. Dickison of<br />
Lindsborg has reopened the Strand Theatre<br />
here on a four-day-per-week policy, with<br />
two changes. The days it will be open are<br />
Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday, with<br />
two showings on Saturday and Sunday nights.<br />
The reopening was May 24. Business arrangements<br />
for the theatre's opening were<br />
made with Adolph Hoop, owner.<br />
Georde Nader will play the male starring<br />
role opposite Hedy Lamarr and Jane Powell<br />
in U-I's "The Female Animal,"<br />
DON'T MISS<br />
Name Prize Winners<br />
In Realart Drive<br />
ST. LOUIS —The winners of the Exhibitors<br />
Participation Playdate Drive of Realart Pictures<br />
have been announced by Herman Gorelick<br />
and George Phillips, owners of the independent<br />
film exchange. The prize campaign<br />
which ended June 1 was inaugurated<br />
as part of the tenth anniversary celebration<br />
of the exchange. The winners were .selected<br />
by Myra Stroud, managing secretary, Missouri-Illinois<br />
Theatre Owners, with the aid<br />
of Mrs. Grace Puccione, owner of the local<br />
Apollo Theatre, and Tom Williamson of<br />
Bloomer Amusement Co., Belleville, 111, The<br />
prizes included a brief case, pen and pencil<br />
set, cigaret lighter, golf bag, golf balls, billfolds,<br />
camera and watch band.<br />
Winners in the contest were: Robert Spurlock,<br />
Kay Theatre, Karnak, 111.; Randy Pedrucci,<br />
Frisina Amusement Co., Springfield,<br />
111.; F. F. Glass, Alton Theatre, Alton, Mo.;<br />
Howard Spies. Midwest Theatras, Kirkwood:<br />
Audreanel Freeman, McCutcheon circuit.<br />
Biytheville, Ark.; W. M. Griffin, Rodgers<br />
Theatres, Cairo, 111.; Andrew Dietz, Cooperative<br />
Theatres, St. Louis; Louis Jablonow,<br />
Jablonow-Komm Theatres, Clayton; Harry<br />
Horning, Turner-Farrar Theatres, Harrisburg,<br />
111.; Leon Hoofnagle, Commonwealth<br />
Amusement Corp., Kansas City; Ftank<br />
Plumlee, Edwards & Plumlee Theatres,<br />
Farmington; David G. Arthur. St. Louis<br />
Amusement Co.; Fred Kinsel. Lindina Theatre.<br />
Edina; Lester R. Kropp. Fred Wehrenberg<br />
Theatres. St. Louis: Gregory Zotos,<br />
Roosevelt Theatre, St. Louis; Russell Armentrout,<br />
Armentrout circuit, Louisiana: Harry<br />
Plaikos, Regal Theatre, St. Louis; Bernard<br />
Palmer, Columbia Amu.sement Co., Paducah,<br />
Ky.; Harry Blount, Plaza Theatre, Potosi;<br />
Ben Beckett, Park Theatre, 'Valley Park;<br />
Forrest Pirtle, Pirtle circuit, Jer.seyville. 111.;<br />
Frank Glenn. Melody Drive-In. Tamaroa.<br />
111.; John Giachetto. Frisina Amusement Co..<br />
Springfield. 111.; Ray Parker. Parker circuit.<br />
Brentwood; and Tom Bloomer. Bloomer<br />
Amusement Co., Belleville, 111.<br />
THE BIG PICNIC<br />
Monday, June 24<br />
Wildwood Lakes<br />
Roytown, Mo.<br />
Starts at 2 p.m.<br />
Sponsored by the Motion Picture Ass'n of Greater Kansas City<br />
FOR ALL MEMBERS OF THE INDUSTRY AND THEIR<br />
FAMILIES<br />
Bring Your Own Basket of Food<br />
Goffney Leases Airer<br />
EXCELSIOR SPRINGS, MO. — The Pines<br />
Drive-In, which has not been open this .season,<br />
has been leased by Commonwealth Theatres<br />
to Harry Gaffney who reopened it FYiday<br />
night il4i. The outdoor theatre has<br />
been completely renovated. Gaffney operates<br />
Dixie Enterprises, which include the distribution<br />
of some independent pictures and booking<br />
for other exhibitors.<br />
t<br />
BASEBALL, HORSESHOE PITCHING, SWIMMING,<br />
MINIATURE GOLF, BOATING, DANCING<br />
TICKETS: $1.00 FOR ADULTS, 50c FOR CHILDREN<br />
t Can Be Obtained at Any Kansas City Film Exchange<br />
June 15, 1957
at<br />
i<br />
I<br />
I<br />
. . . Edna<br />
ST.<br />
LOUIS<br />
pddie Cantor was here June 8-10 appearing<br />
at the Stix, Baer & Fuller department<br />
store on Monday (10 1 2 p.m. to autograph<br />
copies of his book "Take My Life," the autobiography<br />
of his 50 years in the show business.<br />
While here he was guest of Arthur<br />
B. Baer. SBF president, at his home in Ladue.<br />
Pete Goodman, Globe-Democrat staff writer,<br />
talked to Eddie and received this classic comment<br />
on TV: "Television writers are like<br />
drunks in a shooting gallery. Many of its<br />
performers are grade school kids thrown into<br />
a university and their bosses are businessmen<br />
in a showmen's world." TV's growing<br />
pains seemed to concern him most.<br />
Ben Lass, National Screen salesman, believes<br />
he owes his life to the quick thinking<br />
of a Negro truck driver. Ben's car was<br />
demolished when it was hit head-on by a<br />
speeding motorist attempting to pass the<br />
truck on a rise. The truck driver, realizing<br />
the situation, swerved his truck to provide<br />
enough clearance to allow the passing machine<br />
enough room to avoid a more direct hit<br />
with Ben's car. Ben escaped with a dislocated<br />
elbow and some minor cuts. He spent the<br />
night at Good Samaritan Hospital in Mount<br />
Vernon, near where the collision occurred.<br />
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UA District Chiefs<br />
Meet in St. Louis<br />
ST. LOUIS — Sales policies and distribution<br />
plans for summer and fall releases,<br />
particularly "The Pride and the Passion,"<br />
highlighted a United Artists district managers<br />
meeting at the Chase Hotel here June<br />
5 and 6. William J. Heineman, vice-president<br />
in charge of distribution, and James R.<br />
Velde. general sales manager, presided at the<br />
sessions held in the Colonial room.<br />
On Tuesday (4i Heineman and Velde headed<br />
the UA contingent at the premiere showing<br />
here of "Around the World in 80 Days"<br />
which UA is distributing for the Mike Todd<br />
organization.<br />
On Wednesday i5i prominent exhibitors<br />
and executives of this trade area were entertained<br />
at a luncheon and cocktail party.<br />
Among the guests were Richard P. Brous of<br />
Fox Midwest Theatres and Ralph Adams<br />
from Kansas City, George and Louis Kerasotes<br />
111.,<br />
of Springfield, Edward B., James H.<br />
and David G. Arthur and J. Strainer of<br />
Arthur Enterprises; John Meinardi, district<br />
manager here for Fox Midwest Theatres:<br />
Jimmy Frisina of Frisina Amusement Co.,<br />
Springfield: Howard Zulauf and Sam Levin<br />
of the Esquire Theatre in Richmond Heights:<br />
Russ Bovim, district manager of Loew's, Inc.:<br />
Frank Hensen and Don Baker. Loew's State<br />
and Loew's Orpheum theatres here: L. J.<br />
Williams, MITO president of Union, Mo.:<br />
Lester R. Kropp of Fred Wehrenberg Theatres:<br />
Tommy James, Charles Goldman,<br />
Joseph and Louis Ansell, all of St. Louis:<br />
Lou Jablonow of Jablonow-Komm Theatres<br />
in Clayton, Howard Spies of Mid West Theatre<br />
in Kirkwood and Tom Bloomer and<br />
Tom Williams of Bloomer Amusement Co.<br />
in Belleville, 111.<br />
The UA men attending the two-day gathering<br />
included Al Fitter, western division manager:<br />
Milt Cohen, southern division manager,<br />
and George Schaefer. producer's representative,<br />
all of New York City: Charles ChapUn,<br />
Canadian district manager from Toronto:<br />
George Pabst, southern district manager.<br />
New Orleans: Sid Cooper, central district<br />
manager, Washington: Gene Tunnick, eastern<br />
district manager, Philadelphia: Ralph<br />
Clark, western district manager, Los Angeles,<br />
and Fenton J. "Mike" Lee, midwest district<br />
manager of St. Louis. Exchange managers<br />
present included Ralph Amacher, Kansas<br />
Joe Imhof, Milwaukee: Herb Bushman,<br />
City:<br />
Minneapolis: D. V. McLucas, Omaha: Harry<br />
Goldman, Chicago: Ed Biglow, Indianapolis,<br />
and Durand J. "Bud" Edele, St. Louis. Also<br />
there were John Murphy, buyer for Loew's<br />
Theatres, New York: Prank Marshall, Warner<br />
Bros, buyer. New York: Carl Olson. UA<br />
office manager from Des Moines, and Kermit<br />
Carr of Goldberg Theatres in Omaha.<br />
Switch to Ozoners<br />
ST. LOUIS — Exhibitors in three Missouri<br />
communities have closed their indoor theatres<br />
and opened their drive-ins for the<br />
season. Theatres involved are the Horstman<br />
in Chaffee, the Vita in Warrenton and the<br />
Cuba in Cuba.<br />
Two Close in Illinois<br />
ST LOUIS—Recent theatre closings in<br />
this film trade territory have included the<br />
Rivoli in Norris City. 111., and the Vogue in<br />
Palestine. 111.<br />
Screening Room Occupies<br />
New St. Louis Quarters<br />
ST, LOUIS — The .Art Theatre and Screening<br />
Room has been moved from the old<br />
RKO Radio building to new quarters in the<br />
20th Century-Fox film exchange building at<br />
3330 Olive St.<br />
Charles Guggenheim & Associates, who<br />
purchased the Art Theatre and Screening<br />
Room from the w^idow of Ruby S'Renco several<br />
montlis ago. apparently could not reach<br />
satisfactory terms with the real estate representative<br />
of MGM for quarters in the RKO<br />
Radio building, so had to seek new space for<br />
its offices and the screening room. The<br />
20th Century-Fox building contained a<br />
screening room seating some 50 persons, only<br />
about half of the old Art Theatre, but since<br />
the theatre withdrew from the art picture<br />
field a couple of years ago, the smaller seating<br />
capacity is sufficient for the average<br />
trade screenings of the motion pictures of<br />
various distributors. John Wilson continues<br />
in charge of the screening room.<br />
In the move to the new location. Charles<br />
Guggenheim & Associates take over the front<br />
office space on the ground floor formerly<br />
occupied by Harry Kahan Film Delivery<br />
Service and also some storage space in the<br />
rear of the building also formerly used by<br />
the Kahan organization. In the meantime<br />
Kahan Film Delivery office has been moved<br />
across the front floor to space in the quarters<br />
of another ground floor tenant of the<br />
building.<br />
In the meantime MGM is making arrangements<br />
to move into the old RKO Radio<br />
exchange building the latter part of June.<br />
Space in this building is considerably less<br />
than now being used by MGM at<br />
3010 Olive<br />
St. This move is in keeping with the economy<br />
program instituted by Joseph R. Vogel. president<br />
of Loew's, Inc.<br />
St. Louis Circuit Drops<br />
Suit Over 'The Mutiny'<br />
ST. LOUIS—Tlie antitrust .suit filed by the<br />
St, Louis Amusement Co. Oct. 27, 1954, against<br />
Columbia Pictures, Loew's, Inc.. and Loew's<br />
State Theatre Co. was dismissed by the plaintiff<br />
in U. S. Judge George H. Moore's court<br />
May 29 without prejudice. This means that,<br />
if it so desires, the St. Louis Amusement Co.<br />
could relnstitute a similar action. Counsel<br />
explained that it was decided not to proceed<br />
with the litigation at this time.<br />
The suit was instituted in an endeavor to<br />
restrain the defendants from exhibiting "The<br />
Caine Mutiny" at Loew's State Theatre in<br />
October 1954. instead of in the plaintiff's St.<br />
Louis Theatre,<br />
Ronald Reagan Awarded<br />
Degree by Alma Mater<br />
EUREKA, ILL. — Screen star Ronald<br />
Reagan, speaking at the commencement of<br />
his alma mater. Eureka College, here, said<br />
that the motion picture industry has "whipped<br />
communism" but now faces other "dangers."<br />
He said Hollywood has become a<br />
"target" for "those people in this country<br />
who seek to regulate and interfere."<br />
Reagan's alma mater conferred an honorary<br />
degree of doctor of humane letters on<br />
the actor, citing him for "real understanding<br />
and courage in recognizing and exposing<br />
Communists and their influence" during his<br />
term as president of the Screen Actors Guild.<br />
RESEARCH BUREAU<br />
(or<br />
MODERN THEATRE PLANNERS<br />
ENROLLMENT FORM FOR FREE INFORMATION<br />
The MODERN THEATRE<br />
PLANNING INSTITUTE<br />
825 Van Brunt Blvd.<br />
Kan.sas City 24, Mo.<br />
Please enroll us in your RESEARCH BUREAU<br />
to receive iniormation regularly, as released, on<br />
the following subjects for Theatrp Planning:<br />
n Acoustics<br />
D Air Conditioning<br />
n Architectural Serrica<br />
n "Black" Lighting<br />
D Building<br />
Mortorial<br />
n Carpets<br />
D Coin Machines<br />
n Complete Remodeling<br />
n Decorating<br />
D Drink Dispensers<br />
D Drive-In Equipment<br />
n Other SubjocU..<br />
Theatre<br />
Seating Capacity...<br />
Address<br />
City<br />
State<br />
Signed<br />
n Lighting Fixtures<br />
D Plumbing Fixtures<br />
Projectors<br />
n Projection<br />
Lamps<br />
n Sealing<br />
n Signs and Marquees<br />
n Sound Equipment<br />
D Television<br />
n Theatre Fronts<br />
n Vending Equipment<br />
Postage-paid reply cards for your further convenience<br />
in obtaining information are provided in The MODERN<br />
THEATRE Section, published with the firet issue of<br />
each month.<br />
BOXOFFICE June 15. 1957 C-5
. . Robert<br />
. . Max<br />
. . The<br />
. . . The<br />
. Condolences<br />
. . "Albert<br />
. . Stopover<br />
. . Sam<br />
. .<br />
. . Mike<br />
CHICAGO<br />
The State Lake Theatre is making preparations<br />
for an upbeat in business with a new<br />
product lineup including "The Prince and<br />
the Showgirl," "The Pride and the Passion"<br />
and "Jeanne Eagels" .<br />
Pearl, formerly<br />
with the Paradise Theatre, died this<br />
month .<br />
Hughes is the new president<br />
of the American Federation of Film Societies<br />
. . . Norman Pyle. publicist for MGM<br />
here, has been setting up special screenings<br />
of "Something of Value" for the press, columnists<br />
and disc jockeys. The film opens at<br />
the Woods July 2. . . . Sam Gorelick, head of<br />
Rank FDA offices here, has completed negotiations<br />
for the opening of "Reach for the<br />
Sky" at the State in Minneapolis, and at the<br />
Riviera in St. Paul.<br />
Early summer vacationers on Filmrow include<br />
Frances Schultz of Albert Dezel; William<br />
Devaney, MGM manager, and Dorothy<br />
Zatkin,<br />
Waddell of the MGM staff here ... I.<br />
general manager of the Schoenstadt circuit,<br />
entertained his daughter Carol here for a fewdays<br />
and then accompanied her to New York<br />
where she will stay for the summer. Miss<br />
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End." arrived<br />
Zatkin was a student at the University of<br />
Illinois last year Schweitzer,"<br />
.<br />
ing in "Beginning of the<br />
which closed a substantial run of five weeks<br />
liere Sunday night (16i for the world premiere<br />
at the Roosevelt Theatre on Wednesday<br />
(191. This film, with "The Unearthly."<br />
at the Carnegie Theatre, is going into distribution<br />
throughout the Chicagoland area next<br />
was the first of the product released in June week.<br />
by the recently formed AB-PT Pictures Corp.<br />
headed by Irving H. Levin. "Beginning of Before leaving Chicago for his new- post in<br />
the Columbia Pictures home office, John<br />
the End" has been set for saturation booking<br />
on Friday (21i in 80 theatres throughout the<br />
states of Illinois and Indiana.<br />
Thompson spent a week in Milwaukee and<br />
Minneapolis to set up publicity in connection<br />
with "Jeanne Eagels." He was accompanied<br />
"Around the World in 80 Days" at Todd's by Ted Galanter who was here to represent<br />
Cinestage continues to do business at a peak<br />
rate week after week. To accommodate<br />
George Sidney, producer of the film.<br />
Lake Theatre<br />
The<br />
August opening at the State<br />
heavy requests for seat reservations, two extra<br />
shows will be given on July 4 and on<br />
will coincide with the New York City opening<br />
were extended to Marie<br />
Kruppa of MGM on the death of her mother<br />
Fj-iday, July 5. at 2:30 p.m. and also on Satui-day,<br />
June 29. at 10:30 a.m. Additional<br />
Evanston Theatre is highlighting<br />
showings set up for the Memorial Day weekend<br />
"The King and I." "Friendly Persuasion,"<br />
were booked to capacity.<br />
"The Teahouse of the August Moon" and<br />
"Designing Woman" in its annual film festival<br />
which opened Friday (14i.<br />
Filmack Trailer Co. is combining cartoon<br />
shorts in a film to entertain kids at supermarkets<br />
while their mothers shop. Other<br />
news at Filmack concerns Bernie Mack and<br />
Ted Liss. who spent the week in St. Louis<br />
calling on ad agencies and other film users.<br />
And Everett Miller, who celebrated his ninth<br />
year with Filmack visitors<br />
.<br />
were Orson Welles and Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy<br />
Stewart. All three were en route to New York.<br />
At this point it seems quite certain that<br />
"The Ten Commandments" will stay at the<br />
McVickers Theatre at least until New Year's.<br />
Now in its 29th week, the epic has enjoyed<br />
an average of $20,000 a week. More than<br />
500,000 people have attended performances<br />
in a period of 28 weeks. In a special discount<br />
plan for the summer school vacation,<br />
tickets are to be available for children in<br />
the elementary and high school grades, in<br />
groups of 30 or more.<br />
Sophia Silbert, AA publicist, arrived here<br />
from France and will concentrate on exploitation<br />
in behalf of "Love in the Afternoon."<br />
The film is scheduled for opening at<br />
the Chicago Theatre the early part of July<br />
Clark Theatre has introduced a $5<br />
ticket book. Called the "Cinebook." it earns<br />
the buyer a free single admission coupon given<br />
separately with every Cinebook purchased.<br />
Made up of coupons totaling $5, good any<br />
time, the Cinebook is suggested for a gift<br />
item. For large orders the Clark offers<br />
quantity discounts, such as 12 books for $50<br />
and 25 for $100.<br />
Max Herschraann, eastern sales manager<br />
of Filmack Trailer Co., recently underwent<br />
surgery at St. Joseph's Hospital in Far<br />
Rockaway. N. Y. He is now- recuperating<br />
at his home on Long Island . Kaplan,<br />
general manager for Albert Dezel. returned<br />
from a w-eek's business trip in St. Louis .<br />
"Johnny Tremain." which opens at the<br />
Roosevelt Theatre on July 3, is already set<br />
for subruns on July 26. Armour & Co.. has<br />
been giving away "Johnny Ti-emain" medallions<br />
with every purchase of Ai-mour's packaged<br />
hotdogs. The medallions, which are the<br />
size of a 50-cent piece, carry a photo of "Rab<br />
Silsbee and His Musket" as w-ell as an inscription<br />
showing the name of "Walt Disney<br />
Productions," They can be attached to a<br />
key ring or neck chain.<br />
Children between the ages of four to 16<br />
are having a chance at winning prizes including<br />
bicycles, sports equipment and movie<br />
tickets by entering a color contest in con-<br />
nection with the opening of "Beginning of<br />
the End" at the Roosevelt Theatre. The<br />
contest is sponsored by Balaban & Katz and<br />
the Edgewater Uptown News. The co-sponsors<br />
offer a total of 110 prizes to contest<br />
winners Ford of MGM is ill in<br />
St. Luke's Hospital. The predictions are<br />
that he will have to remain there for several<br />
weeks.<br />
A daughter, Kim Lauren, was bom to Mr.<br />
and Mrs. Stanley Bresler June 6 at the Edgewater<br />
Hospital. The new baby is now the<br />
fourth generation of the ice cream family.<br />
This is the couple's first child.<br />
William F. Brooker, who has been headquartering<br />
in Atlanta as publicist for Columbia,<br />
has been transferred here, succeeding<br />
John Thompson, who has been sent to New<br />
York to work on "Pal Joey."<br />
Arnold Brown of National Film Service in<br />
New York City arrived here to help set up<br />
initial operations in connection with the<br />
company's new offices at 407 South Dearborn<br />
St.<br />
Piatt. Lustgarten Named<br />
Vice-Presidents of B&K<br />
CHICAGO — Nathan M. Piatt<br />
and Harry<br />
Lustgarten have been appointed vice-presidents<br />
of the Balaban & Katz Theatres of<br />
Chicago, it was announced by David B. Wallerstein.<br />
president of B&K. Arthur Goldberg,<br />
previously appointed a vice-president, continues<br />
in that capacity. Both of the new<br />
officers have been associated with B&K for<br />
many years. Piatt is in charge of the operation<br />
of all the theatres in the city and suburbs.<br />
Lustgarten heads the company's film<br />
buying department.<br />
Again Heads Dimes Drive<br />
SPRINGFIELD. IIL — John D. Giachetto<br />
of the Frisina Amusement Co., has been appointed<br />
chairman of the 1958 March of Dimes<br />
di-ive. He has served in this capacity for the<br />
last nine years.<br />
Leased to Little Theatre<br />
FORT WAYNE — The Palace Theatre,<br />
slated for razing to make room for a downtown<br />
parking lot. has been leased by the<br />
Fort Wayne Civic Theatre, which will give<br />
plays there the coming season. The Palace is<br />
owned by the Harrison Theatre Realty Corp.<br />
Airer Fence Blown Do-wn<br />
CHAMPAIGN. ILL. — A high wind, described<br />
as a "very i.solated tornado," tore up<br />
about 300 feet of fencing at the Widescreen<br />
Drive-In on Route 45. Fi-ank Stewart, owner,<br />
and some of his employes w-ere closing the<br />
airer at 1:30 a.m. when the wind struck.<br />
THEATRE EQUIPMENT<br />
442 N. ILLINOIS ST., INDIANAPOLIS, IND.<br />
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I<br />
Disney Men in Session<br />
From 20 Countries<br />
HOLLYWOOD — Representatives of Wall<br />
Disney's merchandising division from 20<br />
all countries in quarters of the globe held<br />
a week-long meeting at the Disney studios<br />
in Burbank. It was the first convention for<br />
overseas representatives held in this country,<br />
and the fourth since the early 1930s.<br />
The first international convention was held<br />
in Milan in 1947. the second in Stockholm in<br />
1951. and the third in Pai-is in 1953. Today.<br />
Di.sney character merchandise is distributed<br />
in 30 countries outside the United States.<br />
Theme of the local se.ssions was the importance<br />
of coordinating television with<br />
merchandising as a potent aid to TV sponsors.<br />
Delegates were given a ground-floor view<br />
of the complex Disney operation, heard from<br />
Disney executives on various phases of production,<br />
and saw upcoming new features<br />
such as "Johnny Tremain." 'Perri." "Old<br />
Yeller" and "Sleeping Beauty."<br />
Tliose attending included Dr. Alberto Goldberg.<br />
Argentina: Jaime Gouzy. Colombia:<br />
Walter A. Granger, Australia: Jorgen S.<br />
Jorgensen. Denmark: Andre Vanneste. Belgium:<br />
B. Van de Velde. Holland: Dr. Enrico<br />
Rimini. Brazil: E. J. Davis, England: Clement<br />
P. Saila. Canada: Armand Bigle, France;<br />
Santos L. Acevedo. Spain: K. Melzer. Germany:<br />
F. W. Kendall. Hong Kong: Kailash<br />
C. Jain. India: J. W. Holmes. Italy; Sten<br />
Blomqvist. Sweden: Carlos Bustamante Paz,<br />
Mexico: E. Charlaff, Union of South Africa;<br />
M. Alevy. Venezuela, and Vincent H. Jefferds,<br />
New York.<br />
Theatre Bomb Hoax Fails<br />
To Panic Theatre Crowd<br />
ST. LOUIS— About 200 per.sons attending<br />
the Melba Theatre here quietly left the theatre<br />
for about 30 minutes the night of May<br />
26 while some 12 policemen from the Magnolia<br />
district police station searched the<br />
house for a bomb reported to be "set to explode<br />
at 9 p.m." No bomb was found, so the<br />
patrons were allowed to return.<br />
About 8:40 p.m. manager Bernard Schwantner<br />
reported to the police that the cashier<br />
had just received a telephone call from a<br />
man who said that a bomb in the theatre<br />
would explode in 20 minutes. When asked<br />
to leave the theatre, the audience wa.s<br />
simply told the house was being cleared to<br />
permit a police inspection.<br />
Schwantner told police he had forced two<br />
teenage boys to leave some time earlier in the<br />
evening, because they were making a disturbance.<br />
He, of course, was not sure that<br />
the fake call came from them. A similar fake<br />
call about a bomb in another theatre in the<br />
northern part of the city occurred some<br />
weeks ago. Teenagers were blamed for that<br />
fake call.<br />
To Set Up Three Stories<br />
HOLLYWOOD — Lou Morheim. David<br />
Chandler and Sam Newman have been assigned<br />
by Sam Katzman to prepare three<br />
stories for his forthcoming Clover Productions<br />
slate at Columbia. Morheim will develop<br />
an original, "The Last Bhtzkrieg," story<br />
of World War II. Chandler will prepare a<br />
teenage story. "Girls on the Loose."<br />
U-l Sets Promotion on 12 A/ew f/7ms<br />
CHICAGO — Promotional plans on 12 new<br />
U-I relea.ses. set to open first run in coming<br />
months in 21 or more neighborhood Chicago<br />
area theatres, were discussed in Chicago this<br />
week at a meeting between U-I and theatre<br />
representatives.<br />
Seen viewing some of the pictures involved,<br />
including "Night Passage," are, seated, first<br />
row. left to right; Hem-y Kemp, Ralph<br />
Smitha, general manager, and Charles Shapiro,<br />
all of Essaness Theatres. Second row:<br />
Howard Lambert, Adelphi Theatre; Ralph<br />
Heyland, Englewood Theatre; Mike Stern,<br />
Colony; Sol Horwitz. Allied Theatres; I. B.<br />
Padorr, Byrd. Thu-d row: Dick Darby and<br />
Jerry Glickman. 66 Drive-In, La Grange: Bill<br />
Charukas and Ted Stevens, Montclare Theatre;<br />
George Kappus and Lee Apfelbeck,<br />
York Theatre. Elmhurst. Fourth row: Jack<br />
Billish. Belmont Theatre: Si Griever, Griever's;<br />
Ron Kuhlman. Harding & Pickwick<br />
Theatres: Ray Howard. Y&W Management<br />
Corp.: Herb Wheeler, Stanley Warner Theatres;<br />
Jack Kirsch, Allied Theatres; Herb<br />
Martinez, Universal assistant manager; Ward<br />
Day, Universal salesman, Chicago. Fifth<br />
row: I.sadore Zatkin, Piccadilly Theatre:<br />
Carl Goodman and Maurie Tillis, Marshall<br />
Square Theatre; Jack Bai-ger and H. Stevens,<br />
State Theatre, Roseland; Fi'ank Arena, Twin<br />
Theatre. Oakland; Joe Stern, Colony Theatre.<br />
Standing in the last row left to right<br />
are Ben R. Katz, Universal midwest press<br />
representative: Charles Simonelli. Universal<br />
eastern advertising and publicity department<br />
manager: Lou Berman, Universal manager;<br />
Manie Gottlieb, Universal district manager;<br />
Jeff Livingston, Universal eastern advertising<br />
manager.<br />
The 12 pictures involved are: "Night Passage,"<br />
"Interlude," "Tammy and the Bachelor,"<br />
"Joe Butterfly," "Public Pigeon No. 1,"<br />
"Kelly and Me," "The Midnight Story," "The<br />
Kettles on Old MacDonald's Farm," "Run of<br />
the Arrow," "That Night." "Man Afraid"<br />
and "Joe Dakota."<br />
The 21 theatres participating in these first<br />
run showings are the Harding, Colony, Adelphi,<br />
Belmont, Englewood, Byrd, Irving,<br />
Rhodes, Highland, Montclare, State (in<br />
Roseland area), Marshall Square and the<br />
Picadilly, all in Chicago; the Pickwick in<br />
Park Ridge, Lake in Oak Park, North Avenue<br />
Outdoor in River Grove, ABC Outdoor in<br />
Posen. the "66" Drive-In in LaGrange, the<br />
York in Elmhurst, the Tivoli in Downers<br />
Grove, and the Twin Drive-In m Oak Lawn.<br />
Members of the executive coordinating<br />
committee are Jack Kirsch, president of Allied<br />
Theatres of Illinois; Ralph Smitha. general<br />
manager, Essaness Theatres; Dick Felix<br />
of the Vogue and Adelphi theatres; Jack<br />
Barger of the State Theatre (Roseland). and<br />
Dick Darby of Smith EInteiTJrises.<br />
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June 15, 1957
ATLANTA<br />
Delta Air Lines Gives<br />
$225,000 Bonus in U. S. Savings Bonds<br />
Delta A^^Lnes, inc.<br />
GENERAL OFFICES •<br />
AIRPORT • ATLANTA. GEORGIA<br />
TO:<br />
All Members of Delta Family<br />
FKM: President and General Manager<br />
This has been a difficult but successful year.<br />
Each of<br />
us has had a hand in our accomplishments.<br />
Again we want to share our good fortune vdth all our<br />
people and it is a pleasure to announce that all personnel<br />
with more than six months of service as of May 2A, 1956, will<br />
receive a $50.00 U.S. Savings Bond. All personnel with six<br />
months of service or less as of that date will receive a $25.00<br />
U.S. Savings Bond. The total value of these bonds will be<br />
about $225,000.00.<br />
The bond is both a share in our achievements and an added<br />
expression of appreciation for your contrilm^on ti them.<br />
C. E. WOOLMAN<br />
President and<br />
General Manager<br />
DELTA AIR LINES<br />
If you are wondering whether your employees would<br />
prefer Savings Bonds to Cash . . . take a quick glance<br />
at tliese figures:<br />
. . . 8,000,000 Americans enrolled in the Payroll Savings<br />
Plans of 40,000 companies invest $168 Million per month<br />
in U. S. Savings Bonds.<br />
. . . 40,000,000 .\mericans hold $41 Billion (cash value)<br />
in Series E and Series H Savings Bonds ... a huge reservoir<br />
of future purchasing power.<br />
. . . 67% of all Series E Bonds that matured up to June,<br />
1956 — more than $21 Billion— are being held by their<br />
owners under the automatic extension program.<br />
Join Delta Airlines — and many other fine companies —<br />
give vour Bonus in Bonds — the gift that grows. Savings<br />
13ond Division, U.S. Treasuiy Department, Washington<br />
25, D. C.<br />
The United Stales Government does not pay Jot this advertising. The Treasury Department<br />
thanks, jor their patriotic donation, the Advertising Council and<br />
BOXOFFICE<br />
C-8 BOXOFFICE :: June 15, 1957
. . . Visiting<br />
. . Rand<br />
lHUrJiiriliiili<br />
. . Two<br />
. .<br />
MEMPHIS<br />
T} S. Chapman is the new owner of New Theatre.<br />
Tuckerman, Ark. Chapman bought<br />
the New from Mrs. Elza Coe. He will book<br />
and buy in Memphis . . . J. D. Shepherd jr.,<br />
owner of the Bluff Theatre at DuValls Bluff,<br />
has reopened his Cozy Theatre at Hazen. Ark.,<br />
which had been closed for several months .<br />
H. S. Weir, owner, has closed the Gem Theatre<br />
at Saltillo, Miss. . . . Manager Ai-thur<br />
Groom entertained the winning team of Cynthia<br />
Milk Fund school girls with a theatre<br />
party to see "The Little Hut." Second team<br />
was given a theatre party at the Warner<br />
by Manager Slim Arkin to see "A Face in the<br />
Crowd." The girls "tagged" Memphians to<br />
raise funds to provide milk the year-around<br />
in the Press-Scimitar's annual tag day.<br />
A charming young woman was in Memphis<br />
to sell "Love in the Afternoon." Irene Graziella<br />
of Hollywood was quick to explain that<br />
"Love in the Afternoon" was a film opening<br />
soon at the M;Uco Theatre. She is a press<br />
agent . Theatre. Pocahontas, Ark.,<br />
has closed for the summer . father-son<br />
teams of exhibitors, C. W. Tipton and his<br />
son Alvin, owners of Tipton Theatres at Caraway.<br />
Manila and Monett, Ai-k., and John<br />
Lowrey and his son Jack, owners of the<br />
Lowrey and Main theatres at Russellville,<br />
Ark., were Memphis visitors.<br />
John Staples, Carolyn, Plggott; Moses Sliman.<br />
Lux, Luxora; William Elias, Murr and<br />
Elias Drive-In. Osceola: K. H. Kinney. Hays,<br />
Hughes: Orris Collins, Capitol, Paragould,<br />
and W. C. Sumpter, LePanto Drive-In, Lepanto,<br />
were among visiting Ai-kansas exhibitors<br />
. . . From Mississippi came Mi's. J. C.<br />
Noble, Temple, Leland: Frank Heard, Lee<br />
Drive-In. Tupelo: Leon Rountree, Holly at<br />
Holly Springs and Valley at Water Valley:<br />
C. N. Eudy, Houston, Houston: John Carter,<br />
Whitehaven Drive-In at Grenada and 41<br />
Drive-In and Trace Drive-In. Amory: Mrs .E.<br />
S. Gullett. Benoit. Benoit: C. J. Collier, Globe,<br />
Shaw, and Vince Dana. Crescent, Belzoni.<br />
Lyle Richmond, Richmond, Senath. Mo.,<br />
and Whyte Bedford. Marion and Ford Drive-<br />
In. Hamilton, Ala., were booking in Memphis<br />
Tennessee exhibitors included<br />
W. F. Ruffin jr.. Ruffin Amusements Co.,<br />
Covington: H. N. Haddad, Munford, Munford:<br />
Amelia Ellis, Ellis Drive-In, Millington;<br />
Louise Mask, Luez, Bolivar; Mr. and Mrs.<br />
Ernest S. Pollock, Strand, Hohenwald, and<br />
W. O. Taylor, Uptown, Dresden.<br />
Recent Universal Purchases<br />
In seeking unusual .
. . Emery<br />
CHARLOTTE<br />
T Francis White, Howco Productions, has returned<br />
to his office after spending some<br />
time in Hollywood supervising production of<br />
new pictures . . . Scott Lett. Howco, is back<br />
in his office after an illness of about ten<br />
days . Wister, amusements editor<br />
for the Charlotte News, left Friday for Hollywood<br />
where he will visit the studios and sets<br />
of various productions now under way. Viola<br />
and Emery Wister attended the annual dairyman's<br />
breakfast at the Barringer Hotel recently.<br />
Five thousand persons lined Mount Airy<br />
Main street Saturday to welcome Broadway<br />
stage and motion picture actor Andy Griffith<br />
on his return home. The Griffiths have<br />
bought a home on Roanoke Island near<br />
Manteo and plan to spend a great deal of<br />
time in their native North Carolina. Griffith<br />
was in Charlotte Sunday in order to appear<br />
on the stage of the Carolina Theatre at 4<br />
p.m. and at 9 p.m. to plug his first motion<br />
picture, "A Pace in the Crowd." Griffith<br />
made a name for himself on Broadway in<br />
"No Time for Sergeants."<br />
Mary Ellen Hartsell, Howco, spent the<br />
weekend at Myrtle Beach. S. C. . . All<br />
.<br />
Charlotte film e.\changes were closed for the
. . Indoor<br />
accompanied<br />
Levine, Florida: John Thomas. Empress; Bill<br />
Korenbrot, Imperial; Tim Crawford, Arcade,<br />
and Herb Roller, Edgewood.<br />
The Jacksonville Theatre Co., headed by<br />
Fred Kent, used institutional ads in local<br />
new.spapers to announce the complete renovation<br />
of its Beach Theatre, Jacksonville<br />
Beach, at the beginning of the summer season.<br />
Improvements to the theatre included<br />
the installation of new seats . . . Singer Gene<br />
Austin was the drawing card of the week at<br />
the new Storyland U. S. A., a commercial<br />
play area for children on the Expressway in<br />
nearby Arlington . and outdoor theatres<br />
of the area experienced a severe slump<br />
in business the night of June 8 when several<br />
small but destructive tornadoes wrecked<br />
buildings and felled trees in scattered parts<br />
of Duval County. The twisters came during<br />
a time of torrential rains and newscasters of<br />
radio and television stations played up the<br />
storms for all their news value.<br />
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MIAMI<br />
T illian C (laiighton, owner of the theatre<br />
circuit which bears her name, was elected<br />
second vice-president of the Dade County<br />
Unit of the American Cancer Society. Mrs.<br />
Claughton is the first woman to hold .such<br />
high office in the local chapter . . . Wayne<br />
Rogers, manager of Claughton's Trail, is on<br />
vacation. He is taking a "shantyboat cruise"<br />
through Florida. Acting in his behalf at the<br />
Trail during his absence is assistant Alex<br />
Moffatt.<br />
Pat Taylor, Claughton's advertisement<br />
artist, is leaving on vacation, planning to<br />
visit New York and in the Carolinas . . . Harry<br />
Gabriel, manager of Wometco's Parkway, has<br />
revived an old theatre custom, the playing<br />
of an organ. Gabriel is well qualified for the<br />
job as he was once the featured organist in<br />
the 1920s and 'SOs in some of the largest theatres<br />
in Brooklyn. New York. Newark and<br />
Jersey City. As happened to other musicians<br />
of the era. he was replaced by electronic devices.<br />
Now Gabriel has turned the tables, and<br />
•so far it appears to be having happy results.<br />
Mack Herbert is admitting women free to<br />
the Bard<br />
i by an escort and a<br />
copy of the cui-rent ad', for the combination<br />
burlesque film and stage show . . . Brandt's<br />
Lincoln has a big special front up for "The<br />
D.I." . . . The Mayfair Art Theatre has a<br />
showing of watercolors and oils in its large<br />
inner lobby. Later the exhibition moves to<br />
the Parkway.<br />
Not one reply to the Herald amusement<br />
editor's recent querry on how people felt<br />
about seeing now dead stars on television in<br />
old motion pictures voiced an objection. For<br />
years, the editor said, theatre operators felt<br />
that death of a featured player meant loss<br />
at the boxoffice. Local comments were to<br />
the<br />
effect that on the contrary, viewing old films<br />
made patrons feel that old friends of the<br />
screen had not died after all. One correspondant<br />
said she was catching up on a lot of<br />
pictures she had missed in the past. "I would<br />
rather spend $2 a week to see four old pictures<br />
than to pay the same price to see one<br />
or two new pictures," one person declared.<br />
The pocketbook thief, who has been operating<br />
in Miami Beach theatres, was finally<br />
caught by police. A woman patron caught<br />
him in the act of extracting money from her<br />
purse which she had placed on the empty<br />
seat beside her. The thief always threw his<br />
coat over the seat back and then reached<br />
for the purse under cover. The method had<br />
been exposed some time ago in Herb Rau's<br />
newspaper column, and patron.s were alerted.<br />
Agents of embattled Fidel Castro of the<br />
Cuban revolutionaries have lined up several<br />
cameramen who are to film a propaganda<br />
and arms plan, the films to hit the U.S. TV<br />
networks. According to information received<br />
by Herb Rau, former amusement editor of<br />
the Miami Daily News, somewhere in Florida<br />
is a cache of arms destined for Castro, a<br />
small stock valuable mostly for i)ublicitv purposes.<br />
It is to be run to Cuba by boat, not<br />
yet secured, but it must be a 40-footer and<br />
fast enough to elude U.S. patrol boats and<br />
Cuban naval vessels. The run will take<br />
about a week over a devious route and the<br />
entire operation will be filmed by cameramen<br />
w-ho are not employed by any U. S. organization.<br />
Main problem is in finding a sympathetic<br />
boat owner who'll part with a boat<br />
which he may never see again.<br />
f with minimum<br />
maintenance — your seats can<br />
be kept in first class "company<br />
coming" condition . . .<br />
chances are — they are<br />
^utemationaf!<br />
Write, wire or phone —<br />
Massey Seating Company, Inc.<br />
160 Hermitage Avenue,<br />
Nashville, Tennessee<br />
Phone: Alpine 5-8459<br />
"JuteniationafSEAT division of<br />
UNION CITY BODY CO., INC.<br />
Union City, Indiana<br />
jr^M/VM^^^ Greater Oatl^Area<br />
^<br />
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Thcofrc Supply Comp<br />
6356<br />
Thcotrc Sc-vicc, New -Raymond 3562<br />
i—Tulone 4891<br />
ckson 5-8240<br />
BOXOFFICE :: June 15, 1957 SE-3<br />
3
95<br />
Phone:<br />
I certoinly<br />
. . European<br />
. . . Joe<br />
. . The<br />
. . Mrs.<br />
. . J.<br />
ATLANTA<br />
nctor Peter Graves and Pi-oducer Mike<br />
Ripps were on hand for the opening of<br />
"Bayou" at the Empire. Birmingham, Wednesday<br />
(51. Graves is the star of the picture<br />
and Ripps the producer. Johnnie Douglas and<br />
Harry Curl of the Acme Theatres, operator<br />
of the Empire. Melba and Lyric theatres,<br />
worked out a round of radio, television and<br />
newspaper interviews for the duo. Graves<br />
said he had never seen such coverage before.<br />
Ripps. 31-year-old Mobile. Ala., drive-in operator,<br />
said he is going to dispel the ideas<br />
for SPECIAL ShoWttUmslufi<br />
TRAILERS<br />
IITIIIPICTIIE SERVICE Ci.<br />
125 HYDE ST. SAN FRANCISCO (2). CALIF.<br />
NOW with TWO conyenient locations for<br />
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DIXIE<br />
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& SUPPLY COMPANY<br />
YOUR BALLANTYNE DEALER<br />
Walton Street. N.W.<br />
1010 North SlaDpey Drive<br />
P 0. Box 771 P. 0. Box g58<br />
Albany, Georgia Atlanta. Georgia<br />
Phone: HEmlock 2-2846 WAInut 4118<br />
about a "backward" South which Tennessee<br />
Williams has been fostering. Following the<br />
opening of the pictiu-e in Birmingham, Ripps<br />
and Graves came here where Ripps conferred<br />
with United Artists Manager W. C. "Bill"<br />
Hames and sales manager R. W. Tarwater.<br />
They visited the exchange where Graves<br />
busied himself autographing for employes.<br />
"Bayou" is a story about the Cajun country<br />
in Louisiana. The Graves left here for Miami<br />
where they will spend a few days before<br />
journeying back to their home in Los Angeles.<br />
Andy Griffith, North Carolina's contribution<br />
to the recording industry. Broadway<br />
stage and motion pictures, was here for a<br />
day in advance of his latest picture. "A Face<br />
in the Crowd." He had just come from his<br />
home in North Carolina where a homecoming<br />
celebration in his honor was held. He also<br />
addressed the state legislature . . . Ray Conner,<br />
managing director for the last 15 months<br />
of Cmerama here, will move to another Cinerama<br />
post at the Roosevelt Theatre in Miami<br />
Beach. He joined the Cinerama management<br />
in 1952— five years and foiu- cities ago. Now<br />
he is looking enthusiastically at his fifth<br />
city. Moving from place to place, however,<br />
is no novelty to Conner, who started his<br />
career at<br />
17 at Indianapolis.<br />
The Municipal Theatre Under-the-Stars<br />
gets under way July 9, with "Plain and<br />
Fancy." This attraction will be followed by<br />
"The Pajama Game" . dancer<br />
Irene Graziella was a recent visitor here.<br />
She was here to plug "Love in the Afternoon."<br />
SPECIAL TRAILERS<br />
Quality and Service<br />
ving theotres in the South for 36 yec<br />
13 cents per word<br />
Lowest Cost Anywhere<br />
STRICKLAND FILM CO.<br />
220 Pharr Road, N. E. Atlonta<br />
Miss Graziella has done command performances<br />
for King Farouk, King Faisal, and<br />
King Saud. She has been a featured can-can<br />
soloist in Paris and the Latin Quarter in<br />
New York.<br />
Patricia Harrison, daughter of Mr. and Mrs.<br />
J. H. Harrison, is en route to Europe where<br />
she will spend the summer traveling with a<br />
student tour. She sailed from New York<br />
Monday (3). Her father is vice-president<br />
and general manager of Wilby-Kincey Theatres<br />
. . . Wendell McCoy, formerly of the<br />
Town Theatre. Jackson, is convalescing at the<br />
Allen Sanitarium . P. J. Henn sr., is<br />
recovering from a heart attack at the Providence<br />
Hospital. Murphy, N. C. Mrs. Henn is<br />
the wife of the operator of the Henn Theatre<br />
at Murphy. Daughter Betsy is in the same<br />
hospital recovering from ptomaine poisoning.<br />
Pierce Savin finished a 50-year tour in the<br />
film business on May 31. He wound up<br />
with Allied Artists, formerly Monogram. He<br />
was given a going-away party by the office<br />
force and was given a present . E. Martin,<br />
owner and operator of the Grand Theatre and<br />
Jem Drive-In, Montezuma, Ga., closed both<br />
houses last week to take his employes on his<br />
sixth annual deep sea fishing trip. The party<br />
motored to Panama City. Fla., where Martin<br />
had two chartered boats waiting for the outing.<br />
Those enjoying the trip were Mr. and<br />
Mrs. W. C. English. Bobbie Ozier, Mrs. Amelia<br />
Satterfield, Mrs. Mary Meadows, Mr. and<br />
Mi-s. Ed Thomas, Melvin Barker, Wister W.<br />
Ellis<br />
and Ed Dixon.<br />
. . .<br />
The Jet Drive-In, Montgomery, has not yet<br />
reopened following a recent storm which blew<br />
the screen tower down, according to owner<br />
H. P. Rhodes . Joyce Ann Drive-In,<br />
Cleveland. Ga.. was taken over recently by<br />
Charles Iverster. This drive-in was formerly<br />
owned by John E. Ashe and the buying and<br />
booking handled by Al Rook of the Film<br />
Booking Office Executive Johnnie Harrell<br />
and bookers Mildred Castleberry and Lewis<br />
Owans have returned from a district meeting<br />
held at Milledgeville, Ga.<br />
10.000 LATE-TYPE CHAIRS AVAILABLE<br />
FOR LESS THAN V2 NEW-CHAIR COST!<br />
Comfort And Durability Will Beat Any New Chair<br />
We can also<br />
rebuild<br />
your own chairs<br />
Serving Loew's, Shubert's, and<br />
many other independents for over<br />
36 years. Recent installations:<br />
Colonial,<br />
Milford, Conn.; Shubert's<br />
Golden and Belosco Theatres,<br />
N. Y. City; Criterion, Broodway,<br />
N. Y. C; Loew's, Nashville, Tenn.;<br />
Holiday, York, Pa.;<br />
Olympic, Utica,<br />
N. Y.; Boyd, Lancaster, Po.<br />
Write, Wire<br />
or Phone—<br />
NICK DIACK.<br />
WHAT AN EXHIBITOR THINKS WHEN<br />
WE FINISH A TYPICAL JOB:<br />
Dear Mr.<br />
Diock:<br />
Charles MacDonald's<br />
HOLIDAY THEATRE<br />
York, Pa.<br />
) want to ttiank you for thie wonderful job you did<br />
on the chairs. They are beautiful.<br />
A lot of people in the business have seen the chairs,<br />
and they ore oil raving about the superb workmanship.<br />
appreciote not only the work but also the<br />
wonderful service which you gave me.<br />
With kindest personal regards, t remain,<br />
(signed;<br />
CHARLES MacDONALD<br />
EASTERN SEATING CO.<br />
138-13 Springfield Blvd. Springfield Gardens 13, New York Phone: lAurelton 8-3696<br />
The buying and booking: for the Midway<br />
Drive-In. Sevierville. Tenn., is now being<br />
handled by Exhibitors Service Co., according<br />
to Tom Lucy and Bill Kelly. This drive-in is<br />
owned by A. L. Wilson of Greeneville, Tenn.<br />
Hart has severed his connection with<br />
the Condra Amusement Co., Nashville, Tenn.,<br />
and C. H. "Chick" Kuertz has been appointed<br />
general manager. Kuertz was visiting here<br />
this week buying and booking for the Bel-<br />
Air, Colonial and Warner Park drive-ins,<br />
Nashville, which are operated by this firm.<br />
flLdl BOOHIdG OfflCf<br />
Experience Industry — Integrity<br />
ALBERT E. ROOK<br />
160 waiton St. n.w.<br />
m<br />
^^^ it^^l^^^^^<br />
tel. Jackson 5-8314 st^t^^'^i^^}-<br />
p.o. box 1422<br />
atlanta, ga.<br />
SE-4<br />
BOXOFFICE
Buy 309,000 Tickets<br />
To Okla. Exposition<br />
OKLAHOMA CITY—What is believed to<br />
be the biggest single ticket purchase in the<br />
nation's history was made here June 7 when<br />
IGA grocery stores of Oklahoma purchased<br />
309.000 tickets to the grandstand shows of<br />
the Oklahoma Semicentennial Exposition.<br />
FIRST 'ZIEGFELD FOLLIES'<br />
The purchase by the grocery group represented<br />
nearly 39 per cent of the 800.000<br />
tickets available for the 70 grandstand performances<br />
that will be presented at the exposition<br />
June 14-July 7.<br />
The grandstand shows are being presented<br />
by Grandstand Operations of New York,<br />
Nick Matsoukas, president. Matsoukas hired<br />
Lou Walters to stage the productions. Fii'St<br />
of the productions. June 14-20. is the "Ziegfeld<br />
Follies." with Mickey Rooney and Dorothy<br />
Lamour as stars. Oklahoman Patti Page<br />
headlines the show June 21-23. A Broadway<br />
Latin Quarter" production with star Johnny<br />
Ray is slated June 24-30. Running July 4 to<br />
the exposition's end will be the McGuire Sisters<br />
in "Follies Parisienne." In addition, a<br />
bevy of Latin Quarter beauties will be featured<br />
in each production.<br />
Purchase price of the block of tickets was<br />
not disclosed, but it is believed to be well over<br />
SIOO.OOO.<br />
The IGA stores plan to give the tickets<br />
away to customers—one ticket free with each<br />
S19 in accumulated cash register tapes. Another<br />
Oklahoma grocery chain. Standard-<br />
Humpty Dumpty supermarkets, already had<br />
begun selling tickets to the exposition itself<br />
at a reduced rate with sales of $5 or more.<br />
Of the 309.000 tickets bought. 154,000 are<br />
for the Lou Walters nighttime extravaganzas.<br />
The remaining 155.000 tickets are for the<br />
afternoon shows which include thrill shows,<br />
hot rod derby and a rock 'n' roll show.<br />
Promotors of the Oklahoma Semicentennial<br />
Exposition are hoping it will draw a crowd<br />
of at least 1.500.000 during its 3'j-week run.<br />
To this end they've been publicizing the event<br />
nationally for more than a year. However,<br />
Oklahoma's capricious weather—which last<br />
spring rained out several days of the "Atoms<br />
for Peace" exhibition here—is being watched<br />
anxiously.<br />
RAIN HAMPERED PLANS<br />
An unusual amount of rain during May<br />
and June, which caused widespread flooding<br />
in the state, proved costly in time and money<br />
for the exposition. Many display areas fell<br />
behind schedule on construction during the<br />
weeks of rainy weather. The week before the<br />
exposition weather was dry and hot.<br />
Theme of the exposition is "Arrows to<br />
.^toms. " which is carried out in the big "Arrows<br />
to Atoms" tower on the exposition<br />
urounds. When lit at night, the tower can<br />
be seen for<br />
miles.<br />
Exposition includes large displays on<br />
science. International House lin which many<br />
foreign countries, including Russia, will be<br />
represented by exhibits', Boomtown, U. S. A.<br />
—a complete oil "boomtown." including actual<br />
chilling of an oil well: parade of industry, a<br />
!.\shion center, automotive and tran.sportation<br />
show, travel exhibit, sports and hobby show,<br />
Teentown, Foodorama land, a photography<br />
display, a carnival midway and many special<br />
events.<br />
Variety Tent 34 Into New Quarters<br />
Which Feature South Seas Decor<br />
John Wilkinson Wins<br />
Variety Golf Match<br />
OKLAHOMA CITY—For the third<br />
year in<br />
a row. Johnny Wilkinson. Oklahoma City insurance<br />
man. won the annual 'Variety Club<br />
golf tournament, held June 4 at the Meridian<br />
Golf and Country Club.<br />
Winner of the $100 drawing at the club's<br />
dinner dance, held following the golf tournament<br />
at the Biltmore Hotel Civic room, wa^<br />
Leonard B. Reeve of Oklahoma City. Red<br />
Slocum, chairman of the drawing, reported a<br />
$3,819 profit, which goes to the Variety Club<br />
charity fund for its health centers.<br />
Some 48 golfers entered the 'Variety Club<br />
tournament. Bill Maddox and Jake Guiles<br />
tied for second place.<br />
Commonwealth Observes<br />
25th Year in Creston<br />
CRESTON. IOWA—Tlie Uptown Theatre<br />
and the Skylark Drive-In Theatre in Creston<br />
joined in observance of the 25th anniversary<br />
of the Commonwealth Theatre Corp. here<br />
through May and June, according to<br />
John Newcomer, manager of the two theatres<br />
here.<br />
The Commonwealth organization came to<br />
Creston in March 1932 when the Strand<br />
Theatre was acquired as the fourth theatre<br />
in<br />
the growing group.<br />
Is Given 2-Year Sentence<br />
In Enid Theatre Burglary<br />
ENID. OKLA.—Richard James Butricks<br />
jr., 19. pleaded guilty in district court of<br />
charges of second degree burglary and was<br />
sentenced to two years in the state penitentiary.<br />
Butricks, a projectionist at the Trail<br />
Drive-In Theatre, pleaded guilty before District<br />
Judge Tom R. Blaine of prying open a<br />
door at the theatre's concession stand and<br />
taking $20 in cash.<br />
Denison House Remodeled<br />
DENISON, TEX.—Lonnie Legg, manager<br />
of the Superba Theatre here, is basking in<br />
the compliments of patrons on the recently<br />
completed remodeling and decoration job to<br />
the theatre. The Superba was founded more<br />
than a quarter of a century ago by the late<br />
B. Legg. Since his passing, the family of<br />
three boys and their mother have carried<br />
on the business in a highly successful manner.<br />
Leo Weston Is Manager<br />
HARTFORD—Leo Weston, former Hartford<br />
salesman, has been named manager of<br />
the National Screen Service Connecticut<br />
branch, replacing Adolph Edmonds, promoted<br />
to NTS New York branch.<br />
HOUSTON—Variety Tent 34 has completed<br />
its switch from the downtown Montague Hotel<br />
to quarters above Ding How restaurant<br />
litrl'<br />
Variet\ ( liib Chief Barker Paul BoeMh<br />
IS shown huddlinf; with restaurateur<br />
i-elix Tijerina in the new \ ariet.v quarters<br />
on South Main street, about Boys Club<br />
affairs.<br />
on South Main street with the advantages<br />
seeming to far outweigh any disadvantages.<br />
Members with downtown offices within walking<br />
distance will miss its easy accessibility at<br />
Rusk and Fannin, but tor the many more who<br />
had to drive to town and pay for hourly parking,<br />
it<br />
is a decided blessing. There is plenty of<br />
free parking space!<br />
There also is benefit for all in the wide<br />
range of food available at all times and at all<br />
prices. Waiters from the restaurant below<br />
take the orders and serve the food.<br />
At first glance it may seem that the new<br />
clubrooms are small. They are considerably<br />
smaller than the old ones, but that very compactness<br />
makes for a feeling of warmth and<br />
friendliness. These rooms, most recently the<br />
Tahiti Club, are done in a South Seas decor.<br />
Two rooms are separated by open bamboo<br />
poles and ornamental wood formations in<br />
red, with the bar, card tables and several<br />
small cocktail tables on one side. The other<br />
larger room has green leather upholstered<br />
booths along either side, with tables in the<br />
center, a small dance floor and bandstand at<br />
one end.<br />
The walls have a bamboo-like finLsh. There<br />
are tree-limb containers filled with ivy along<br />
the walls, and a planter, all lighted underneath.<br />
The office is small, but adequate. And there<br />
are two roomy storage rooms for office materials<br />
and liquid refreshment.<br />
With all its small intimacy, it will easily<br />
seat 100. said Manager Rex Van. So far, there<br />
have certainly been a lot more customers in<br />
and out during the daylight hom-s . . . There<br />
are the pleasant familiar faces of secretary<br />
Marie Shaw and. behind the bar, Ben White<br />
and Weldon HoUoway.<br />
Topping it all are two other familiar figures.<br />
Beaming down upon the dance floor is<br />
one large top-hatted Variety barker. The<br />
other one, backed with the red entrance door<br />
downstairs, barks out a welcome to all com-<br />
BUFFALO COOLING EQUIPMENT<br />
3409 Oak Lown, Room 107 BUFFALO ENGINEERING CO., INC Dallas, Texoj<br />
June 15. 1957
. . Oskar<br />
DALLAS<br />
Toe F. Rodriguez, who has operated the Panamericano<br />
exclusively with Spanish-language<br />
films for the last 15 years, was puzzled<br />
over the source of the story featured in the<br />
local press that the Commercial Recording<br />
Co. was taking over the Maple avenue building<br />
for its own purposes, resulting in the cancellation<br />
of his lease. Rodriguez said this is<br />
not possible because he is the owner of the<br />
building and all outside occupants lease from<br />
him. He has no plans to discontinue operation<br />
of the city's only Mexican house. To<br />
the contrary, he plans added improvements<br />
this summer. The local press ran a retraction<br />
and gave a detailed story of some of<br />
the<br />
theatre's forthcoming attractions and the<br />
number of weekly programs.<br />
Alfred N. Sack, owner of the Coronet,<br />
opened "Tempest in the Flesh" prior to leaving<br />
here to enter his wife in a hospital at<br />
Boston, Mass. Mrs. Sack suffers from a heart<br />
condition and had to have a serious operation<br />
five years ago. Sack passed along an ironic<br />
tale before he left concerning one of the<br />
former owners of his popular art cinema.<br />
While it was being operated as the familytype<br />
Gay and having much trouble keeping<br />
its doors open, he had contacted the exhibitor<br />
to play a date on his "Open City" for two<br />
days. It did more business than the house<br />
normally did in a week and a half and was<br />
heldover an extra day. Sack later bought the<br />
house and remodeled it for a straight art<br />
policy, which has been operated successfully<br />
ever<br />
since.<br />
Barbi Putman, dancer and singer and<br />
daughter of Fred Putman, director of the<br />
Century Theatre on<br />
Long Island, N. Y., has<br />
was a record that released<br />
June 10. It is on<br />
Web a label and entitled<br />
"Mailman Bring JV '» ^^<br />
Me No More Blues"<br />
and "Georgie Porgie." "^ ^c^<br />
Miss Putman's father<br />
formerly managed theatres<br />
in Port Arthur,<br />
Tex., for the Jefferson<br />
Amusement Co. of<br />
Beaumont and before<br />
that wa^ in Virginia.<br />
»5-""'''<br />
l'""";>n<br />
In his early days he was a sUge huulci.<br />
a screen game,<br />
HOLLYWOOD takes fop<br />
honors. As a box-office attraction,<br />
it is without equal. It has<br />
been a favorite with theatre goers for<br />
over 15 years. Write today for complete details.<br />
Be sure to give seating or cor capacity.<br />
HOLLYWOOD AMUSEMENT CO.<br />
3750 Oakton St. • Skokie, llliuh<br />
Charles B. Landrum, manager of Isley's<br />
Kiest Boulevard Drive-In, was away from his<br />
.<br />
job a few days because of a serious ear infection.<br />
The condition, caused by a fungus<br />
growth, has bothered him for the last 15<br />
years Korn's Lisbon staged a<br />
benefit Thursday (6i for the Lisbon Dad's<br />
Club showing "Crazylegs" and with $450 in<br />
prizes donated by south Oak Cliff merchants<br />
awarded between showings. It was reported<br />
that enough tickets had been sold prior to<br />
showtime to outfit the football team next<br />
year. Manager Oliver B. King booked the<br />
MAGOPTICAL SPROCKETS<br />
FOR ALL PROJECTORS<br />
(Narrow tooth sprockets will be a "must" soon for many pictures.)<br />
ALSO
. . Manuel<br />
. . One<br />
. . Maurilio<br />
. . Delman<br />
. . The<br />
SAN ANTONIO<br />
T ocal members of the press, radio, television<br />
and advertising media were treated to a<br />
trade screening of "The Great Man" at the<br />
Josephine Theatre Tuesday (4) morning.<br />
It opened its regular run at this ace neighborhood<br />
house Thursday (61 . . . R. M. Bisland,<br />
manager of Carnegie Hall, New York<br />
City, and William O'Donnell, executive of<br />
the Cinema Art Theatres, Dallas, were recent<br />
weekend visitors in San Antonio . . . Williani<br />
Allen of Toddy Pictures, Dallas, was in town<br />
ahead of the "Killers All" at the Empire.<br />
George Kaczmar, manager of the Empire,<br />
billed a week of horror films, running two<br />
pictures every day for a full week . . . Free<br />
8x10 photographs of the late James Dean<br />
were given away w'ith each admission ticket<br />
during the showing of "Giant" at tlie Circle<br />
81 Drive-In here . hardtop and one<br />
drive-in are still closed in San Marcos. Tliey<br />
are the Texas and King Drive-In. One theatre<br />
in Austin is still dark. It is the Iris, an<br />
Eddie Joseph situation.<br />
The Obrero Theatre is being dismantled to<br />
make way for a new parking lot on West<br />
Houston street . . . Visiting along theatrical<br />
rows were Mrs. Francisca Cana.s of the Azteca<br />
Theatre, Harlingen: Jose Ruiz, Teatro<br />
Azteca, Lockhart: Rene Benitez, Benitez circuit,<br />
Weslaco; Maurilio Amaya, Teatro<br />
Amaya, Poteet: Mateo Vela, Teatro Maya,<br />
Houston.<br />
The Varsity Theatre near the campus, held<br />
a kids Disneyrama show Saturday (8) admitting<br />
all children for 25 cents each . . . The<br />
Paramount .sold Cinderella gla.ss slippers in<br />
a special booth set up in the lobby during the<br />
run of "Cinderella" at the ace Interstate<br />
house.<br />
Presence of New Yorkers<br />
In 'Face' Is Emphasized<br />
NEW HAVEN — Irving Hillman of the<br />
Stanley Warner Roger Sherman stressed the<br />
presence of numerous New York personalities<br />
in "A F^ce in the Crowd" via newspaper ads.<br />
Such people as Bennett Cerf. Faye Emerson.<br />
Betty Furness. Virginia Graham. Burl<br />
Ives. Sam Levenson. John Cameron Swayze,<br />
Mike Wallace. Earl Wilson and Walter<br />
Winchell are "among the faces in the crowd."<br />
No DST at Denver<br />
This Year, at Least<br />
Denver—Dayliftht savinss has lost<br />
again in Denver, where it was knocked<br />
out, at least for this year. The backers<br />
of the proposition withdrew their demands<br />
that the city council pass a DST<br />
it<br />
law, or put to a vote at a special election,<br />
after the city attorney ruled the<br />
council had no legal right to impose daylight<br />
savings time on any but city<br />
employes.<br />
City Attorney Banks said that time<br />
was a matter for state action, and the<br />
DST plan was defeated in the legislature<br />
earlier this year. Proponents say they<br />
will try and get the matter on a special<br />
election that is scheduled for later this<br />
year, with DST to lake effect next year<br />
if okayed by the voters.<br />
Bill Silver Wins Again;<br />
Columbia Trip to NY<br />
CAMERON. MO.—Bill Silver may have bad<br />
luck breaking arms but he and Mrs. Silver<br />
are lucky at winning<br />
^H^HMHHBB trips. The operators<br />
^HPPHH^HH of the Silver Theatre<br />
Hold Get-Acquainted Show<br />
OPELIKA. ALA. — Thf Auburn-Opelika<br />
Drive-In held its annual spring got-acquainted<br />
offer this month. On two ni'^ht.s<br />
everyone got in free and there were frei<br />
gifts for children. Only condition was that<br />
each adult attending would purchase one<br />
ticket good for any other show in April.<br />
Reopen St. James Rowe<br />
The Rowe Theatre,<br />
ST. JAMES, MO. -<br />
which was gutted by fire almost a year ago.<br />
was reopened recently after rebuilding. Mrs.<br />
Jesse Nelson is manager.<br />
HOUSTON<br />
Oouthwestern Theatre Equipment's Tom<br />
Vincent was in Dalla.s on business. Secretary<br />
Muriel Wilkinson went to the Pasadena<br />
General Hospital for an operation. Alex<br />
McKinzie was holding down the front de.sk<br />
lor<br />
the time being.<br />
The Houston Independent Theatre Ass'n<br />
met June 7 at 10 a.m. in Jack Farr's Trail<br />
Drive-In concessions room. Free coffee and<br />
doughnuts were served, with Manager T. J.<br />
Cheney hosting. Most important action taken<br />
was to amend the constitution to change the<br />
name of the organization to Greater Houston<br />
United Theatre Ass'n. At the three consecutive<br />
readings of this proposed amendment<br />
prior to this action it was explained that the<br />
reason for such a change was to clarify the<br />
membership-status of the a.s.sociation. The<br />
word "independent." some felt, might be confusing<br />
to potential members. For wliile all<br />
local theatremen participating do operate<br />
their theatres independently, many of them<br />
are owned by circuits. The next meeting of<br />
the association will be June 21, with Tidwell<br />
Drive-In Theatre's Cotton Griffith as host.<br />
It will be held at 10 a.m. June 21 at Sonny<br />
Look'.s<br />
restaurant.<br />
[Hp iBhI ^""^ ^^^ Cameo Drive- Sam Landrum, first vice-president of Jefferson<br />
Amusement Co., Beaumont, was in<br />
Wi |Hn In have received word<br />
^^P that they have won an Houston on business . Trail Drive-In is<br />
fm all-expense trip to New having eight cii-cus acts, "All live and in person,"<br />
at 7 p.m., with a)l kids under 12 free.<br />
Yoik from Columbia<br />
Pictures. Silver's It's with the Martin and Lew^is "Three Ring<br />
Wonders of Manhatt<br />
a n "<br />
Circus" , Theatre is having another<br />
late show, with feature starting at<br />
Santa Cerda ha.s replaced Mrs. Gloria<br />
• showmanship<br />
Quintanilla at the switchboard in the local J^<br />
campaign, which he 11;15. A return of "Young Man With a<br />
Azteca office . Quintero of the<br />
submitted, was judged Horn."<br />
Azteca back office is spending a vacation in<br />
the outstanding entry<br />
Monterrey, Mexico . Amaya of<br />
Bill Silver f,-om west of the Mississippi<br />
by Maurice Grad, Columbia shorts for some time now- by the new'ly named<br />
.\ beauty contest, which has been planned<br />
the Amaya, Poteet, has gone to Guadalajara.<br />
Mexico, for his vacation.<br />
subjects sales manager.<br />
Greater Houston United Theatre A.ss'n has<br />
According to a letter<br />
In<br />
from Grad received about jelled. The committee, composed of<br />
.Austin, Carole B. Heliums, daughter of<br />
Interstate<br />
by Silver,<br />
City Manager<br />
he and his wife will be the guests Yale and Broadway Theatres' Alvin Guggenheim,<br />
chairman, with Horwitz Theatres' Fred<br />
William E. Heliums,<br />
of<br />
and<br />
the Hotel<br />
Robert New York for their<br />
Bryant,<br />
four-day<br />
football star, were married<br />
recently. Another<br />
stay. The suggestion is<br />
wedding made that Silver<br />
Cannata. and Loew's State Theatre's Homer<br />
of note was<br />
plan his<br />
the daughter of manager<br />
Manhattan visit prior to October<br />
McCallon. expects to be in a position to pre-<br />
1,<br />
L. Craddock of the<br />
.sent<br />
Ritz Theatre, who wa.s wed<br />
and that he give a four weeks' notice<br />
a full plan shortly.<br />
of his<br />
to an Austinite<br />
preferred<br />
recently.<br />
date so<br />
"Fi-enchy"<br />
that<br />
Barr, lATSE<br />
arrangements<br />
member,<br />
can be<br />
was on made for his<br />
the<br />
entertainment.<br />
sick list . . . Harold "Buster"<br />
Novy, city manager<br />
In October of 1955 the Silvers<br />
of Trans-Texas won a free<br />
Joseph Murdock Dies<br />
Theatres,<br />
trip<br />
Dallas, was to the<br />
an Austin<br />
West Indies through<br />
visitor . . . John<br />
a Food Fair MANSFIELD, OHIO—Joseph E. Murdock.<br />
Bustin,<br />
contest at amusements a supermarket.<br />
editor<br />
Evidently their 66. manager of the Ohio Theatre here for<br />
of the Austin American-<br />
Statesman, was<br />
motto is enter contests<br />
out and see the world. the last four years, died recently in Akion<br />
of the city on his threeweek<br />
vacation.<br />
City Hospital following surgery. His wife<br />
Hazel and a son John, both of Mansfield,<br />
PROJECTOR :<br />
survive.<br />
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BOXOFFICE June 15. 1957 SV/.3
"Got A Load On Your Mind? I Haven't"<br />
Nothing gives employees a more luxurious, satisfied<br />
feeling than that of financial security. And nothing is<br />
easier for them to achieve when you provide the convenience<br />
of automatic Payroll Savings Plan.<br />
EVERYBODY BENEFITS<br />
Security hreeds coniidence— and confidence stimulates<br />
job interest and results in steadier people who are far<br />
more efficient in their work. Receiving those crisp Bonds<br />
at regular intervals along with their paycheck is an<br />
added inducement for employees to stay on the job.<br />
Moreover, when you install the Payroll Savings Plan<br />
in your company, you promote not only the security of<br />
your personnel but the security of your company and<br />
your country. Over forty million Americans have over<br />
40 billion dollars invested in United States Savings<br />
Bonds — a backlog of purchasing power for the future.<br />
EASY TO INSTALL<br />
If your company does not now have a Payroll Savings<br />
Plan, or if employee participation is less than 50%, a<br />
letter to: Savings Bonds Division, U.S. Treasury Department,<br />
Washington. D. C. will bring prompt assistance<br />
from your State Director. He will provide application<br />
cards, promotional material, and as much personal<br />
help as you need.<br />
The United Sfafes Government does not pay for this adverfhtng. The Treasury Deparfment<br />
thanks, for their patriotic donation, the Advertising Council and<br />
BOXOFFICE<br />
SW-4 BOXOFFICE :. June 15. 1957
Four More N.D. Towns Benny Benjamin Feted in Milwaukee<br />
And Tent 14 Sets '80 Days' Premiere<br />
Drop Daylight Time<br />
MINOT. N. D.—Alter less than a month of<br />
daylight saving time, four more of North<br />
Dakota's larger towns have switched back to<br />
standard time. This brings the total of<br />
towns dropping the fast time within the last<br />
fortnight to 13. Many more are expected to<br />
fall in line.<br />
Repeal follows agitation for the return to<br />
standard time by residents and people in the<br />
surrounding territory. Three other large<br />
towns, including Bismarck, the state capital.<br />
and Jamestown, also rejected it recently.<br />
In Minot last week the city council, which<br />
by resolution had put DST into effect by a<br />
one-vote margin, deferred action on a proposal<br />
to drop it. Reason for the failure to<br />
act was the absence of a number of aldermen.<br />
The matter will come up again at the<br />
council's next meeting in early July. The<br />
sentiment within the city and in the surrounding<br />
agricultural territory seems strong<br />
for a return to normal time.<br />
A suit brought by the city's only outdoor<br />
theatre and Earl Beck, its manager, to knock<br />
the fast time is pending in district court and<br />
proposition of attending them, explains<br />
Marks.<br />
This plan already has proved its merits,<br />
he claims. It was tried in one of the territory's<br />
towns with "Friendly Persuasion" the<br />
attraction and. in the opinion of all concerned,<br />
greatly stimulated patronage, according<br />
to Marks.<br />
Business Outlook Good<br />
.MI.NNEAPOLIS—The business outlook for<br />
this area is "reassuring." according to the<br />
Minneapolis Federal Reserve Bank's latest<br />
report. Mid-May rainfall, which stimulated<br />
lush growth of range and pasture grass, hurt<br />
the drive-ln theatres, but boosted farmers'<br />
spirits generally and is the principal reason<br />
for the bank's optimism, the report states.<br />
It's pointed out, among other things, that<br />
record high wages have stimulated consumer<br />
spending, as reflected in department store<br />
sales and bank debit figures equal to or<br />
higher than last year.<br />
MILWAUKEE — The Variety Club of<br />
Wisconsin Tent 14 is really getting down to<br />
club, for a two-fold purpose.<br />
First, to honor William D. Benjamin,<br />
Screen Guild, who is retiring. And second,<br />
to whip things into shape for a gigantic<br />
premiere of "Around the World in 80 Days"<br />
at the Strand Theatre. Tickets will sell from<br />
business. On the evening of May 28, practically<br />
the entire active membership gathered<br />
at Fazio's on Jackson street, swanky supper<br />
$10-$50. with all proceeds going to the Variety<br />
Mount Sinai epilepsy fund. Judging from<br />
the manner in which things worked out, (nobody<br />
got by the door on the way out without<br />
committing himself to a certain number of<br />
tickets) the fund will be off to a good start.<br />
SPHEERIS IS EMCEE<br />
Once the feedbag was disposed of, the<br />
testimonials came thick and fast in the<br />
is general direction Benny, as he more<br />
of<br />
popularly known. John G. Kemptgen, manager<br />
at Loew''s, called upon by master of<br />
ceremonies Andy Spheeris, chief barker,<br />
is expected to be heard by the district court<br />
in July. The court had refused a temporary started it off.<br />
restraining order.<br />
Estelle Steinbach, Strand Theatre manager<br />
and only woman present, quietly slipped<br />
It's alleged that the council action in enacting<br />
DST by resolution was in violation of out.<br />
the state constitution.<br />
Kemptgen said he knew every one in the<br />
room joined him in wishing Benny godspeed<br />
in his chosen retirement, and assumed that<br />
AA Devises Plan to Build he would be falling back on his former habits<br />
of days gone by.<br />
Business in Small Towns<br />
Benny, it seems, is an accomplished outdoorsman,<br />
particularly when it comes to<br />
MI>rNEAPOLIS—Taking a leaf from 20th-<br />
Fox and other companies that have gone on hunting and fishing. Thus, many of the<br />
record to help small-town exhibitors remain highlights of his past revolved around his<br />
in business. Allied Artists here has devised activities in this field of sports.<br />
a plan of its own. It's the brainchild of Irving<br />
Marks, branch manager.<br />
ed out, involved one particular hunting trip,<br />
The spell-binder of the evening, as it turn-<br />
For any exhibitor in a town up to 5,000 wherein the family dog was taken along.<br />
population booking a certain number of its "It's 4 o'clock in the morning, mind you,"<br />
pictures in a single month. Allied Artists, related George Devine. Allied Artists, "and<br />
when furnished with a mailing list by the dark as all getout." On arrival at the spot<br />
exhibitor in question, wull write and send to .selected from which the bombardment would<br />
all those persons on the mailing list a personal<br />
letter aimed at bringing them into the out of the car. "An' that's the last we saw<br />
take place, Benny, Devine and the dog got<br />
theatre to see the AA pictures.<br />
of that dog the rest of the day!" he moaned.<br />
The letter will list the pictures and their "Cold! Dark! Well, Benny went one way,<br />
playdates and try to sell the receiver on the and I the other. We had to bring home that<br />
mutt, or there'd be war in Benny's camp that<br />
night, with the kids, especially. So there we<br />
were: 'Here. Prince! Here Prince! Hyah, Boy!'<br />
Other hunters in the area, meanwhile were<br />
getting as far away from us as possible, wuth<br />
us making all that noise. We spent the whole<br />
day looking for that purp. Back once more<br />
to the car. and just about willing to give up<br />
the search, along came two hunters, and<br />
trotting beside them as meekly as you please,<br />
was that ... of a dog."<br />
DOG'S .'VBSEXCE EXPLAINED<br />
After the official greetings were taken<br />
care of. Benny asked how they happened<br />
to have the dog with them. Said one of the<br />
hunters: "Don't rightly know, pardner.<br />
Reckon he got a whiff of me the minute he<br />
jumped from your car and lit out in my<br />
direction. He followed me around all day.<br />
'Course. I fed im."<br />
The way I>evine tells it, the dog was even<br />
reluctant to leave the great outdoors for the<br />
trip back home. "Well, we got back home<br />
without getting in a bit of hunting, but I'll<br />
never forget that plaintive wail of Benny's:<br />
•Hyah, Prince! Here, Prince!'"<br />
Others who likewise did a neat job of<br />
comparing notes of bygone days included<br />
Ben Marcus, who heads the circuit bearing<br />
his name; John Schuyler, president of Delft<br />
circuit, and Morrie Anderson, who has taken<br />
over Benny's responsibilities at Screen Guild.<br />
Each in turn, however, returned to his<br />
objective, mainly to stress the fact that Benny<br />
was always the first to offer his services<br />
for any project under way, and could be<br />
counted upon to see it through to a successful<br />
conclusion. He was given a set of traveling<br />
BE^^^IY EXPRESSES GRATITUDE<br />
When it came time for Benny to acknowledge<br />
the many kind things said of him, he<br />
found it difficult to get started. Face flushed<br />
and with a lump in his throat, he finally<br />
stammered: "I tell ya, fellas. I just don't have<br />
the words at my command. But it reminds<br />
me of a meeting I had in Chicago prior to<br />
my taking over this business. Fi-equently,<br />
I would interrupt, to ask if soandso was still<br />
in Milw-aukee, good '. friend of mine."<br />
. .<br />
Finally, the gentlemen said, 'how come you<br />
continually refer to all those guys as your<br />
friends? You know how^ it is, you're lucky<br />
if you can use the fingers on one hand to<br />
name them.'<br />
"Well, I just happened to think of those<br />
words a few moments ago. Now, I know how<br />
many friends I really have. And all I can<br />
manage to say is thank you from the bottom<br />
of my heart."<br />
The balance of the session was then devoted<br />
towards breathing life into the forthcoming<br />
premiere of "Around the World in 80<br />
Days."<br />
Among those present were Robert L. Bostick,<br />
vice-president of National Theatre Supply,<br />
Memphis, Tenn. Said he: "I only wish<br />
I could properly convey, as international<br />
representative of Variety Clubs, to other<br />
tents what I have witnessed here tonight.<br />
And I refer both to the touching testimonial<br />
in Benny's behalf, as well as the allout approach<br />
to the premiere you're working on."<br />
PEP TALK BY TRAMPE<br />
Oliver Trampe, Film Service,<br />
former chief<br />
barker, then took over and pleaded that the<br />
membership get on the ball. In fact, it was<br />
his suggestion that Harold Pearson, executive<br />
secretary for Allied Theatre Owners Ass'n.<br />
be posted at the door to "accept" formal<br />
"offers" committing each member to a given<br />
number of tickets.<br />
Andy Spheeris called for an active participation<br />
of each and every member of the<br />
club. He reminded them that "... there<br />
are 800 seats in the Strand Theatre. Already<br />
we have on file a number of calls for the<br />
S50 seats; more of course, for the $10 ones.<br />
We must interest every business and civic<br />
official we can contact in this humanitarian<br />
gesture of Variety. Get them over to the<br />
clinic! Acquaint them with the seriousness<br />
of the clinic's efforts. Already, that staff is<br />
overtaxed and they've hardly begun!"<br />
William Fawcett will play the Tijuana<br />
schoolteacher in Columbia's "The Tijuana<br />
Stoi-y."<br />
June 15, 1957
. . Marjorie<br />
. .<br />
DES MOINES<br />
N<br />
orman Holt, Warner salesman, is on his<br />
two-week vacation . . . Lois Ann Lattimore,<br />
biller at Warners, is spending her vacation<br />
at home . Schulze is the<br />
new PBX operator at Warners . . . WOMPI<br />
held a luncheon at the home of Universal<br />
booker Tlielma Washburn on June 8. Nineteen<br />
members attended the event which was<br />
a moneymaking project for national convention<br />
which will be held next October . . . Clara<br />
Helvig, Universal inspector, is vacationing .<br />
Don Hicks, Paramount branch manager, is in<br />
California on his annual vacation visit.<br />
Harry Dearmin has put tickets on sale for<br />
the premiere of "Saint Joan," to be held<br />
June 25 at the RKO Orpheum Tlieatre in<br />
Marshalltown. Dearmin said the 914 premiere<br />
tickets would be sold on a first come, first<br />
served basis, with no seats reserved other<br />
than those for the Seberg family and possibly<br />
other visiting dignitaries. The gold premiere<br />
tickets sell for 90 cents and will be good only<br />
for the one night. The film will run a week<br />
following the premiere. The picture will also<br />
open at other RKO theatres around the state<br />
June 26. The film is the first made by Miss<br />
Seberg. who graduated from Marshalltown<br />
High School only a year- ago.<br />
Marlene Eenhuise is the new bookers clerk<br />
at MGM replacing M:-s. Myrna Brown, who<br />
has resigned to await the stork . . . Harlan<br />
Miller, Des Moines Register columnist, recently<br />
wrote in his column "I'm told that<br />
92.3 per cent of customers at drive-in theatres<br />
are young married couples with 1, 2 or 3<br />
kids asleep in the backseat and that in our<br />
chilly spring one Des Moines drive-in played<br />
to more people than all our roofed theatres<br />
combined!"<br />
Top Milwaukee Spot<br />
Won By 'Lonely Man<br />
MILWAUKEE — While "The Ten Commandments"<br />
was registering better business<br />
in it.s 17th week than in its 16th and "The<br />
Wayward Bus" held up well in a second week.<br />
"The Lonely Man," new Jack Palance-Anthony<br />
Perkins problem western, bowed in at<br />
a solid 150 per cent. These straws in the<br />
wind were bringing some overdue encouragement<br />
to the downtown houses.<br />
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Pop-Up Troys<br />
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Carroll Shoppers Given<br />
Free Theatre Tickets<br />
CARROLL. IOWA—Women shoppers<br />
who<br />
buy in Carroll will get free theatre tickets as<br />
16 Carroll stores join with the Carroll theatres<br />
in launching the June Movietime Jubilee.<br />
Bill Ai-ts. manager of the Can-oil theatres,<br />
is furnishing the 16 participating stores<br />
with tickets to give to their women customers<br />
along with special values advertised by those<br />
stores in conjunction with the event.<br />
The free tickets are good for 18 different<br />
shows during June, and will be given out by<br />
the stores on Friday.<br />
Reopen Dunlap Theatre<br />
DUNLAP, IOWA—The Dunlap Theatre reopened<br />
May 30, according to C. C. Moore,<br />
owner and manager. The theatre has been<br />
closed for several weeks due to an injury suffered<br />
by Moore in January. There will be<br />
two changes of pictures a week, with the theatre<br />
being closed on Wednesday nights.<br />
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. . Among<br />
. . Mrs.<br />
. . Bill<br />
. . Walter<br />
. . Mona<br />
. . The<br />
. .<br />
OMAHA<br />
MILWAUKEE<br />
pari Couden, exhibitor at Sidney, Iowa,<br />
brought the big motor for his cooling<br />
system to Omaha, had it overhauled and reinstalled<br />
it in the Sidney Theatre. No sooner<br />
was the job done than lightning came down<br />
the wires and. pow—the motor is back in<br />
Omaha being rebuilt . . . Norm Nielsen, U-I<br />
salesman, is up and around in good .shape<br />
following a circulatory operation on his legs.<br />
He even got in some golf with the Filmrow<br />
linksters.<br />
.<br />
.<br />
Walter Bradley, Neligh exhibitor, was hospitalized<br />
again recently Hanson.<br />
U-I stenographer, and her husband were<br />
. vacationing in Colorado United<br />
Artists staff got a "wish you were here" card<br />
from Tillie Cleal. contract clerk, postmarked<br />
Chicago Earl Kerr of Pine, Colo.,<br />
whose husband operates theatres in Iowa and<br />
Missouri, w^as in Omaha last week with her<br />
children to visit her parents.<br />
Jim Robinson, operator of the State Theatre<br />
at Elk Point, S. D.. reported a fire damaged<br />
his locker plant ... Ed Cohen, Columbia<br />
salesman, is now the proud possessor of a<br />
Siamese cat—but still prefers dogs. A friend<br />
moved to Canada and left the Cohens the pet.<br />
and has made two phone calls to see how it<br />
IS getting along . Tamen. Vermillion.<br />
S. D., exhibitor, is back from a trip to St.<br />
Paul. Minn., to bring his family home . . .<br />
Harry Fisher, former U-I salesman, visited<br />
the exchange last week . . . Opal Woodson,<br />
UA office manager, will attend a reunion of<br />
her high school graduating class at Moberly,<br />
Mo., June 22.<br />
.<br />
.<br />
Heinie Saggau, exhibitor at Denison, Iowa,<br />
opened his summer home at Park Rapids,<br />
Minn. other exhibitors who went<br />
north to fishing spots in Minnesota were Mr.<br />
and Mrs. Alfred Klemme of the Norca at<br />
Acron. Iowa; Richard Max. Sidney. Iowa,<br />
and Bob Holdrege. who has the State Theatre<br />
at Shenandoah Creal, operator<br />
of the Center Beacon theatres in<br />
and<br />
Omaha, reported his mother has returned<br />
home from the hospital.<br />
Morgan Reynolds has reopened his theatre<br />
at Elwood . . . S. R. Notham announced that<br />
the Vogue at Remsen, Iowa, would close down<br />
July 1 . . . Members of the Film Industry<br />
Golf League were surprised to see Lowell<br />
Kyle. 20th-Fox salesman, show up with an<br />
ax as an extra club in his bag—for those<br />
woods shots. Kermit Carr of the Goldberg<br />
Theatre circuit won the handicap competition.<br />
Mary Frangenberg, 20th-Fox cashier, said<br />
she and Rosemary Caples teamed in doubles<br />
to make the prize list in the National<br />
Women's Bowling Congress at Dayton .<br />
Don McLucas, UA manager, returned from a<br />
district meeting at St. Louis . . . Exhibitors<br />
on the Row included R. V. Fletcher, O'Neill;<br />
Phil March. Wayne: Jim Travis, Milford;<br />
Paul Tramp. Oxford; Adolph Rozanek.<br />
Crete; Earl Dowden, Sidney; Scotty Raitt,<br />
Genoa; Bob Kruger, Sioux City, and Frank<br />
Good. Red Oak.<br />
Paul Fine's Sister Dies<br />
OMAHA— Paul Fine, owner of<br />
the Western<br />
Theatre Supply Co., was called to Chicago<br />
by the death of his sister Sarah Fine. Services<br />
and burial were in Chicago.<br />
NKW I ^ riioAioil D— riiomas Martin,<br />
left, Idiinii inaiiauiMK director of the<br />
Radio City Theatre in Minneapolis, recently<br />
was upped to Minneapolis city<br />
manager for Minnesota Amusement Co.,<br />
supervising the Radio City. State, Lyric,<br />
I'ptown and Rialto theatres. At right,<br />
Fred Bachman, former manager of the<br />
Paramount, St. Paul, was boosted to city<br />
manager there, directing both the Paramount<br />
and Riviera.<br />
Harlan Blake Is Praised<br />
By AIP Head for Bally<br />
MINNEAPOLIS — Harlan Blake, manager<br />
of the local Loop first run Gopher, is the<br />
proud possessor of a letter from Leon P.<br />
Blender. American International general<br />
sales manager, congratulating Blake for doing<br />
"such a great job" in promotion of AIP's<br />
twin bill "Dragstrip Girl" and "Rock All<br />
Night."<br />
"Your splendid campaign resulted in a terrific<br />
gro.ss," Blender wrote to Blake, "and I<br />
know we would not have been so rewarded<br />
without the tremendous effort you put forth.<br />
"The excellent showmanship you have displayed<br />
could not have merited anything but<br />
the fine results.<br />
"It all goes to demonstrate again that showmanship<br />
is not dead and how effective and<br />
successful it can be. You have given it new<br />
life in its functional practicability."<br />
Businessmen to Reopen<br />
Melrose, Wis., Theatre<br />
MELROSE. WIS.—Plans are being made<br />
for the Rose Theatre to reopen here. A group<br />
of local businessmen have arranged with<br />
H. W. Rucker. owner of the building, for a<br />
lease of the theatre and equipment for a<br />
year. Rucker is already at work with a crew<br />
of men cleaning and repainting the building.<br />
Pi-esent plans call for two changes of shows<br />
each week with shows on Wednesday. Saturday<br />
and Sunday. The Wednesday night show<br />
will be free to everyone and is sponsored by<br />
the businessmen of Melrose.<br />
Vaudeville Film Program<br />
Slated for Radio City<br />
MINNEAPOLIS — Charlie Winchell, Minnesota<br />
Amusement Co. president-general<br />
manager, has booked into the local Radio<br />
City Theatre the week of July 11 the first<br />
vaudeville-film show that house or any Minneapolis<br />
theatre has had in more than four<br />
years.<br />
The occasion will be the week of the Shriners<br />
national convention here and it'll be a<br />
case of Shriner for the Shriners because Herb<br />
Shriner, the comedian, will be the headliner,<br />
along with the Jimmy Dor.sey band.<br />
/"•aryl Manhardt, 15-year-old daughter ol<br />
Vic Manhardt. equipment dealer, .showed<br />
her five-gaited hour.se Deep Secret at the<br />
Wisconsin Riders & Exhibitors Ass'n meet<br />
here. It was a benefit show, which brought<br />
over 348 entries. One exhibitor has a sterling<br />
silver saddle said to be worth about $20,000.<br />
Names of some of the horses? Elvis Presley,<br />
Marilyn Monroe and Liberace. Miss Manhardt<br />
learned to ride with the Girl Scouts.<br />
Latest acquisition to Johnny Mednikow's<br />
staff at National Screen Service here is Harriet<br />
Ackmannn, who is handling the booking<br />
and related duties. Harriet says Al Camillo.<br />
manager at the Fox Wisconsin Theatre,<br />
learned of the vacancy and followed through<br />
with a recommendation, which resulted in<br />
her getting the job. She had been with Fox<br />
Wisconsin Amusement Corp. for over ten<br />
years, doing secretarial and booking work.<br />
Gifts worth 50 cents or more from widely<br />
known persons in the entertainment field,<br />
politics and government, the church and industry<br />
were auctioned off here at a benefit<br />
picnic. Gifts w^ere obtained by writing to the<br />
donors who included Roy Rogers. Dale Evans.<br />
Red Skelton. Perry Como. Mrs. Eisenhower<br />
and many others. The event was held at<br />
Pius XI High School June 9. with more than<br />
350 gifts auctioned off.<br />
Exhibitor's 2-Year-Old Son<br />
Is Would-Be Globetrotter<br />
SCHUYLER. NEB.—Reggie Gannon, exhibitor<br />
at the Sky Theatre, and Mrs. Gannon,<br />
are convinced son Shane wiU be a world<br />
traveler when he grows up—at the age of<br />
two he's already .shown the desire to go places.<br />
Shane and his younger brother Stephen<br />
climbed into their dad's station wagon parked<br />
in a lot near the theatre. Somehow or other<br />
Shane put it in gear, turned the switch and<br />
away they went.<br />
The journey was short. The car went<br />
straight across the street, jumped a curb<br />
and came to rest against a building. The<br />
car was slightly damaged, the children were<br />
unhurt.<br />
WLOL Seeks TV Permit<br />
MINNEAPOLIS—The Minnowa Broadcasting<br />
Co., headed by N. L. Bentson. president,<br />
owner-operator of WLOL here, plans a<br />
television station in the vicinity of Fairmont,<br />
in the southern part of the state.<br />
Application for authorization ali-eady has<br />
been made to the FCC. Bentson says arrangements<br />
have been made which would<br />
assure the programming of a maximum number<br />
of top network shows through an agreement<br />
with KELO-TV, Sioux Falls. S, D,<br />
Latter is affUiated with NBC, CBS and ABC<br />
networks. Channel 12 is being sought.<br />
DRIVE-IN SPECIALS<br />
|
. . . Al<br />
. . . Herb<br />
. . The<br />
. . The<br />
. . There<br />
MINNEAPOLIS<br />
Qn his present tour to boost "The Delicate<br />
Delinquent." Jerry Lewis will come to<br />
Minneapolis with other performers July 18.<br />
the day when it opens here at Radio City.<br />
to appear on the theatre's stage for three<br />
shows. Lewis and his company will fly into<br />
this city from Milwaukee. He played a week's<br />
engagement at the same house sometime ago<br />
with Dean Martin and drew terrific crowds<br />
O'Keefe. a former Universal assistant<br />
general sales manager and now a west<br />
coast theatre circuit owner, was here on a<br />
vacation visit with his family and friends, including<br />
LeRoy J. Miller, local U-I manager<br />
Buschman. United Ai-tists manager<br />
is back from a sales meeting in St. Louis.<br />
A letter from D. E. Smith, manager of the<br />
HoUy^vood Theatre. Eau Claire. 'Wis., tossing<br />
bouquets at Bob Favaro. MGM exploiteer<br />
here, for his work in Eau Claire in behalf of<br />
"Designing Woman." has made Favaro very<br />
happy. Sent to Favaro's boss Emery Austin,<br />
head of MGM pubhcity. it was published in<br />
the MGM house organ. Smith congratulated<br />
Favaro for his excellent work and Austin for<br />
having such "a topdrawer talent with ambition<br />
to carry out his numerous ideas."<br />
Among other things, wrote Smith: "It was<br />
pleasant to meet a man who was optimistic<br />
about the industry's future."<br />
SPECIAL<br />
TRAILERS<br />
FILMACK<br />
ikuM.umijiijijiaarBiii<br />
>1(.N IOK WORLD—Todd-.AO equipment<br />
for the opening of ".Ground the<br />
World in 80 Days" June 28 is being installed<br />
at the Alvin Theatre in Minneapolis.<br />
The above photograph shows<br />
the signing of the contract by Ted<br />
Mann, left, owner of the new Alvin, and<br />
Doug Netter, vice-president of Todd-AO.<br />
This is the 38th Todd-AO instaUation in<br />
the United States.<br />
played twin bills last Sunday. Relating howdaylight<br />
saving time is hurting the ozoners.<br />
Will Jones in his Minneapolis Morning Tribune<br />
column said that a heavily advertised<br />
midnight twin horror show drew only 50 cars<br />
Navarre, three of the Twin Cities 12 drive-ins.<br />
Flying Cloud rarely has had to have a late<br />
show because of the patronage drouth.<br />
.<br />
,<br />
The local Miss Universe is being chosen at<br />
a contest staged at Excelsior Amusement<br />
Park St. Paul downtown first run<br />
Strand has broughc back during the past few<br />
weeks "The Red Pony" and "The Fighting<br />
The Minnesota Amusement Co. held its first<br />
Kentuckians" on one twin bill and "Mutiny<br />
Sunday night sneak preview at the State<br />
on the Bounty" and "Boys Town" on another<br />
last Sunday, showing Bob Hope's newest,<br />
Hilltop, Flying Cloud and<br />
Navarre, three of the Twin Cities 12 drive-ins.<br />
"Beau<br />
traction,<br />
James," along with<br />
"Gunfight at the<br />
the regular<br />
OK. Corral,"<br />
at-<br />
in<br />
its second week at the house and due to be<br />
moved over to the Lyric for a third downtown<br />
stanza. Advertised in the Sunday newspaper,<br />
the .sneak prevue boosted Sunday attendance<br />
at the showhouse considerably.<br />
"Wee Geordie," having its St. Paul first run<br />
at the neighborhood fine arts Grandview, is<br />
in its third week there . . . Difficulties encountered<br />
by the architects in remodeling the<br />
Alvin. mow the Academy) for "Around the<br />
World in 80 Days" and pictures to follow will<br />
delay the opening of the Mike Todd smash hit<br />
until some time in July.<br />
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THEATRE<br />
STREET ADDRESS<br />
TOWN<br />
NAME<br />
STATE..<br />
POSmON<br />
Avalon Theatre Suit<br />
To Trial Sept. 10<br />
MINNEAPOLIS — Federal district court<br />
trial has been set for September 10 in the<br />
antitrust suit brought by circuit owners Abe<br />
Kaplan and Charlie Rubenstein against the<br />
major distributors.<br />
The plaintiffs are asking $500,000 triple<br />
damages, claiming that their local neighborhood<br />
Avalon Theatre here was discriminated<br />
against on clearance in favor of a competing<br />
Paramount house. This is the only<br />
remaining such suit on the court calendar<br />
here.<br />
Lee Loevenger. the plaintiffs' attorney, won<br />
a S125.000 judgment for exhibitors Saul and<br />
Martin Lebedoff in a similar action against<br />
the film companies.<br />
Rock-Roller in Deluxer<br />
Gets Raised Eyebrows<br />
ST. PAUL— Bill Diehl, Pioneer Pi'ess-Dispatch<br />
critic, was moved to wonderment when<br />
Minnesota Amusement Co.'s Paramount,<br />
this first town's leading run theatre, booked<br />
for the first time a twin bill comprising a<br />
rock and roll film, "Untamed Youth," and a<br />
picture not considered tops, "A Cry in the<br />
Night."<br />
No rock and roll picture ever had been<br />
booked into the Paramount before the Diehl<br />
in his review expressed the belief that the<br />
showhouse would lose face "in thus lowering<br />
its standards."<br />
"We've always considered the Paramount<br />
theatre as a sort of grande dame of the Loop<br />
movie houses," WTOte Diehl. "She's an elegant<br />
place, massive, sedate. But the old girl<br />
has kicked off her high-button footwear and<br />
slipped into saddle shoes. She's shucked<br />
her dignified attire and wriggled into snugfitting<br />
jeans in slating a rock 'n' roll movie.<br />
Now wouldn't that jar your mother's preserver.<br />
"And then to have a minor drama in addition<br />
to the rock 'n' roll thing. If it seems<br />
to you that the theatre has lowered its head<br />
and is running pell-mell toward a brick wall,<br />
it seems that way to us, too.<br />
"Those in the know, however, point out<br />
there's always a lack of good movies just<br />
before a holiday— and Memorial Day is coming<br />
up .<br />
has been an extreme shortage<br />
of product which should begin to ease<br />
shortly. In fact. Hollywood has a series of<br />
blockbusters getting some finishing touches.<br />
In the meantime we have the plight described<br />
here today."<br />
Kid Shows Start in Perry<br />
PERRY, IOWA—The first four summer<br />
series kiddy matinees, being held by the Perry<br />
Theatre in cooperation with the PTA, was<br />
slated for Wednesday, June 12, according to<br />
Bernard Bisbee, theatre manager. Season<br />
tickets for the complete series of eight movies<br />
will sell for Sl.OO.<br />
Partners Bu'y in Cascade, Iowa<br />
CASCADE, IOWA—Gary Less and Clarence<br />
Bye reopened the Cascade Theatre here the<br />
last of May after it had been dark for several<br />
months. Their first show was rewarded with<br />
quite liberal patronage, and if interest continues,<br />
the theatre will be able to remain in<br />
operation.<br />
NC-4<br />
BOXOFFICE June 15, 1957
Cinema Club Installs<br />
Mrs. Elna Gebhart<br />
CLEVELAND — Mrs. Elna Gebhart was<br />
installed as president of the Cleveland<br />
Cinema Club at its annual meeting Wednesday<br />
i5i in the Higbee Auditorium. Mrs.<br />
Edward P. Carran, former president of the<br />
Cleveland Federation of Women's Clubs, was<br />
the installation officer. Mrs. Gebhart succeeds<br />
Mrs. Sally Swisher, who retains an<br />
active interest in motion pictures as a member<br />
of the board of directors of the Motion<br />
Picture Council of Cleveland.<br />
Other officers elected for the coming year<br />
and duly installed are: first vice-president.<br />
Mrs. Lillian Strong; second vice-president,<br />
Mrs. Sara Hamilton: secretary, Mrs. Marjorie<br />
Lawrence: treasurer, Mrs. Henrietta<br />
Sweitzer.<br />
REVIEWED 89 FEATURES<br />
Mrs. Gebhart has devoted many years to<br />
the study and promotion of motion pictures.<br />
During the past year she reviewed 89 features<br />
for a weekly column she authors in the<br />
Leader, covering Willowick, Wickliffe, East<br />
Lake and Timberlake. Her approach to all<br />
pictures is constructive. "If you can't say<br />
something good about a picture, don't say<br />
anything about it other than its type and<br />
cast," she explains. Her program for the<br />
coming year will include plans to make the<br />
public motion picture conscious and to reestabUsh<br />
interest in pictures as the "best<br />
and cheapest entertainment available."<br />
The origin of the Cleveland Cinema Club<br />
dates back to 1915, according to Bertelle Lyttle,<br />
club historian and one of its founders.<br />
"We started as a small committee to reform<br />
pictures at their source in an effort to combat<br />
state precensorship for which the church<br />
representatives were clamoring. In this move,<br />
we coined the now well worn plirase, 'better<br />
films.' We worked as a committee of the<br />
Cleveland Federation of Women's Clubs to<br />
establish standards for screen entertainment.<br />
And it was from this committee work that<br />
the Cleveland Cinema Club was finally organized<br />
in 1917. Since that time we have<br />
been steadfast in our efforts to promote better<br />
films, to establish an appreciation of<br />
films as an art and to inaugurate the special<br />
children matinees. We met strong resistance<br />
from theatre owners and managers when we<br />
first proposed our plan for specially selected<br />
Saturday matinee programs, but eventually,<br />
by consistent effort, we got our plan almost<br />
universally adopted in Cleveland."<br />
SOLD ON MA'nXEE IDEA<br />
Many theatre managers now are sold on<br />
the idea of specially selected Saturday matinee<br />
programs that they bew^ail a shortage<br />
of available suitable product, claiming that<br />
distributors are reluctant to book for a single<br />
matinee showing a picture they think should<br />
play a run. In some neighborhoods, however,<br />
the special Saturday matinees have outlived<br />
their usefulness. Only this week the<br />
Astor Theatre discontinued them altogether.<br />
In her acceptance speech, Mrs. Gebhart<br />
paid special tribute to Frank Murphy, Loews<br />
Theatre division manager, for extending the<br />
courtesy of his theatres to members following<br />
the regular club meetings. Mrs. Florence<br />
Craig, Cuyahoga County librarian, closed the<br />
meeting with a review of the book by Jessamyn<br />
West on which the prize-winning picture,<br />
"Friendly Persuasion," was based.<br />
Highway Dept. Must Okay<br />
Maintenance of Traffic<br />
COLUMBUS—Ohio drive-in theatre o\niers<br />
who wi-sh to assure maintenance of traffic<br />
during highway contruction must obtain<br />
contractural approval from the Ohio Highway<br />
Department before construction contracts<br />
are let, according to the Independent<br />
Theatre Owners of Ohio.<br />
"Contracts are let with clauses providing<br />
for maintenance of traffic w'hen the department's<br />
division engineer so approves," said<br />
the ITO. "Once the contract is let without<br />
such a clause, nothing can be done. Any<br />
relief sought must come before the contract<br />
is<br />
let.<br />
"In taking land from a drive-in theatre<br />
owner, or any other property owner, the price<br />
paid will reflect not only the actual value of<br />
the property but the residual value of the<br />
remainder." said the ITO.<br />
The ITO pointed out that if the drive-in<br />
is on a county or township highway, the State<br />
Highway Department has no jurisdiction.<br />
Variety Golf Outing<br />
June 24 at Detroit<br />
DETROIT — The 'Variety Club of Detroit<br />
will hold its annual golf outing on June 24,<br />
at the Tam O'Shanter Country Club on<br />
Orchard Lake road. Milton Zimmerman,<br />
manager for Columbia Pictures, and Irving<br />
Belinsky, owner of the Eastwood Theatre,<br />
are co-chairmen for the event.<br />
The Variety golf outing traditionally represents<br />
the high spot of the summer social<br />
season for Filmrow, and is expected to draw<br />
a strong attendance from home and district<br />
offices, as well as upstate exhibitors and<br />
local Filmrow personnel.<br />
Palms Theatre Building<br />
Is Sold to Bagley Corp.<br />
DETROIT — The Francis Palms building<br />
on Woodward avenue, including the first run<br />
Palms Theatre, has been purchased from the<br />
Palms Realty Co. by the Bagley Building<br />
CoiTj. for a sum reported at $2,000,000. The<br />
new firm, which also operates the United<br />
Artists Theatre building, is under the presidency<br />
of Samuel J. Lang. The Palms Theatre<br />
is operated by United Detroit Theatres.<br />
Louis Mitchell Adds Two<br />
DETROIT — Louis Mitchell, operator of<br />
an independent film buying and booking<br />
service, is adding the General Custer Drive-<br />
In at Monroe, operated by Ben J. Robins,<br />
former Universal manager, and the Dexter<br />
Theatre in Detroit, to his accounts. The<br />
Dexter operation is being taken over by John<br />
Brown, son of the late pioneer Harry Brown,<br />
on behalf of the Brown family. Mitchell also<br />
continues to book for the Palmer Park Theatre<br />
in Highland Park, in which he is a<br />
partner with Raymond Schreiber, circuit<br />
operator.<br />
Edward LaGuille Dies<br />
DETROIT — Edward LaGuille, longtime<br />
member of lATSE Local 199, died recently<br />
in Receiving Hospital following a heart attack.<br />
He was projectionist at the RKO<br />
Uptown Theatre, now the Six Mile Uptown,<br />
in Highland Park, retiring about a year ago.<br />
ITOO Okays Hold Off<br />
On Joining COMPO<br />
COLUMBUS —The board of directors of<br />
the Independent Theatre Owners of Ohio ha.s<br />
approved unanimously the action taken by<br />
the National Allied board in notifying<br />
COMPO that Allied would withhold reaffiliation<br />
with that organization pending another<br />
conference between Allied's committee and<br />
that of COMPO.<br />
The Ohio board also endorsed the National<br />
board's position on the matter of the<br />
Department of Justice "which has been very<br />
freely interpreting the consent decrees but<br />
seemingly always against the independent<br />
exhibitor." The National Board had authorized<br />
contact with a Congressional cominittee<br />
which is contemplating an investigation of<br />
the antitrust division of the Justice Department.<br />
The Ohio board also requested Allied's<br />
negotiating committee on arbitration to include<br />
among the subjects to be arbitrated<br />
the question of delayed availabilities. The<br />
dii-ectors pointed out that lack of prints or<br />
other causes of delayed availabilities have<br />
"completely upset the clearance pattern" in<br />
the state among subsequent run, small town<br />
and drive-in theatres.<br />
The Ohio board passed a resolution expressing<br />
"sincerest sympathy" to Mrs. William<br />
F. Rodgers on the recent death of her<br />
husband. Several board members said he<br />
was "the best friend that exhibitors ever<br />
had in distribution" and he was "the kind<br />
of individual whom the industry could ill<br />
afford to be without."<br />
Annual convention of ITOO will be held<br />
December 3, 4 at the Fort Hayes Hotel here.<br />
400 Petitioners in Suit<br />
Against Chakeres Airer<br />
SPRINGFIELD — A Fairborn man representing<br />
more than 400 petitioners has filed<br />
suit in Greene County common pleas court in<br />
Xenia against Bath township trustees for<br />
their part in rezoning requested by Chakeres<br />
Theatres.<br />
The theatre chain, which has home offices<br />
here, had asked rezoning of about 20 acres<br />
of land from agricultural to commercial use<br />
in order to build a drive-in theatre. Bath<br />
township trustees ordered the rezoning May<br />
1, the suit said. The plat is along the west<br />
side of Airway road north of the intersection<br />
of Airway road and the old Dayton-Yellow<br />
Springs road. It is close to the huge Wright-<br />
Patterson Air Force Base.<br />
Earl Grover of 9014 Ravenswood Ave., in<br />
Fairborn instituted the suit. Chakeres Theatres<br />
is not named in any way as defendants.<br />
Airer Patron Wounded<br />
AKRON — A 30-year-old patron of the<br />
Summit Drive-In, Mrs. Patricia Ann Satteson,<br />
suffered cuts w'hen a shot—source<br />
unknow-n—shattered the car winaow next to<br />
her. She and her husband and baby were<br />
at the drive-in to see a double horror bill,<br />
but instead of seeing both films, she was<br />
taken to Akron General Hospital for treatment<br />
of arm and shoulder cuts from the<br />
smashed glass. Sheriff's deputies conceded<br />
they could not find the place from which the<br />
shot was fired.<br />
BOXOFFICE :: June 15, 1957 ME-1
. . . Joe<br />
. . .<br />
Dave<br />
. . Ernie<br />
DETROIT<br />
Qtto Ebert, new manager for J. Arthur Rank,<br />
is establishing a home in Birmingham,<br />
bringing his family back from Westwood.<br />
Boston suburb, about Saturday (15) . . .<br />
Stanley Russell has returned to the Film<br />
Building for the censor's office. He will review<br />
films for local release . . . Murray<br />
Schlanger, Fox salesman, returned from a<br />
weekend at his home town, Riverdale, N. Y.<br />
Lee and Jack Sturm of Fox were<br />
off for a sales meet at Cleveland . . . Gloria<br />
Hunter, Lee's secretary, was vacationing at<br />
Miami<br />
. Ziegler and Phil Stanton<br />
of Universal were vacationing in New York<br />
and Cincinnati respectively.<br />
Mary Zemla, veteran inspectress at RKO<br />
and National Film Service, joined the Paramount<br />
Recent visitors included<br />
staff . . .<br />
the Beechler father and son team. Cash and<br />
Dick, from Charlotte; John Whyte of Pinconning;<br />
and Mrs. Ellen Haden, Dundee<br />
Newman has returned from his<br />
RESEAT OR RENOVATE<br />
Professional work on Seat<br />
Renovation factory trained<br />
crew. Your chairs recovered,<br />
using Foam Rubber or New<br />
Springs. Metal parts refinshed<br />
m Bal
. . . Coming<br />
. . . The<br />
I<br />
. .<br />
. . Ted<br />
. . Frank<br />
CLEVELAND<br />
Tack Sogg, MGM manager, was in Cincinnati<br />
for the graduation of his son Alan from<br />
the medical school of the University of Cincinnati<br />
. . . M. B. Horwitz flew to New<br />
Haven for the graduation from Yale of his<br />
grandson Stuart Miller . . . Joe Rembrandt,<br />
Center-Mayfield Theatre owner, was in<br />
Evanston, 111., for the graduation of his son<br />
Neil from Northwestern University .<br />
Nate Schultz was in Philadelphia to see his<br />
son Jay receive his diploma from U of P's<br />
Wharton School of Business Administration<br />
down the educational ladder,<br />
Barbara Leavitt, daughter of Sandy Leavitt<br />
of the Washington circuit, graduated into<br />
junior high school in Shaker Heights.<br />
Some 50 industry members and friends of<br />
Lewis Horwitz assembled Tuesday in the<br />
Town and Country restaurant for a bachelor<br />
dinner preceding his maiTiage June 13 to<br />
Janet Pi'ice. The ceremony took place in<br />
the Park synagogue at 7;30 p.m., with Rabbi<br />
Cohn of the Park synagogue and Rabbi<br />
Rosenthal of the Heights Temple officiating<br />
Astor Theatre, a unit of the Washington<br />
circuit, has discontinued its Saturday<br />
matinees due to lack of attendance. The<br />
neighborhood children reportedly prefer to<br />
play outdoors and special children's programs<br />
prove no attraction to them.<br />
Allied Artists "Calypso Joe" and "Hot Rod<br />
Rumble" gets a multiple run opening in nine<br />
local neighborhood houses starting June 19.<br />
Theatres involved are the Mayland, Keith's<br />
105th. Beach Cliff, Mapletown, Parma, Shore,<br />
Madison, Ezella and Lorain-Fulton . . The<br />
French star, Denise Dorin, will be in Cleveland<br />
June 16-20 to fill radio and television<br />
commitments to promote "Love in the Afternoon."<br />
To date, 15 air spots have been lined<br />
up for the actress, as well as a personal appearance<br />
to be announced. "Love in the<br />
Afternoon" opens in Cleveland July 10 at<br />
the Allen Theatre. It also opens on that<br />
date at the Strand, Akron; Ohio, Canton:<br />
Warners, Youngstown; on the 11th at the<br />
Grand. Steubenville; on the 18th at the<br />
Quilna, Lima; Ohio, Lorain; Ohio, Marion,<br />
and on the 19th at the Madison, Mansfield.<br />
Joe Robins, head of the Robins Amusement<br />
Co. of Warren, is in line for get well<br />
cards at the University Hospital in Cleveland.<br />
He recently underwent an operation<br />
and reportedly doing all right . . . Walter<br />
is<br />
Steuve Findlay, exhibitor, made his first forage<br />
on Mmrow since he and his appendix<br />
I<br />
Personalized Film Buying & Booking<br />
• Styled to Your Individual Situation<br />
409 Film BIdg. CItvelond<br />
Phones:<br />
SUp^i" 1:^222<br />
.-9B12<br />
, Ohii<br />
recently parted company . Schiessl,<br />
one of the owners of the Pearl Road Drive-In.<br />
died. The theatre was built in 1955 by James<br />
J. Barton, Herbert Ochs and Ben L. Ogroii.<br />
Last year it was sold to Frank Schiessl and<br />
Alfred Stromeier. Barton retains ownership<br />
of the land which is leased to the theatre<br />
owners. Surviving Schiessl are his wife Use<br />
and a son John. Burial took place in Sharon,<br />
Pa.<br />
Barbara Salzman of Academy Him Service<br />
left for a three-month tour of Europe . . .<br />
Lee Lefton, formerly of Academy Film Ser-<br />
vice, has been appointed sales manager for<br />
the Manger Hotel Levy, Buena<br />
Vista district manager, will attend company<br />
a<br />
meeting shortly on the west<br />
coast.<br />
Otto Braeunig Joins DCA<br />
In Cleveland Expansion<br />
CLEVELAND — Arthur Goldsmith, district<br />
sales manager for Distributor.s Corp. of<br />
America covering the Cleveland and Pittsbm-gh<br />
areas, effective July 1, will open his<br />
own offices in 220 Film building. At that<br />
time the franchise arrangements between<br />
DCA and Imperial Pictures with which DCA<br />
now shares office space, will have been concluded.<br />
Otto Braeunig is joining Goldsmith in this<br />
new expansion move, thus bringing together<br />
again two old friends who have worked together<br />
for over 30 years. Both of them were<br />
members of the local RKO branch where<br />
Goldsmith w'as city salesman for 31 years<br />
and Braeunig was auditor and office manager<br />
for 33 years.<br />
DCA has 36 features available for release<br />
during the coming season. Goldsmith said, a<br />
majority of them being American produced<br />
with American stars.<br />
Goldsmith and Braeunig are concentrating<br />
on a multiple area premiere July 17 of<br />
"Monster From Green Hell" and "Half<br />
Human." "With 36 dates in key situations<br />
in the Cleveland territory already set, we<br />
anticipate the biggest saturation booking<br />
record in local history," Goldsmith and<br />
Braeunig declare. There will also be a<br />
saturation advertising campaign for this<br />
double horror bill, according to Art Goldsmith,<br />
under the personal direction of Terry<br />
Turner. Campaigns have been set up in<br />
Youngstown, Toledo and Cleveland on television,<br />
radio and in newspapers. The dual<br />
horror program just completed a 72-theatre<br />
multiple run in the Cincinnati exchange<br />
territory.<br />
James H. Welch, 102. Dies;<br />
Retired Theatreman<br />
DETROIT — James H. Welch, possibly the<br />
country's oldest retired exhibitor, died here<br />
this week at the age of 102. The Welch<br />
family generally operated as a unit, including<br />
Mrs. Mary Welch, wife of the deceased,<br />
who died four years ago, and their son William<br />
James Welch, who survives.<br />
Epic a Brilliant 250<br />
In Cleveland Final<br />
CLEVELAND—Business at the Ohio Theatre<br />
for the 29th and final week of "The Ten<br />
Commandments" zoomed up to the highest<br />
it has been in the past 13 weeks, hitting a<br />
250 per cent rating in its downtown fadeout.<br />
Also sensational was the business at the Hippodrome<br />
where "Gunfight at the O.K. Corral"<br />
rose to 210 per cent, highest since Easter<br />
week when the attraction was "Heaven<br />
Knows, Mr. Allison." The lovers of art films<br />
turned out in numbers this week, giving<br />
"Figaro, the Barber of Seville" at the Lower<br />
Mall and "Vitelloni" at the Heights Ai't theatres,<br />
better than average grosses.<br />
(Average Is 100)<br />
the Crowd (WB) Allen A Face in 95<br />
Hippodrome Gunfight ot the O.K. 210<br />
Corral (Para)<br />
Lower Mall Figaro, the Borber of Seville (Artists<br />
Producers Associates) 110<br />
Ohio The Ten Commandments (Pora), 29th and<br />
final wk 250<br />
State The LiHIe Hut (MGM) 90<br />
Stillmon The Seventh Sin (MGM) 85<br />
Heights Art— Vitelloni (APl-Jonus) 120<br />
. .<br />
"Corral' Opens Strong<br />
With 225 in Detroit<br />
DETROIT—Local first run business took<br />
real spurt compared recent doldrums,<br />
a to<br />
with the strong opening of "Gunfight at the<br />
O.K. Corral" at the Palms, while "The Little<br />
Hut" sparked business at the Adams.<br />
Adams The LiMIe Hut (MGM) 125<br />
Broadwoy-Copitol The Deadly Mantis (U-1), The<br />
Girl in the Kremlin (U-l)<br />
Fox—Kronos (20th-Fox), She<br />
85<br />
.100<br />
Devil (20th-Fox).<br />
Madison—The Ten Commandments (Para), 28th<br />
wk 180<br />
A Face in the Crowd (WB); The Young<br />
Michigon<br />
Stranger (U-l) 90<br />
Palms Gunfight at the O.K. Corrol (Para);<br />
Crime of Passion UA) 225<br />
United Artists-Around the World in 80 Days<br />
(UA), 23rd wk 185<br />
'Corral' and "Little Hut'<br />
Solid in Cincinnati<br />
CINCINNATI—The Albee Theatre reached<br />
a figure of 135 w^ith "Gunfight at the O.K.<br />
Corral" and the Palace, 125, with "The Little<br />
Hut"—a slight improvement over recent previous<br />
grosses.<br />
Albee—Gunfight at the O.K. Corrol (Poro) 135<br />
Grand Spring Reunion (UA); Revolt at Fort<br />
Laramie (UA) 90<br />
Keiths—The Wayword Bus (20th-Fox) 110<br />
Palace—The Little Hut (MGM) 125<br />
! DRIVE-IN SPEAKERS !<br />
TO FIT<br />
Priced<br />
from<br />
9 MODELS<br />
EVERY NEED<br />
S395 to S3OO<br />
NATIONAL THEATRE SUPPLY COMPANY<br />
Ohio-AKRON THEATRE SUPPLY Inc., Akron— Franklin 6-2480<br />
NATIONAL THEATRE SUPPLY, Cleveland- Prospect 1-4613<br />
OHIO THEATRE SUPPLY Co, Cleveland- Prospect 1-6545<br />
OLIVER THEATRE SUPPLY Co., Cleveland-Tower 1-6934<br />
BOXOFFICE June 15, 1957
'<br />
1 1 rv^<br />
CINCINNATI<br />
p:c-jci- iisa l.-coiae Viusoc cssilier, Parirujoont.<br />
Single Publicity Unit<br />
B«»crt C- 3IrXaM^ att-Foa: mt.mge-r. ir..;<br />
BesDett Gaiii^Seiia. w«re im CIieT^iaad far ..<br />
w~^-~<br />
Proposed lor Films<br />
dstract sales DaneeiJiag coioauicTesi by CHenn<br />
Siaam.- m Ms Marae- 3tom& cecilrai aod Camsiiain. dmsiioia aasn- DE-Taorr — A progrsm oa coasis.teQt local<br />
Agra-, sjaa TtesEi McCl«sster tJistrart maxtSigeT exptoiiatsoin of vinstaHj- sH screea {troduct.<br />
.. . - ABiay C^iffiiia. sEage, amO'ticin pB^:mre carried omt ttosjugh a sSugle local puUliatT<br />
liifQce,<br />
amci reouiFci saair. wss wss adranced tliis we^ by Arthur<br />
Jaere foi- iitkj pe-rsciiasil<br />
ipipearaaaices at ttite RSO Psiace TTieaane in Heraog Jr_ screen publicist<br />
MauaectMia iKitia tise aew WartBer Bros^ pairnaire,<br />
~A Faee- m Stse G&aw>d,'* Gritatti has Hessog sa&l tt can. be duplJcated elsewh^*<br />
-If ttie proposed plan works oat here,"<br />
aitd -sroiffiSd simultaaeoasly prorlde a basis for<br />
tjae feaSfflare role.<br />
?tm!Ia.r ^.stitatioiEial pub&rity. which may be<br />
^s^cs r«5xir-ai—is.« Pari -lieinrs. OiijirciCL.<br />
FtMfcKT Mgkt r.) a fire- ;. -<br />
".r.i fijT trade csrgsiiiEatioQS ttke<br />
fmse lass sil :£» Pirasioci:^<br />
A jied. TOA and MPAA.*<br />
sai^senss-^al perMd uzxeiI tfcs<br />
.--It anany pictares are played withel*3iina:ec.<br />
FCirutEtairely- n- ^. .-_.-- , -.. — , ..L^c-5.t of special esptoltatKsi. Hera>?<br />
rOC- is Ci: w r«aii^-s- Sail DeoiciH. ed - - . SEi BcESsn. ITA pmiauiciiy ne-pnesea;a- cLced tiie pcoblems of the present esptoira:;--"<br />
Etre froim PfeT Toefe. '«^s sn. tte oiiy. irariing set up; -Segiocsai aiai h3\« so much terr.-<br />
SaaauiDe. oca oj: ;i!!i- pisxTZig^s la :±s- Ssmnasse oc c£» rueir UA pacnsxe-- -Badieicc Psr-y,- Ecsry, so many films, they m.ast pert'orc^f<br />
arcs. DsjE?. TSgj- ire ^Tr^aiT^ft-TTg- ^<br />
snarring Dec MnErrsy 'Oif -Bsts SMp" fasae). spread thernsetrBs r^ Advance men wcrk<br />
SaaiagysMcm.<br />
aa X«t Tact sfsre: wiiadn. liaer ''^^ Tbf pickaxe- opaaaea W«£niese6s&j- iI2'' m tbe agaiiEt tjase. pins the hsTyi'^-~rr that no matter<br />
h0«r familiar arlth the territory, they can-<br />
resaJe 3. Vn^mr'- SesTu&y . . . SiS Lrry.<br />
HKO Psiaceaoc<br />
be ss efScsKit as if rooted in a comparty<br />
'srss pteEffiifid Star<br />
3CHr«4 Ttewes. UA bEQer. ^ laa be msirial<br />
SatHTTiij- '2Si' So Wal^ Mergantiial a bocakaai<br />
asmii-FQis . , . tJA ts r^sssiag sise ressae<br />
He stressed the indastrymde trend to-rard<br />
unity in action: "IKstrtbators have began to.<br />
?^i.-7infaTT;re. Trunin •~'Vrt-HTT.T'TTT HOdgS' -^r^n ""BarefOOtand<br />
are espiaring. cocsolidaticsi and streamlinins<br />
of exchanges. Competing eshibittjrs<br />
apasai a: die- ATcee. sjaa '^•^m-mj Cuatesa." frocn. istiici liiey are a^Kcsiaf<br />
aaci tae<br />
iais ressilns. Ttie CQCE&aiiai3a£i siao"" sssned<br />
BaidiKiiar,^ Tfinjcin. jjiesicc. ins?<br />
are gettii^ together in ctwperatiTe eioearors."<br />
'TiiarssBsy IS '<br />
a TTrmTirfnJip fisss njEE M a ruEH&er of cfeire-aa<br />
Hersoe's baac twan inclinied:<br />
imeacres m oatennibos Jtene 12 and opened in<br />
Cainsstent promo tson for every top-faflled<br />
TauSBEE rajnunEnEre ur-iizs in liie iocs! OsisaaS<br />
kfce Jnesr Ucrrg-lE. Qcy Ha^g. Ky_ crsnec<br />
Xorral' Draws 150<br />
In Boston Opening<br />
BOSTON—Warm sunshine over the hohday<br />
weekend hurt downtown theatres but driveins<br />
flourished during the holiday period.<br />
"Gunfight at the OJC. Corral" led the field<br />
of new products w'hile "Around the World"<br />
continued strong among the holdovers.<br />
"Reach for the Sky" was average in its first<br />
week.<br />
(Average Is 100)<br />
Astor—The Ten Commondments ;Paro), 28th wk. 95<br />
Beacon Hill— Reach tor fhe Sky (RFDA) 100<br />
Boston—Seven Wonders ot the World (SW),<br />
40th wk 90<br />
Exeter Street- The Gold of Noples<br />
Kcnmore—The Bachelor Porty (UA),<br />
Mcmorrol— Desk Set 20th. Fox;, Love<br />
DCA), 5th wk. 85<br />
7th wk 120<br />
Lottery<br />
(Cont'l) 2na ^^^ 75<br />
Metropoliton—Gunfight ot the O.K. Corral (Para) 150<br />
Paramount ond fenwa\ — A Face the Crowd<br />
in<br />
(WB), Lost of the Bod Men AA) 70<br />
Saxon—Around the World in 80 Doys (UA),<br />
7th wk 375<br />
State and Orpheum Monkey on my Back (UA);<br />
Wor Drums UA) 70<br />
Second Week of 'Corral'<br />
Gets 180 in Hartford<br />
HARTFORD—"Gunfight at the O.K. Corral"<br />
was the big news here, chalking up an<br />
impressive 180 in its second week at the<br />
Meadows.<br />
Allyn This Could Be the Night (MGM), Tears<br />
for Simon (Repl 90<br />
V L.%- Calypso E Hcot Wove C:', The<br />
85<br />
Burglor<br />
Moc<br />
;<br />
Gunfight ot the OK Corrol (Para);<br />
. 1 Lure the Swomp v.k ot 180<br />
The Womon<br />
They Almost Lynched<br />
Poll— Designing Woman<br />
Rep , reissue<br />
(MGM), Love<br />
90<br />
Lottery<br />
Xontncnta 115<br />
Stror'-— Monkey on My Bock (UA); The Colditz<br />
Story DCA) 85<br />
Hut' and 'Commandments'<br />
Tie for Providence Lead<br />
PROVIDENCE — "The Ten Commandments."<br />
playing for a seventh week at the<br />
Strand, and 'The Little Hut" at LoeWs State<br />
shared top honors this last week with 110.<br />
All other first runs dropped under average<br />
figures. A brief spell of unusually warm<br />
weather sent many fans to the outdoor houses.<br />
Albee The Deadly Mantis (U-l); The Girl In<br />
the Kremlin (U-l) 70<br />
Loew s—The Little Hut (MGM) 110<br />
Moiestic-A Face in the Crowd (WB) 80<br />
Strand The Ten Commandments (Poro), 7th wk. 110<br />
'Corral' Hits 160 in New Haven<br />
During Its Second Stanza<br />
.NEW HAVEN— Gunliu'ht at the OX. Corral"<br />
did a hand.some 160 at the downtown<br />
Paramount during a .second week.<br />
College—The Delinquents (UA); Hit and Run (UA) 90<br />
Pc.'-~~— Gunfight of the O.K. Corral (Para);<br />
Mon Atrold 2nd wk 160<br />
The Dcik 20th-Fox); P Set Breok in the<br />
C.rclc 120<br />
Untomcd Youth (WB); The<br />
Joseph O'Neill Assistant<br />
At Meadows Drive-In<br />
HARTFORD — Joseph O'Neill has been<br />
named assistant to Jo.seph Bresnahan, resident<br />
manager here for Smith Management<br />
Co.'s 2,070-car capacity Meadows Drive-In.<br />
At the .same time, John Heath has been promoted<br />
to student assistant manager.<br />
The Meadows, Connecticut's largest outdoor<br />
facility, is the only unit in Connecticut<br />
to remain open 12 months a year, providing<br />
free, electric in-car heaters during cooler<br />
evenings.<br />
Highlights of the lENE Convention<br />
WINCHENDON, MASS.—Tlie Independent<br />
Exhibitors, Inc., of New England, meeting at<br />
Toy Town Tavern here June 3, 4, heard addresses<br />
by several prominent industry men.<br />
The head table dais at the opening meeting<br />
Tuesday was made up of Edward W. Lider,<br />
general chairman: Michael Redstone and<br />
Nathan Yamins, co-chairmen; Irving Dollinger<br />
and speakers Jay Emanuel, Daniel<br />
Aaron of Jerrold Electronics Corp., and Albert<br />
Sindlinger of Sindlinger & Co., industry<br />
analyst.<br />
Aaron spoke on the cable theatre medium<br />
and said that Video Theatres plans to initiate<br />
operation of its Bartlesville, Okla., cable theatre<br />
on Labor Day, with plans to offer three<br />
separate channels for Tele-Movies. One will<br />
carry a package of 13 first run motion pictures<br />
monthly. A second channel will provide<br />
a background music, news, weather<br />
and time service, and the thii-d channel will<br />
carry "the best in reruns." The entu-e package<br />
is being sold to subscribers for $9.50 per<br />
month.<br />
Emanuel called the industry "the most<br />
litigation-beset business in<br />
the country" and<br />
asked, "While the legal departments are so<br />
busy, how^ can we carry through an arbitration<br />
system?" He called for stronger exhibitor<br />
organization and added, "We certainly<br />
need more good thinking in our business, both<br />
on the paj-ts of producers and exhibitors."<br />
Manley held the premiere showing of its<br />
new completely automatic popcorn machine.<br />
When filled with raw corn, seasoning and<br />
salt, the machine operates automatically.<br />
question asked by exhibitors was, "Howsoon<br />
First<br />
can we get one and how much?" Ly-<br />
man O. Seley, Manley division manager, answered,<br />
"These machines are not for sale, but<br />
will be offered to qualified exhibitors under<br />
the 1957 Manley sales promotion program."<br />
In answer to the question, "What do we have<br />
to do to qualify?" Seley said "Give us an opportunity<br />
to make a merchandising survey of<br />
your theatres." Attending the two-day convention<br />
with Seley from Manley were John<br />
Stone, New England resident manager; Irving<br />
Dunn, New York and Pennsylvania area<br />
manager, and Al Brousseau, sales engineer.<br />
The Coca-Cola Co. was well represented.<br />
Mr. and Mrs. Howard Grinager, regional<br />
sales manager: Mr. and Mrs. Charles Okun.<br />
national Uieatre representative; John Fitzgerald,<br />
New England theatre representative;<br />
Hank Rapsis, New England location analyst,<br />
and Frank O'Brien, bottler representative,<br />
were in attendance.<br />
From RCA, W. E. Cheesman, field sales<br />
representative, came in from New York.<br />
"<br />
Ralph "Red Pierce. New England Altec repre-<br />
.sentative: Kenneth Douglass jr., vice-president<br />
of Capitol Theatre Supply Co., and A. B.<br />
West, New England manager of National<br />
Carbon, were on hand for the two-day meetings.<br />
John Crawford, national theatre representative<br />
for Pepsi-Cola, was host at the<br />
huge cocktail party preceding the banquet.<br />
Dave Fox and Arthur Porter of Major Theatre<br />
Equipment Co. brought the equipment<br />
for the special screenings on Monday.<br />
During the banquet. Bob Waldman. who<br />
was sitting at the table with Al Lourie and<br />
Nat Buchman, was called to the telephone.<br />
He returned in a radiant mood. He had just<br />
received word that his daughter. Mrs. Anne<br />
Dick, had given birth to<br />
twin girls.<br />
Arriving with Daniel Aaron, director of<br />
public relations for Jerrold Electronics Corp..<br />
were Fred Green from the New York office<br />
and Melvin Gray, Boston representative.<br />
With Bill Patton. sales manager of Globe<br />
Ticket Co., was Nelson Hart, sales representative<br />
. . . Hood's ice cream had a huge display<br />
on the veranda of the tavern. George E. Ryan,<br />
director of theatre sales, and Bob Judge, theatre<br />
representative, were on hand.<br />
There were two interesting displays from<br />
the Lovitt Enterprises of Pltchburg, both<br />
demonstrated by Kenneth Progin, treasurer,<br />
and his brother Charles, salesman. One, a<br />
coin-operated milk shake dispenser is called<br />
a Shake-a-Mat and the other is a new<br />
manually operated machine especially designed<br />
for drive-in theatres.<br />
The cocktail party hosted by Pepsi-Cola,<br />
with Jack Crawford in attendance, was a gay<br />
affair-, with exhibitors, distributors and suppliers<br />
and their wives mixing in a spirit of<br />
good fellowship. Many industryites drove<br />
up to Winchendon from Boston and surrounding<br />
cities to attend the Pepsi-Cola<br />
cocktail party, w-hich preceded the banquet.<br />
Seated at the head table at the banquet<br />
were Carl Goldman: Lt. John Flynn, military<br />
aide to Governor Furcolo; the Rev. Wilfred<br />
Tisdell, Norman Glassman, Irving Dollinger,<br />
Nathan Yamins, Edwaid Lider. Kenneth<br />
Mayer and Michael Redstone. The golfing<br />
prizes for the various tournaments were<br />
handed out by Lider. Winners were Joe<br />
Matthieu. Maurice Green. Edwin Fedeli.<br />
Larry Herman, Melvin Safner, Joseph Gins,<br />
Lloyd Clark. The door prizes, which consisted<br />
of gifts donated by vai-ious companies, were<br />
handed out to the lucky winners by Kenny<br />
Mayer, who was emcee for the evening.<br />
The list of industryites attending the convention<br />
is a long one. Besides the above<br />
mentioned, there were Al Lourie, Henry<br />
Govoni. Warren Nichols. Myer Feltman.<br />
Maurice Safner. Ben Greenberg, Winthrop<br />
Knox jr., Harry Browning. Joe Cohen. Al<br />
Fecke. Ben Abrams. Jerry Callahan, Bob<br />
Sternburg, Frank Lydon, Robert Robie, Leslie<br />
Bendslev, Bill Canning, Roland Gomes. Irving<br />
and Alan Bloom, Abe Weiner, Stan DavLs,<br />
Nat Buchman. Mel Davis. Irving Shapiro.<br />
Welden Waters. Johnny Peckos. Mike Zaman,<br />
Frank Keller, Bill Graham, Phil Engel, Sam<br />
Berg. Martin Berman, Maynard Sickles,<br />
Fred Stoloff, Max Finn. Phil Berler, Irving<br />
Green, George Kraska, Judson Parker, Harold<br />
Levin, James Stoneman, Ted Fleisher, Mai<br />
Green, Julian Rifkin, Paul Kessler, Bill<br />
Koster, Floyd Fitzsimmons, Harry Segal, Ray<br />
Kiniry, John Downing, Dave Grover, Ernest<br />
Warren, Herbert Schaefer, Florio Simi, Joe<br />
Lourie, Joseph Margolis, Al Daytz, Mickey<br />
Daytz, Harry Rogovin, Tom O'Brien, Arthur<br />
Howard, Seth Field, Roy Burroughs. Bill<br />
Kumins, Herb Gaines. Ken Robinson. Sidney<br />
Rudnick. Walter Mcintosh. Phil Lowe, Gei-ald<br />
Shea, Ray Smith, John Mahoney, Manny<br />
Youngerman, Jack O'Brien. George Sextdn,<br />
Paul Fiazier and others.<br />
BOXOFFICE<br />
NE-1
. . The<br />
. . The<br />
. . Leo<br />
. .<br />
. . . Latest<br />
. . The<br />
. . Lockwood<br />
. . Perakos<br />
. .<br />
NEW HAVEN<br />
/^alvin L. Martin, 83. former owner and operator<br />
of the Princess Theatre, one of<br />
the first film houses at Waterbury, died June<br />
1 in his Thomaston home. He built the<br />
Princess in 1913, operating the venture until<br />
1922. Martin later went into the manufacturing<br />
field . . . "Perfectly air conditioned" line.s<br />
are beginning to appear in four-wall theatre<br />
advertising throughout the exchange territory.<br />
The New Haven Drive -In Theatre team<br />
seems to be en route to a victorious season<br />
in the North Haven Little League for 1957.<br />
The youngsters carrying the theatre banner<br />
have been chalking up win after win .<br />
Doug Amos, general manager, Lockwood &<br />
Gordon Enterprises, was in town on a weekend<br />
visit, conferring with area drive-in managers.<br />
Pvt. James Darby jr., son of the Paramount<br />
Theatre manager, has been assigned to military<br />
police school at Camp Gordon, Ga. In<br />
civilian Ufe, he was a patrolman with the<br />
New Haven police department . independent<br />
Strand, Mystic, ran this ad on<br />
Monday (3) : "Half price night—any person<br />
presenting this ad will be admitted free when<br />
accompanied by an adult ticket purchaser!"<br />
The Center Drive-In, Derby, proclaimed<br />
its booking of UA's "The Bachelor Party" as<br />
"World Drive-In Premiere!" . Ricci<br />
booked two Spanish features into his Capitol,<br />
Meriden. for an evening's program, under<br />
sponsorship of that city's St. Rose Spanish<br />
society . Young Israel of New Haven<br />
sponsored a film showing June 11 at the<br />
Bailey Whalley Theatre for benefit of building<br />
fund and youth activities program.<br />
The Connecticut Savings Bank used a onecolumn<br />
photo of Frank Ferguson. Bailey Theatres,<br />
in an endorsement ad for newly opened<br />
branch office services. Ad quoted Fergu.son:<br />
"Having the new OSB office at Whalley and<br />
Norton will be a great boon to this particular<br />
Beat the Rainwith<br />
the one-piece, snap-on<br />
MOV-E-VUE Rain Visor<br />
Eliminotes windshield wiping<br />
Clips on and off in 20 seconds<br />
Fits all cars— Rolls up for storage<br />
90% of all Connecticut Drive-In<br />
Theatres Sell 'em with Great Success.<br />
Write:<br />
We Supply FREE Trailer<br />
PIONEER SALES CO.<br />
P.O.<br />
Box 899 Waterbury, Conn.<br />
area" . downtown Crown booked a<br />
reissue bill, consisting of MGM's "Boys Town"<br />
and "Green Dolphin Street" . . . Lou Moscow,<br />
treasurer at the legitimate playhouse,<br />
the Shubert, has been a patient in room 722<br />
east. Grace-New Haven Community Hospital<br />
outdoor competition is opening of<br />
Cowboy Valley. Route 81, Killingly, described<br />
as an authentic frontier town. Admission:<br />
Adults, 75 cents; children, 50 cents. Daily<br />
hours are from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.<br />
Israel Bonds Group<br />
To Honor B. Hoffman<br />
NEW HAVEN — B. E. Hoffman of Connecticut<br />
Theatre circuit and a leading New-<br />
Haven civic worker has been designated to<br />
receive the 1957 Shomrim award of the New<br />
Haven committee for Israel bonds.<br />
The award, initiated this year, will be<br />
presented annually "for dedicated and devoted<br />
service to the community, to Judaism<br />
and to the state of Israel."<br />
The award will be in the form of a plaque<br />
specially designed in Israel, attesting to the<br />
recipient's exemplary efforts in behalf of the<br />
new state's economic welfare and is named<br />
after the Hebrew word for "guardian" or<br />
"protector."<br />
A testimonial dinner honoring Hoffman<br />
is slated for the New Haven Jewish Community<br />
Center June 24 at 6:30 p.m.<br />
In addition to his membership on the<br />
national board of governors of the Israel<br />
bond organization, Hoffman has been active<br />
for more than 25 years with the New Haven<br />
Jewish Welfare Fund and has served on the<br />
board of directors of the New Haven United<br />
Fund and its predecessor community chest<br />
campaigns. At one time, he was chairman of<br />
the membership campaign of the New Haven<br />
Jewi.sh Community Center.<br />
Two L&G Drive-ins Begin<br />
Midweek Stimulants<br />
HARTFORD~Two area Lockwood & Gordon<br />
outdoor theatres have embarked on a<br />
plan to improve midweek attendance.<br />
The duo— the East Hartford and East<br />
Windsor drive-ins—have begun distribution<br />
of two-for-one tickets through a number of<br />
suburban Hartford merchants. The latter<br />
purchase tickets at prevailing boxoffice<br />
prices and then offer same to their customers<br />
as a sales inducement. Number of tickets<br />
handled in this fashion was not revealed by<br />
L&G.<br />
At the same time, the East Windsor has<br />
started a Bumper Club, distributing several<br />
hundred automobile bumper strips to regular<br />
patrons. This entitles the driver of the vehicle<br />
concerned to free admittance on Tuesday<br />
evenings only, with remainder of adult<br />
passengers charged regular admission.<br />
First Rank Picture Booked<br />
Into Hartford Theatre<br />
HARTFORD — Tile regional premiere of<br />
Rank's "Reach for the Sky" has been slated<br />
for later this month at the Allyn Tlieatre.<br />
Ray McNamara, Allyn manager, and his<br />
assistant, William F. Murphy, are anticipating<br />
an extensive promotion campaign, including<br />
service tie-ups.<br />
"Reach for the Sky" is the initial release<br />
under the Rank banner.<br />
HARTFORD<br />
T ou Brown, director of advertising-publicity,<br />
Loew's Poli-New England Theatres, recently<br />
hospitalized, came through the city<br />
looking fit again. He huddled with Lou<br />
Cohen, Loew's Poll, and Fred R. Greenway,<br />
Loew's Palace, on upcoming promotion . . .<br />
Abe Bernstein, field exploiteer for UA, worked<br />
on "Bailout at 43,000" with Joe Bresnahan,<br />
Meadows Drive-In. He left for points south<br />
upon completion of the campaign . . . Hector<br />
Frascadore, E. M. Loew's Farmington<br />
Drive-In, is now screening main feature first<br />
on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.<br />
Ernie Grecula of the State, Torrington, departed<br />
from normal subsequent run bookings<br />
with the first Torrington showing of Allied<br />
Ai-tists' "Blonde Sinner" and "Tlie Deadliest<br />
Sin" . & Gordon booked a midnight<br />
horror show into the Waterford Drive-<br />
In, Waterford . circuit's Southington<br />
Di-ive-In has a new policy of showing<br />
the main feature first on Tuesdays and<br />
Thursdays ... A Willimantic dance school<br />
took over the Stanley Warner Capitol for a<br />
dance recital the evening of June 11.<br />
Ed O'Neill of Brandt Drive-In Theatres reports<br />
a new policy of screening the main<br />
feature first on Wednesdays and Thursdays<br />
... An eai'ly bird policy went into effect<br />
June 5 at the Perakos Eastwood, East Hartford.<br />
The main featui-e is being shown at<br />
11:45 a.m. on Wednesdays only, as an added<br />
convenience for second-shift industrial workers,<br />
according to house manager Tom Grace,<br />
Comic Henny Youngman was booked into<br />
the Connecticut federation of labor convention<br />
for June 11 at the Statler Hotel .<br />
Hartfordite Ed Begley, last on the screen<br />
in UA's "12 Angry Men," has replaced Paul<br />
Muni as star of the longtime Broadway melodrama,<br />
"Inherit the Wind." This property is<br />
eventually intended for filming.<br />
Name lohn Dougherty<br />
HARTFORD— Sperie Perakos. general manager<br />
of Perakos Theatre Associates, has announced<br />
the appointment of John Dougherty,<br />
formerly manager of the Ait Cinema, Bridgeport.<br />
Conn., to a similar post at the first<br />
run Beverly Theatre, Bridgeport, replacing<br />
Don Felix, who has left the circuit to become<br />
manager of E. M. Loew's Milford. Conn.,<br />
Drive-In.<br />
Leaves $781,382 Estate<br />
HARTFORD—Allen C. Morrison, former<br />
Hartford theatre owner, left an estate of<br />
$781,382, according to an inventory admitted<br />
to probate by Judge Russell Z. Johnston. All<br />
of it is in stocks, none in the amusement<br />
field. Morrison at one time owned the Majestic<br />
Theatre, now the E. M. Loew's, and<br />
the Princess in the downtown area.<br />
Authorized to Sue State<br />
HARTFORD—The state senate has ap-<br />
a bill authorizing the Elmwood Theatre<br />
proved<br />
Corp., New Britain, to sue the state for drainage<br />
damage allegedly caused to its Hi-Way<br />
Theatre property near the Bridgeport-Stratford<br />
town line because of operations of the<br />
state highway department.<br />
NE-2<br />
BOXOFFICE :: June 15, 1957
. . Lyman<br />
Five Airers Combine<br />
In $20,000 Giveaway<br />
FALL RIVER. MASS.— Area residents are<br />
invited to share in the $20,000 award in prizes<br />
offered by the Route Six Family Drive-In<br />
Theatres, including the Bay State in Seekonk.<br />
Somerset in the town of tiie same name,<br />
the Westport, Dartmouth and Fairhaven.<br />
All of these open-air theatres are located<br />
on route six which passes through Bristol<br />
County cities and towns and extends to Cape<br />
Cod.<br />
TheatJ-e patrons are invited to detach and<br />
fill in stubs which appear in ads announcing<br />
the contest in the press. These<br />
stubs on which name.s and addresses are<br />
written are deposited in containers at snack<br />
bars of various drive-ins.<br />
All occupants of automobiles, 12 years of<br />
age and over, can register for the gifts<br />
through August 31. Weekly and monthly<br />
awards will be made plus thi-ee grand prizes<br />
which include a 1957 Plymouth auto, a Beetle<br />
boat with motor and trailer and a one-week<br />
stay for tw^o persons in Florida.<br />
Names of the weekly and monthly winners<br />
will be posted at the participating drive-ins.<br />
Tuesdays are bonus nights at the participating<br />
theatres and on that day. patrons may<br />
deposit one or more stubs with their names<br />
and addresses on them. On other nights, only<br />
one stub is accepted from each person.<br />
It is not necessary to be present on award<br />
nights to receive the gifts, as the winners<br />
will be notified by mail. Participation in the<br />
contest does not obligate anyone to buy an<br />
admission ticket. Good neighbor award tickets<br />
or stubs are available for the asking at all<br />
boxoffices.<br />
Sponsors of the contest expect the promotion<br />
will substantially increase drive-in attendance<br />
during the summer.<br />
Mass. High Court Reverses<br />
Convictions on 'Garden'<br />
BOSTON, MASS.—The film, "Garden of<br />
Eden." is not obscene as a matter of law,<br />
the full bench of the Massachusetts Supreme<br />
Judicial Court ruled on June 4. The court<br />
overturned the convictions of Antone T.<br />
Moniz, projectionist, and Benjamin Rogers,<br />
salesman, who were found guilty of exhibiting<br />
an allegedly obscene film at the Embassy<br />
Theatre, Fall River, last fall, and ruled the<br />
question of obscenity was one to be decided<br />
by a jury. Judge Harry Kalus in a lower court<br />
had ordered guilty verdicts to Moniz and<br />
Rogers after he had ruled "Garden of Eden"<br />
was obscene.<br />
Gives Fair Guest Ducats<br />
NEW HAVEN—Sal Adorno jr.. owner and<br />
general manager of the Middletown, Conn.<br />
Drive-In. distributed guest tickets to the Durham<br />
fairgrounds performances featuring<br />
TVs "Wyatt Earp" to winners of drive-in<br />
playground competitions, including ropejumping,<br />
bean-bag shooting and the like.<br />
'Baby Doll' Re-Booking<br />
NEW HAVEN — Sampson-Spodick-Bialek<br />
disclosed plans for a reissue booking of the<br />
controversial "Baby Doll" into its first run<br />
art film house, the Lincoln, for later this<br />
month.<br />
'Johnny Tremain' to Open<br />
In 17 Sub Run Houses<br />
BOSTON— All exhibitor eyes will be focused<br />
June 26 on the new sales plan of Buena<br />
Vista Film Distribution Co. in handling its<br />
new film "Johnny Tremain," opening on<br />
that date in the greater Boston area in 17<br />
theatres which normally play on a 21 -day<br />
The only exception to this situation<br />
availability.<br />
is the St. George, Fi'amingham,<br />
which<br />
enjoys a first run availability in that city.<br />
Theatres involved are the Mayflower, Boston,<br />
an American Theatres Corp. house, and<br />
six other ATC theatres, as well as houses<br />
in Brookline, Quincy, Waltham, Norwood,<br />
Roxbury, Dorchester, Mattapan, Cambridge,<br />
Maiden and Lynn. No drive-ins are included<br />
in the plan. Each theatre has booked the film<br />
for one full week and the dates selected were<br />
made to coincide with the beginning of the<br />
school vacation period.<br />
This new merchandising plan of Buena<br />
Vista has long been advocated by Samuel<br />
Pinanski, president of American Theatres<br />
Corp., in an effort to bring to the industry<br />
more modern marketing methods. He has<br />
been constantly urging distributors to experiment<br />
with day and date bookings in desirable<br />
outlying theatres as well as the big<br />
first run show-eases in the cities.<br />
Exceptional publicity and promotions will<br />
be included in the Buena Vista plan, with<br />
strong radio, TV and newspaper activities<br />
backing up the bookings.<br />
Seekonk Drive-In to Bow<br />
For Year-Around Showing<br />
FALL RIVER, MASS.—The Seekonk Family<br />
Drive-In, newest addition to the Lepes-<br />
Zalkind Drive-In Theatres circuit and located<br />
on a 40-acre tract between Highland<br />
avenue and the Rhode Island line in Seekonk,<br />
is expected to welcome its first patrons in<br />
September.<br />
It will be one of the first drive-ins to be<br />
operated in New England on a 52-week basis.<br />
The same management is putting the finishing<br />
touches to its new drive-in in Tiverton,<br />
the Ponta Delgada. Operations there<br />
are due to .start at the end of this month.<br />
The Seekonk theatre will include in-car<br />
heaters and its capacity will be upwards of<br />
1.700 cars.<br />
Richard B. Rubin of Newton is the con-<br />
.sulting engineer for the theatre. The ground<br />
excavation work w-as started by the C. Brito<br />
Construction Co. of Bristol. R. I.<br />
Paramount's 'Lonely Man'<br />
Booked at Hartford Airer<br />
HARTFORD— Paramount, which normally<br />
Dpens first run product at the Allyn. has<br />
sold "The Lonely Man," Jack Palance starrer,<br />
to the Meadows Drive-In, for a late June<br />
opening.<br />
Another Paramount release, "Gunfight at<br />
The O.K. Corral," also had it,s Hartford premiere<br />
recently at the Meadows.<br />
Takes Public Relations Position<br />
HARTFORD—Samuel J. Friedman, veteran<br />
New York theatre and motion picture publicist,<br />
is again functioning as public relations<br />
director at the Oakdale Musical Theatre,<br />
strawhat theatre unit at Wallingford. Hollywood<br />
wTiter Glen AUvlne is resident publicist.<br />
BOSTON<br />
Qerald Shea, president of the Shea circuit,<br />
and Roy Smith, vice-president, attended<br />
the banquet at Toy Town Tavern of Independent<br />
Exhibitors. The Shea circuit operates<br />
nine theatres and a drive-in in the<br />
New England ai'ea. The drive-in, the Lsland<br />
Park, is at Manchester, N. H., and is operated<br />
with an amusement park.<br />
In Needham, an enterprising town, officials<br />
are attempting to beautify land off May<br />
street and through the Needham Historical<br />
Society, have issued an appeal for volunteers<br />
to help in the project. Only a few civilian<br />
volunteers have been assisting in the work,<br />
with the major manpower being recruited<br />
from the soldiers at the local Nike Battery.<br />
Ernest Warren, who owns the Paramount<br />
Theatre in the town, wanted to do his bit for<br />
the civic project and in a thank-you note to<br />
the army personnel, included $75 worth of<br />
passes to be handed out to the soldiers who<br />
were volunteering their services.<br />
Diane Comi, young daughter of P. Edward<br />
Comi of the Massachusetts Theatre Equipment<br />
Co., is studying ballet with Mme. Vasilaiskas<br />
and w^as starred in the ballet "Coppelia,"<br />
which was presented by the students<br />
at New England Mutual Hall . O.<br />
Seley, division manager of Manley, and Mi's.<br />
Seley will celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary<br />
June 30, while Irving Dunn, New<br />
York district manager for Manley, and his<br />
wife will observe their 16th wedding anniversary<br />
June 16 . . . Mrs. C. F. Russell sr.,<br />
whose son Connie jr. operates theatres in the<br />
Bangor area, is a patient at the Maine General<br />
Hospital, Bangor.<br />
Moger Guest Columnist<br />
BOSTON— Art Moger. Warner Bros. New<br />
England field representative, again has been<br />
chosen to act as guest columnist for Neal<br />
O'Haras syndicated "Take It From Me" column,<br />
which appears in the Ti-aveler here.<br />
This is the fifth season that Moger has been<br />
selected to do the column, which is serviced<br />
to more than 110 newspapers by McNaught<br />
Syndicate. Moger also is the only motion picture<br />
writer to be selected.<br />
H. L. Needles Recuperates<br />
HARTFORD—Henry L. Needles, former<br />
Hartford district manager, Warner Bros. Theatres,<br />
has returned to his suburban Wethersfield<br />
home, following surgery at the Hartford<br />
Hospital.<br />
FOR SALE<br />
OR LEASE:<br />
Hamilton Theatre and building, consisting of<br />
three stores and large offices on Bowdoin<br />
Street, Dorchester, Mass. Seoting capocity<br />
600 with your own booth equipment installed.<br />
Theatre could be converted into a bowling<br />
alley or roller-skating rink.<br />
Contact ARTHUR FINN<br />
TWinbrook 4-3000<br />
BOXOFFICE :: June 15, 1957 NE-3
. . Several<br />
. . Another<br />
. . The<br />
. . Roger<br />
PROVIDENCE<br />
p M. Locw's Providence Drive-In is using<br />
newly installed outdoor sound equipment<br />
with its stage attractions. The airer recently<br />
presented a special midnight horror show,<br />
sented the fii-st Rhode Island screenings of<br />
'Monster From Green Hell" and "Half<br />
Human." Departing from their past procedure<br />
of running cooperative advertising,<br />
the individual operations inserted separate<br />
ads in the local newspapers.<br />
Both the Liberty here and Hollywood, East<br />
Providence, were shuttered recently. The latter<br />
situation is now being used as the site of<br />
several oldtime auction sales. Both are<br />
Homes' houses . English-type bicycle<br />
giveaway was announced by the Lonsdale<br />
Drive-In, which on the holiday eve<br />
presented a two-hour rock and roll show on<br />
stage. Bennie Woods, with a supporting cast<br />
of 20, was the feature attraction . . . The<br />
Quaker Drive-In in nearby XJxbridge recently<br />
presented something of a marathon<br />
show. Pour full-length features combined<br />
with five cartoons kept many patrons in the<br />
house for approximately seven hours.<br />
Fireworks Added Attraction<br />
HARTFORD—Livio Dottor, manager of the<br />
Plainville Drive-In, added a fireworks display<br />
to his June 7 program. Regular admission<br />
scale prevailed.<br />
SPECIAL<br />
TRAILERS<br />
FILMACK<br />
k^iti.umi>iJi;.iJ.M^wim^<br />
•NUF<br />
SED!_<br />
Weingarten Stresses Need<br />
For Dialog Restraint<br />
HARTFORD — MGM producer Lawrence<br />
consciously or unconsciously will resent this<br />
treatment."<br />
NEWHAMPSHIRE<br />
n bout 1,000 Manchester school safety patrol<br />
leader.s attended a free show at the State<br />
Theatre in Manchester June 8 under sponsorship<br />
of the Manchester police department,<br />
Merchants National Bank and the N. H. division<br />
of the American Automobile Ass'n.<br />
This is a semiannual program given in<br />
of recognition the patrol leaders daily contribution<br />
of effort in behalf of their classmates.<br />
The patrol leaders wore belts and<br />
badges to gain admission to the theatre. The<br />
show started at 9; 15 a.m.<br />
The Palace Theatre in Manchester was<br />
turned over to the Gloria Messier dance<br />
studio the night of June 3 for the presenta-<br />
tion of the studio's pupils in their fifth<br />
annual dance revue. There was an admission<br />
charge of $1.10. tax included kids<br />
got their money's worth at the Variety<br />
Theatre in Manchester June 7 when the<br />
managemeirt offered five color cartoons as<br />
an extra attraction. The Variety's admission<br />
prices are 15 and 25 cents.<br />
Harry Goldstein in New Haven<br />
NEW HAVEN—Harry Goldstein of the Allied<br />
Ai-tists eastern exploitation department<br />
visited James F. Darby, Paramount. New<br />
Haven, and Ray McNamara, Allyn, Hartford,<br />
ahead of "Calypso Joe" and "Hot Rod<br />
Rumble" openings.<br />
VERMONT<br />
T^orthfield is to be without motion pictures<br />
Weingarten, interviewed by Allen M. Widem,<br />
Hartford Times, asserted that Hollywood's for the first time in 50 years and the<br />
growing cognizance of the need for mature blame has been placed squarely on television.<br />
entertainment has given rise to the necessity The Savoy Theatre, hit by declining patronage<br />
caused by TV. is closing, it was an-<br />
with two screen features of the spook variety<br />
for constant monitoring of what is charitably<br />
and a big stage revue with a cast of 32. Perry<br />
nounced by the owners, Mr. and Mrs. Roy D.<br />
termed "salty dialog."<br />
Borelli, prominent TV personality, with a 20-<br />
Weingarten added: "It's all well and good<br />
Brown. The theatre was built 35 years ago.<br />
piece orchestra, highlighted the well-attended<br />
An outdoor theatre, operated by the Browns<br />
for some filmmakers to assert their questionable<br />
independence and allow the exces-<br />
show . neighborhood houses and<br />
in Richford, will continue its shows this<br />
drive-ins, including the Park, Palace, Uptown,<br />
Quonset Drive-In, Cranston Auto Theing<br />
July 1 as director of educational ser-<br />
summer . Albright, who is retirsive<br />
use of smutty conversation in what is<br />
essentially an adult property. Good taste<br />
atre and Community, Centerdale, jointly previces<br />
for the Motion Picture Ass'n of America,<br />
demands that conversation never get down<br />
will reside with his family in Rutland after<br />
to the level of gutter talk, for the audience<br />
HANDY<br />
giving up the post. He has been appointed<br />
honorary consultant on motion pictures to<br />
the Library of Congress.<br />
A public showing of "Nanook of the North."<br />
famous documentary film on Eskimo life,<br />
was held for two days by the Cinema Art<br />
Club of Burlington. Mrs. Margherita Mausoff,<br />
who knew the Flahertys, producers of<br />
the film, commented on the picture at one<br />
of the showings. A color cartoon, "Brotherhood<br />
of Man," was also on the program.<br />
Eric Johnston, president of the Motion Pic-<br />
ture Ass'n, delivered the commencement address<br />
at Middlebury College, Middlebury,<br />
William J. Murphy, 66,<br />
Monday (10) .<br />
well known among theatre operators in the<br />
area, died m Rutland Hospital after a month's<br />
illness. He retired last February as local<br />
display advertising manager of the Rutland<br />
Herald after having beeii connected with the<br />
newspaper since 1916.<br />
'La Strada' at Fairfield<br />
NEW HAVEN—The Academy Award winner,<br />
"La Strada," continued to chalk up an<br />
admirable roster of Connecticut bookings, including<br />
theatres that normally do not play<br />
art imports. The Community, Fairfield, was<br />
a recent booking, showing the film on a<br />
double bill with 20th-Fox's "The River's<br />
Edge," at regular prices.<br />
Leaves Public Activity<br />
HARTFORD—George LeWitt, veteran Connecticut<br />
exhibitor, retired from public life<br />
when his term on the board of finance and<br />
taxation in nearby New Britain expired June<br />
1. LeWitt plans to concentrate on his business<br />
activities in Connecticut.
Three NFB Staffers<br />
Assigned New Jobs<br />
MONTREAL — Staff changes involving<br />
three senior members of the National Film<br />
Board's distribution branch were announced<br />
here.<br />
Robert Monteith, goes to Chicago to head<br />
the NPB office there. A native of Scotland,<br />
he joined the board in Ottawa four years<br />
ago.<br />
W. Dean Smith, previously head of the<br />
Chicago office, has returned to a new position<br />
as television representative in the board's<br />
commercial division here. Smith, a native<br />
of Hamilton, Ont., joined the board in Halifax<br />
in 1951 and was Nova Scotia supervisor<br />
for the board when he went to Chicago in<br />
1955.<br />
Jean-Jacques Chagnon of Montreal, with<br />
the board since last year, will succeed Monteith<br />
as distribution branch administrative<br />
officer.<br />
T. R. Tubman Helps Set Up<br />
Business for Young Man<br />
OTTAWA—Throush the interest of Manager<br />
T. R. Tubman of the Capitol, a graduate<br />
of Variety Village Vocational School at<br />
Toronto is now established in business for<br />
himself as a watchmaker in a small store on<br />
Bank street in a section of the Capitol Theatre<br />
building.<br />
The rehabilitated man is 26-year-old Donald<br />
Thompson, who operates his trade while<br />
seated in a wheelchair. Formerly a motor<br />
mechanic, Thompson was stricken with poliomyelitis<br />
and was so crippled that he spent<br />
nine months in Ottawa Civic Hospital, later<br />
undergoing treatment in Lyndhurst Lodge,<br />
Toronto.<br />
Next he was admitted to Variety Village<br />
where he learned watchmaking. Following<br />
graduation he returned to Ottawa where he<br />
obtained a job with a jewelry firm, but this<br />
employment came to an end when he got<br />
in touch with Tubman at the Famous Players<br />
theatre. The outcome was the conversion<br />
of a corner of tiie theatre building at treet<br />
level which had once been used for a stairway<br />
and telephone booths.<br />
Thompson Is married and has two children.<br />
Tubman is a member of Toronto Variety.<br />
Rules Against CBC<br />
TORONTO—In a 33-page judgment handed<br />
down June 7, Chief Justice McRuer of the<br />
Ontario Supreme Court ruled that the Federal<br />
Government's Canadian Broadcasting<br />
Corp. is not exempt from the provisions of the<br />
criminal code governing the observance of<br />
Sundays. The CBC had contended that, as a<br />
"crown company," it was not affected by<br />
Sunday restrictions, but it now faces a To-<br />
Guilty of Robbery<br />
TORONTO— After being identified by Manager<br />
Jack R. Steele as the man who forced<br />
him at gunpoint to open the safe of the<br />
Odeon at Brantford October 13. Edw-ard<br />
Saska, 26. 'Woodstock, Ont., was found guilty<br />
of armed robbery by the county grand jury<br />
in the court session June 5 at Brantford.<br />
Saska. who had secured SI.300 in the theatre<br />
holdup, was remanded to June 18 for sentence.<br />
Manager Wins Marathon<br />
ST. JOHN—Tom Mackey, manager of<br />
the Franklin & Herschorn Mid-Way<br />
Drive-In, Sydney. N. S., again has won<br />
laurels as a long distance runner by winning<br />
the coveted feature, the Canadian<br />
Legion six-mile race in Cape Breton, N. S.<br />
It was a double celebration for Mackey<br />
and his friends, as the win came on his<br />
29th birthday.<br />
A native of Belfast, Ireland, he came to<br />
Canada three years ago. His first employment<br />
was with the F&H circuit. After<br />
the Mid-Way closes for the season Mackey<br />
takes up the post as assistant manager in<br />
the Mayfair and Dundas theatres at Dartmouth,<br />
N. S.<br />
Tom gets his daily exercise at the drivein<br />
checking the field and speakers and<br />
jogging over the 12-acre area. His 38-<br />
year-old brother Noel, now living in Edmonton,<br />
Ala., also is a noted marathoner.<br />
Tom is shown at right in the photo receiving<br />
his award from a Canadian Legion<br />
member at Cape Breton.<br />
Six FPC Theatres Unite<br />
For 'King' Show of Week<br />
TORONTO—There were only six Famous<br />
Players theatres for the Show of the Week<br />
this time, the feature being "The King and<br />
Four Queens." The sextette included the Alhambra.<br />
Beach, Capitol, College, Parkdale<br />
and St. Clair.<br />
The Prince of Wales, Donland and Beaver<br />
united for "Friendly Persuasion." while another<br />
trio, Hollywood, Palace and Runnymede,<br />
played "Desk Set." The usual eight units<br />
of 20th Century Theatres featured the Show<br />
of Shows program topped by "Beyond a<br />
Reasonable Doubt."<br />
The J. Arthur Rank theatres had the following<br />
combinations: Odeon, Fairlawn and<br />
Colony for "The Burglar"; Danforth, Humber<br />
and Colony, "12 Angry Men," and the Hyland<br />
and Christie, the reissued "The Jolson Story."<br />
TV Set Sales Slump<br />
OTTAWA—The Canadian government has<br />
issued a statistical report which says that<br />
sales of television sets "slumped" to 105,035<br />
in the first three months of 1957 from the<br />
total of 141,958 for the first quarter of last<br />
year. For Maich the turnover of TV sets<br />
dropped to 28,823 from 37,379. At the same<br />
time, the sales of radio receiving sets for the<br />
1957 period climbed to 155,699 from 129,156 in<br />
the three months last year.<br />
Six Holdovers Strong<br />
On Toronto Rialto<br />
TORONTO—Six attractions were held over,<br />
the record breaker in this respect being<br />
"Oklahoma!" in its 59th week at the Tivoli.<br />
The pick of the new offerings was "The<br />
Little Hut" at Loew's. One of the brace of<br />
reissues, "For Whom the Bell Tolls," stayed<br />
for a third week at the University.<br />
(Average Is 100)<br />
Yongfze Incident Eglinfon, Towne (DCA), 2nd<br />
wk<br />
too<br />
Hollywood Desk Set (20th-Fox) 105<br />
Hyland The Jolson Story (Col), 100<br />
reissue<br />
Imperial Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (Poro), 2nd<br />
wk 100<br />
Locw s—The Little Hut (MGM) 110<br />
IJ rtMAji Funny Foce (Para), 100<br />
2nd wk<br />
,1 The Burglar (Col); Spin a Dork Web<br />
C-D 105<br />
Fi. -Ii Oklahoma! (Magna), 59fh wk 100<br />
Uni.criity—For Whom the Bell Tolls (Para), 3rd wk. 96<br />
Uptown—The Tattered Dress (U-l), 2nd wk 100<br />
Top Vancouver Rating<br />
Won by "Little Hut'<br />
VANCOUVER— Exhibitors are blaming the<br />
present citywide boxoffice slump on a record<br />
hot weather spell, lack of good product and<br />
daylight saving. The latter gives more time<br />
to folks to tend theh- lawns and gardens, diverting<br />
their interest from current screen fare.<br />
The current week was almost a record low,<br />
with two of the dow^ntown deluxe theatres<br />
pulling their pictures after only showing them<br />
four days. Only picture to weather the slump<br />
was "The Little Hut," which was given an<br />
ace campaign at the Orpheum,<br />
Capitol The Brave One (RKO), 4 days Poor<br />
Cinema The Great American Pastime<br />
(MGM)<br />
Moderate<br />
Orpheum The Little Hut (MGM) Good<br />
Paradise Bailout at 43,000 (UA), Revolt ot<br />
Fort Laramie (UA) Moderate<br />
Plaza—Monkey on My Back (UA); Iron Sheriff<br />
(UA)<br />
Moderote<br />
Strand Lizzie (MGM); Hot Summer Night<br />
(MGM)<br />
Moderate<br />
Studio Lo Poor<br />
Strodo (SR)<br />
l/ogue Abandon Ship (Col), 4 doys Poor<br />
Business on the Upswing<br />
At Winnipeg First Runs<br />
WINNIPEG — First run business here<br />
showed a gradual but definite Improvement<br />
as at least four of the new entries boasted<br />
business and none was more than<br />
good solid<br />
ten points below'<br />
average.<br />
Airport Drive-In, Rose, Plaza, Palace and Grand<br />
Rock, Rock, Rock (DCA); Three Outlaws<br />
(AFRC)<br />
Good<br />
Capitol—The Little Hut (MGM) Good<br />
Gaiety Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison (20th-Fox);<br />
Boy on a Dolphin (20th-Fox) Moderate<br />
Garrick—Four Girls in Town (U-l); Istanbul (U-l) Fair<br />
Lyceum The Quiet Gun (20th-Fox); Oosis<br />
(20th-Fox)<br />
Moderate<br />
Metropolitan The River's Edge (20th-Fox) . . . . Good<br />
Odeon The Tottered Dress (U-l) Good<br />
Valour The Gold Rush (UA), 2nd wk Fair<br />
Toronto Star Sponsors<br />
Theatre Yo-Yo Contests<br />
TORONTO—The Toronto Daily Star is<br />
spon.soring a series of yo-yo competitions at<br />
Saturday matinee performances in ten Famous<br />
Players theatres here, which will lead<br />
up to the championship finals on Saturday<br />
(22).<br />
The newspaper has donated many prizes<br />
for the four weekly preliminary contests and<br />
there will be grand awards at the finish. The<br />
following theatres are featuring the stunt;<br />
Alhambra, Beach, St. Clair, Capitol, College,<br />
Nortown, Palace, Parkdale, Runnymede and<br />
Oakwood,<br />
June 15, 1957
. . Morey<br />
. . Bob<br />
. . Lome<br />
. . Gerry<br />
. . The<br />
10<br />
. . According<br />
. .<br />
MONTREAL<br />
.<br />
Jean Beliveau, star center on the Montreal<br />
Canadians hockey team was the guest<br />
honor at the Motion Picture Pioneers<br />
of<br />
dinner in the Mount Royal Bey's<br />
Theatre of Thetford Mines, one of Leo<br />
Choquette's houses, was destroyed by fire.<br />
The modern, 500-seater was leveled by the<br />
off. Fox manager, flew to Toronto for a<br />
conference with head office executives.<br />
Destounis, former manager of the Belmont,<br />
succeeded Fleming at the Strand.<br />
"Obsession," stan-ing Michele Morgan and<br />
Raf Vallone, is reported doing outstanding<br />
business in showings throughout Quebec . . .<br />
1,090,173, consisting mostly of vacationists<br />
and visitors to the Dominion.<br />
The pictures are screened at regular intervals<br />
at summer resorts, hotels and national<br />
parks across the country. The Canadian<br />
Government Travel Bureau at Ottawa<br />
Sam Kunitsky, UA manager, was in Shawinigan<br />
Falls and Three Rivers . . . Mrs.<br />
Marilyn Brunstrum, boxoffice clerk at<br />
Warners, has resigned to accompany her<br />
husband who has been transferred<br />
also<br />
to Niagara<br />
has 115 appropriate film releases in its<br />
Falls, Ont. . Hamat, UA, was in the<br />
library in the United States as tourist lure.<br />
Abitibi area . Stein, 20th-Fox, was<br />
on the Gaspe coast . Fleming, Haas to Direct 'Summer'<br />
popular manager of Strand Theatre for a HOLLYWOOD—U-I has set Charles Haas<br />
number of years and who about a year a.go to direct "Summer Love," a William Grady<br />
won a fortune in English Derby sweepstakes, jr. production which will star John Saxon<br />
resigned to enter another field. Jimmy and Judy Meredith.<br />
TORONTO<br />
prior to the Canadian general elections Monday<br />
1 1, the Odeon was the scene of a<br />
Quebec's ministry of transport has prepared Sunday mass meeting under the auspices of<br />
for widespread showing a colored film entitled,<br />
"Stop," to be used as part of depart-<br />
the Civil Service Federation of Canada when<br />
2.000 government employes protested against<br />
ment's fight against traffic accidents . . .<br />
the postponement of long-promised salary increases<br />
until after the countrywide voting<br />
At the exchanges were J. Aboussafy of Au<br />
.<br />
fire which burned down nine other business Bon Cinema, Mont Joli; Paul Desjarlais, A committee of the Ontario Mental Health<br />
establishments.<br />
Brandon, St. Gabriel de Brand: G. Langevin, Ass'n has been formed, with Mrs. R. F.<br />
Tracy at Tracy and the Salle Paroissiale of<br />
Porter and Dr. Reva Gerstein as chairmen<br />
Two Cine-Odeon theatres here, the Electra Bale du Fevre, and Georges Champagne, to plan for the premiere of "Around the<br />
and Villeray, simultaneously presented "Les manager of a circuit at Shawinigan Falls.<br />
World in 80 Days" in Todd-AO at the Tivoli<br />
Pirates des Mers du Sud," the French-dubbed<br />
the first week of July. Committee members<br />
"Long John Silver" . . . Phil Geller, 20th-<br />
Fox manager at Winnipeg, stopped<br />
Summer Tourists Program include Mrs. Sam Fingold, Mrs. Isadore<br />
at the<br />
Smith, Mrs. Charles S. Chaplin and Mrs. I.<br />
local office . . . Mrs. Jacqueline Kieffer, Set Up by Canada NFB<br />
Appleby. For the 800th<br />
French<br />
performance of<br />
secretary to Jo Oupcher. district OTTAWA—The National Film Board, government<br />
film agency, has again organized its afternoon.<br />
"Oklahoma!" at the Tivoli last<br />
manager of IFD, will leave soon on<br />
Saturday<br />
a threemonth<br />
Manager Fred Trebilcock<br />
trip to Paris to visit her<br />
gave<br />
parents. summer tourist program through which last souvenir books<br />
Mrs. Kieffer and her<br />
on the<br />
husband have Todd-AO<br />
been<br />
production to<br />
year there were 12,275 showings of travel and all patrons.<br />
in Canada for five years . Chern-<br />
other pictiues to an aggregate audience of<br />
Clyde Gilniour, film columnist of the Toronto<br />
Evening Telegram, has gone to Europe<br />
on a news assignment .<br />
. . Employes of J.<br />
Arthur Rank theatres in the Toronto area<br />
attended a family party in the Odeon Simday<br />
when they enjoyed a buffet supper and<br />
saw two forthcoming pictures. A similar<br />
party was held in the Odeon at London, Ont.,<br />
with Manager Ken Davies looking after arrangements.<br />
The features shown were "Fire<br />
Down Below" and "Doctor at Large."<br />
Phil Ristow, projectionist at the theatre in<br />
Weston, Ont., has an unusual hobby—the<br />
training of monkeys, six of them. And it's<br />
not a stunt for "Monkey on My Back" . . .<br />
Lionel Lester, president of the Motion Picture<br />
Theatres Ass'n of Ontario, secured nice<br />
business for one week at his Studio Cinema,<br />
Toronto, with a first run of "Don Giovanni."<br />
He also operates the Playhouse in Hamilton.<br />
Station CFPL-TV in London, Ont., owned<br />
REGULAR THEATRE SERVICE<br />
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investment in screen, sound and projection equipment. And DSEL is the<br />
logical choice for Canadian exhibitors— branches in every large centre<br />
with large stocks of replacements for regular and fast emergency service.<br />
Avail yourself of this quality service from Canada's oldest and largest<br />
theatre service organization.<br />
For complete details talk it over with your local DSEL<br />
mmm Wm<br />
representative.<br />
l^m^k Limited<br />
HE,AD OFFICE: 4040 St. Catherine Street West, Montreal<br />
BRANCHES AT: St. John's, Nfld., Halifax, Saint John,<br />
Quebec, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Hamilton, London,<br />
North Bay, Winnipeg, Regina, Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver.<br />
by the London Free Press, is playing pictures<br />
like a theatre. The film programs last week<br />
were "Green for Danger," two nights: "Fighting<br />
Man of the Plains." two nights, and "Doll<br />
Face" on Friday night<br />
.<br />
to Toronto<br />
gossip, Ernest Rawley, former manager<br />
of the Royal Alexandr-a in Toronto for many<br />
years, may return to this city if a booking<br />
office he manages in New 'York City is<br />
merged with another agency there.<br />
WINNIPEG<br />
Associated Theatre Services booking and<br />
buying set up has taken over the booking<br />
and buying for the Roxy Theatre in<br />
Wawa, Ont. Charlie Krupp of Associated ad-<br />
\ises that there are now 55 theatres in the<br />
Winnipeg territory doing all their booking<br />
and buying through Associated.<br />
David Rothstein of the Rothstein Theatre<br />
circuit of Winnipeg was installed as the<br />
grand master of the Masonic Grand Lodge of<br />
Manitoba Thursday (6i . . . Syl Gunn, branch<br />
manager for Paramount, and salesman Alf<br />
Glass, returned from Toronto after spending<br />
a few days at a home office convention.<br />
The 'Viking village in Norway, used in UA's<br />
"The Vikings," will be historically exact in<br />
every detail of its construction.<br />
BOXOFFICE :: June 15, 1957<br />
i
. . . Manager<br />
. . . The<br />
. . The<br />
. . . The<br />
. . Mark<br />
. . Art<br />
. . The<br />
. . UA's<br />
VANCOUVER<br />
TJrent Kelly, Odeon manager for the past<br />
six years, resigned and has moved with<br />
his family to Van Nuys. Calif. . . . Ivan<br />
Ackery. Orpheum manager, gave -'The Little<br />
Hut" a bang-up campaign which paid off at<br />
the boxoffice. It was the only picture to do<br />
any business during the recent record hot<br />
spell . . . Earl McMillan of the Studio was<br />
on vacation south of the border . . . Frank<br />
Sinatra and his troupe played two performances<br />
at Exhibition Forum to turnaway business.<br />
A $33,000 fire gutted the Mandarin<br />
Gardens in Chinatown. Charlie Nelson, former<br />
manager of the State Theatre, was a<br />
half owner of the night club.<br />
Ernest Watts, doorman at the Odeon-<br />
Vogue is one of Vancouver's oldest doormen.<br />
He is a veteran of the Boer War. Bill Cuthberson,<br />
who has spent the past few years in<br />
Western Canada and the U. S. A. doing newspaper<br />
work, has been added to the NFB<br />
headquarters staff. Exhibitors report early<br />
morning business remains very light and<br />
matinees are on the slow side, with the biggest<br />
increases shown on the weekends. Suburban<br />
houses are hit exceedingly hard by TV,<br />
with all matinees disappearing from schedules<br />
except for the kiddies matinees on Saturdays.<br />
They disappear in the summer.<br />
Neighborhood houses are faihng to hold to<br />
last year's levels.<br />
Shelah Relic is now film editor of Parry<br />
Films studio in North Vancouver. The West<br />
Coast Booking Ass'n reports new members are<br />
Len Johnson, Lougheed Drive-In, Burnaby,<br />
and the new drive-in at Williams Lake.<br />
WCBA now does the booking for 13 ozoners.<br />
The Starlight, Nanaimo, Ruskin and Cassidy<br />
drive-ins operate only on weekends. Wally<br />
Hamilton, president of Trans Canada Films,<br />
reports that I. E. Hamilton is now secretarytreasurer<br />
of the firm and that business is<br />
brisk with the company, mostly TV films.<br />
Now closed are the Port, Port Coquitlam,<br />
and the Moody, Port Moody, both victims of<br />
the inroad of TV, which has ruined the film<br />
business in the Eraser Valley. The area gets<br />
good reception from stations at Seattle and<br />
Bellingham, Wash. The Capitol, Kamloops,<br />
is also slated for closing. The West Coast<br />
Theatre Service has taken over the advertising<br />
departments of both Warner Bros, and<br />
EJmpire-Universal films, with offices on Filmrow.<br />
Lois Johnson. Empire-Universal secretary,<br />
was married to Wallace David.son and<br />
honeymooned in Nevada and California. Gordon<br />
Dalgleish, owner of Cinema Sales Co.,<br />
returned from a successful business trip<br />
covering Alberta and Saskatchewan theatres.<br />
Added to the "adult entertainment" list by<br />
the B. C. censors were "The Bachelor Party,"<br />
"Abandon Ship," "Monkey on My Back,"<br />
"Lizzie." and "Hot Summer Night" ... A<br />
newspaper entertainment editor, returning<br />
from a visit to the new auditorium built by<br />
the Alberta government in Edmonton at a<br />
cost of $4,500,000, said: "It is probably one of<br />
the largest theatres in North America with<br />
just about the worst acoustics on the continent."<br />
Theatre employes and film building workers<br />
unions have still to reach agreements on<br />
wage scales, w^orking conditions, fringe benefits<br />
and other points with two theatre circuits<br />
and the film distributors. At last reports,<br />
the negotiators were far apart . . . Sensationalism<br />
in film titling has defeated its own<br />
ends by this times, but cinemagoers patronizing<br />
"A Man Is Ten Feet Tall" are said to be<br />
crowding in, eager to get a good look at the<br />
character they've spent so many evenings sitting<br />
behind, according to Punch, London.<br />
OTTAWA<br />
•Phe second theatre in eastern Ontario to take<br />
up bingo as a sideline is the Roxy at Cornwall<br />
where Robert Hubbert is manager. The<br />
bingo nights are on Monday and Thursday<br />
with games being played during an intermission<br />
of the film program. The bingo cards<br />
are sold at the door for 25 cents each and the<br />
proceeds are designated for the Community<br />
pn-esh Air Camp Ass'n. Previously the Star-<br />
Top Drive-In near Ottawa inaugurated bingo<br />
on Thursday nights under the sponsorship of<br />
the Ottawa South Lions Club.<br />
Gladys L. Rosewall of Ottawa was the winner<br />
of an oil painting by H. Scotty Renaud<br />
which was exhibited in the lobby of the<br />
Odeon, when she gave it the title of "Tranquility"<br />
in a name-guessing contest. Manager<br />
Jim Chalmers of the Odeon now has a collection<br />
of paintings by Norma McClellan on<br />
display in the foyer and lobby of the theatre<br />
Ernie Warren has new programs<br />
at the two Elgins in Ottawa following three<br />
weeks of "The Green Man" at the Little<br />
Elgin and two weeks with "The Bachelor<br />
Party" at the Main Elgin.<br />
Nicholas Monsarrat of Ottawa, author of<br />
"The Cruel Sea" which was made into a J.<br />
Ai-thur Rank feature, has purchased a new<br />
plea.sure boat . federal government has<br />
picked two pictures, "Newfoundland Scene"<br />
and "A New Future Lies North," for screening<br />
in the Canadian building at the International<br />
Exposition at Brussels, Belgium, next year<br />
embassies in Ottawa are busy with<br />
preparations for the International Film Festival<br />
July 8-20 at Stratford, Ont. Among the<br />
latest prints to be received are "The Devil's<br />
General" from Germany and "Torero" from<br />
Mexico, while several films have been flown<br />
from Canberra. Australia.<br />
Shirley Jocelyn, cousin of Marlon and<br />
Jocelyn Brando, has been given a role in<br />
motion pictures, playing in Columbia's "Decision<br />
at SundowTi."<br />
HANDY<br />
ST.<br />
JOHN<br />
'The Bedford Theatre in Bedford, a suburb<br />
of Halifax, has closed permanently. It<br />
was owned and operated by William Purcell<br />
Modern Theatre in Madawaska, Me.,<br />
owned by the B&L circuit will close down the<br />
middle of June . Gaiety Theatre in<br />
Minto, N.B., owned by Jack O'Rourke has<br />
closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.<br />
Preparations are being made in Saint John<br />
for the forthcoming Israel bond drive which<br />
will be in tribute to the late Joseph M.<br />
Franklin who was Maritime chairman of<br />
Israel bonds. Active on the committee arc<br />
S. Mitchell Bernstein, his son Morton and<br />
Joshua Lieberman of the B&L circuit; A. I.<br />
Garson, formerly partner of the Garson-<br />
Odeon Theatres; Mitchell Franklin, Mrs. J. M.<br />
Fi-anklin and Sam Babb of tlie P&H Theatres.<br />
With the RCAJ holding its annual convention<br />
in St. John, with over 300 delegates at-<br />
.<br />
tending, the FP Capitol Theatre showed the<br />
two air force pictures "Dam Busters" and<br />
"Out of the Clouds." The F&H Mayfair<br />
played "Reach for the Sky" St.<br />
John office with Izzy Davis, manager, and<br />
Bill Campbell, salesman and booker, has been<br />
holding the lead the past few months in the<br />
third group of the Jim Velde Sales Drive<br />
which started in September and ends the end<br />
of June Plottel of Toronto, general<br />
.<br />
manager for Empire-Universal and RKO<br />
visited their St. John office of which Jack<br />
Bellamy is manager, calling upon exhibitors.<br />
Congratulations were offered to Eric Golding.<br />
MGM St. John manager, on becoming the<br />
granddaddy of a baby girl. Eric's daughter<br />
Joy is the wife of Jimmy Sprague. salesman at<br />
Warner Bros. St. John office . . . Wedding<br />
bells are ringing for Joan Raymond, advertising<br />
clerk at MGM on June 22 to Gerard<br />
McHugh ... A party was held and a purse<br />
presented to Shirley Dougherty, MGM cashier,<br />
who is leaving. She is being replaced by<br />
Mi-s. Laura McGuire. former cashier at Columbia<br />
. Fielding, president of the<br />
SFA circuit, visited Filmrow.<br />
Relates Stor'y of Newspaperman<br />
In Columbia Pictures' "The Tijuana Story,"<br />
Paul Coates relates the story of an Incorruptible<br />
newspaperman.
: June<br />
V^^P>"'<br />
^N<br />
-you -rtHUii J&a:<br />
Take advantage oi the tremendous buying power of BOXOFFICE readers.<br />
Reach this wonderful market at a cost you can afford. Tell and sell to the<br />
many buyers in your own territory who ore always in the market for<br />
something. Practically every exhibitor you know reads BOXOFFICE. If<br />
you need help in wording your message, ask us. No charge.<br />
BOXOFFICE<br />
Published Weekly in 9 Sectional Editions<br />
BOXOFFICE :<br />
15, 1957
'I<br />
iHE<br />
I<br />
MARLON<br />
GLENN<br />
TOE<br />
'<br />
• ALPHABETICAL INDEX<br />
• AOLINES & 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 />
THE GUIDE TO§BETTER BOOKING AND B U S I N E S S - B U I L D I N G<br />
— See It The Second Time Free-<br />
Dear Patrons:<br />
DOUBLE<br />
FUN!<br />
MARLON BRANDO<br />
i<br />
GLENN FORD i<br />
> oponing day<br />
any subsequent perfo<br />
BRANDO<br />
FORD<br />
MACHIKOKYO | MACHIKO KYO.<br />
I<br />
rey^riOUSE rB^House<br />
j<br />
OF THE<br />
OF rue<br />
Conl.nuou. Sund.,— 1 :00-3:47.6: 35-9:22<br />
SPECIAL' Matinee Monday on<br />
TKi» Picture at 2:00<br />
SUNDAY thru r _/ V ^ ' iWlli^<br />
THURSDAY UL^±^3l!2m<br />
IT'S ON THE HOUSE—<br />
Here's a reproduction of the two-column ad<br />
in which Charles Reed, manager of the Fox<br />
Theatre in Hays, Kos., advertised a stunt<br />
he presents onnuolly. He picks a suretoplease<br />
attraction and heads his ad with an<br />
endorsement of the picture and the explanation<br />
that the doorman will admit the patron<br />
on his second trip to the attraction. Note<br />
how Reed assures them of double fun by<br />
duplicating in the ad two single column<br />
displays on the film side by side.<br />
Store Tieups Boost Receipts<br />
The nei.Khborhood Jeffrey Theatre in<br />
Chicaso set up a series of exploitation tieups<br />
with neighborhood merchants for<br />
forthcoming productions including "Heaven<br />
Knows. Mr. Allison" and "Designing<br />
^ Woman." The program, which involves<br />
store window posters, plugger pamphlets<br />
passed out by merchants, etc.. were<br />
considered responsible for more than<br />
doubling the week's business for the films.<br />
Couple in Small Town Theatre Depends<br />
On Ideas-Here're Few That Worked<br />
Wherever exhibitors get together there<br />
is one question that is sure to bob up,<br />
"What are you doing to get people in your<br />
theatre?" Mickey and Penny Harris, who<br />
operate the Wakea Theatre in New Boston,<br />
Tex., report their answer invariably is,<br />
"Anything we can think of." They describe<br />
a few of the things they have tried in the<br />
•past few months in the following paragraphs.<br />
MUSTER NIGHT CLICKS<br />
The local National Guard needed a place<br />
to hold its recent Muster Night since its<br />
regular meeting place, the school auditorium,<br />
was occupied with a basketball<br />
tournament. Remembering the old saying,<br />
"If you can't fight 'em. join'em." the Harrises<br />
did just that, and arranged for a<br />
Muster Night at the Wakea Theatre. The<br />
affair was well planned by local groups,<br />
including a parade by the high school band<br />
and the guardsmen to the theatre.<br />
Local florists decorated the stage, and<br />
refreshments were served. The New Boston<br />
Industrial Committee paid for the band<br />
members tickets for the show that followed<br />
the Guard ceremonies, so a better than<br />
average crowd were paid customers that<br />
night, and the publicity helped, too.<br />
New Boston merchants sponsored a Miss<br />
New Boston contest. Each store sponsored<br />
one girl; all the girls being presented on<br />
stage at the theatre. The merchants all<br />
paid for the advertising, stage decorations<br />
and for a watch that was given to the<br />
winner. The audience selected the winning<br />
girl by ballot, and this brought a big crowd<br />
since everyone came to vote for a particular<br />
girl.<br />
P.\KTY FOR PTA LEADERS<br />
"We believe the following idea Has meant<br />
more to us in the goodwill it has created<br />
than anything we have done. " the Harrises<br />
report. "We give a theatre party each<br />
month for the class which has the most<br />
parents present at PTA meetings in the<br />
schools in our vicinity. We have had many<br />
children come to our theatre who have<br />
never been here previously, and there are<br />
always enough parents who come with the<br />
children to more than pay for the time and<br />
effort in doing this. Concessions, too, always<br />
pick up on these nights.<br />
"On one of our off-nights we let a Sunday<br />
School class sponsor a show to help<br />
pay for the work we were doing in the<br />
nursery. The members .sold tickets in advance<br />
with the paper and the chuixh bulletin<br />
telling about the show and urging all<br />
to buy tickets and attend. The cla.ss and<br />
the theatre both came out profitably.<br />
"A new supermarket in town sends out<br />
5.000 heralds by mail each week. They<br />
ran a mat on 'Gun for. a Coward" on their<br />
heralds telling where and when it was<br />
showing and offering a coupon good for<br />
20 cents on an adult ticket to see this film.<br />
They paid 10 cents on every coupon that<br />
came in at the boxoffice. We got a lot of<br />
extra advertising on the picture in this<br />
way.<br />
MANY PRIZES FOR KIDS<br />
"We are having a special Kids Day show<br />
each Saturday ahead of the regular show.<br />
We give away many small prizes and have<br />
as many games and contests as time will<br />
permit, everything from drinking from<br />
baby bottles, spelling bees, talent contests,<br />
to the old standby of blowing the biggest<br />
bubble and such. Pi-izes in each sack of<br />
poF>corn has certainly increased sales there.<br />
Also give suckers with cold drinks—this<br />
discourages buying candy and spending of<br />
concession money for some item on which<br />
there is more profit.<br />
"We try anything we hear of that might<br />
increase attendance. Some of them help<br />
some of them don't, but one never knows<br />
until you try it. All we need now are some<br />
more ideas!"<br />
Tickets for 'Cinderella'<br />
Are Sold in the Schools<br />
When Herman Kopf played "Cinderella"<br />
at the Milford. Milford. N. Y.. he arranged<br />
with the school principal lor a special<br />
matinee at 2:30 on Monday for all kids in<br />
the first seven grades. The principal further<br />
agreed to let the cashier sell tickets<br />
in the school from 11:30 to 1:30 on the<br />
morning of this special showing. This resulted<br />
in a very successful matinee, with<br />
hundreds of tickets being sold.<br />
BOXOFFICE Showmandiser :: June 15. 1957 141
Vacation Idea Built on Shorts Runs Ten Weeks<br />
The main lobby of the Capitol Theatre in Union City, N. J., during "Around the World in 10 Weeks" promotion.<br />
The written report forwarded by Paul Reynauld, manager<br />
of the Capitol Theatre in Union City, N. J., on his<br />
great "Around the World in 10 Weeks" series of travel<br />
shorts and featurettes became separated from his scrapbook<br />
containing photographs of his theatre displays. The<br />
report reached us first. A first reading convinced us his<br />
promotion was so good that we immediately prepared the<br />
story and used it on the front page of Showmandiser last<br />
week, not knowing photos were available.<br />
Several of his displays, reproduced herewith, show<br />
that Reynauld's execution of his idea was as thorough<br />
and as skillful as his conception was timely, in all, a truly<br />
exceptional feat in showmanship.<br />
At top is the scene that greeted patrons as they reached<br />
the lobby ... an 18-foot outboard motor boat, a large<br />
cutout of a gob, a Paris booth with two manikins, a tropical<br />
scene with a large tropical bird (at right) with the famous<br />
"I Am a Movie Fan" printed on a poster beneath a easel<br />
at left listing the giveaway of Capitol records (500 of them)<br />
and merchandise from ten merchants—the whole scene<br />
festooned with streamers. Elsewhere were booths from<br />
Argentine, Italy, Sicily, etc., all with suggestive posters,<br />
where some 20,000 promoted travel booklets Vv^ere given<br />
away, each with the Capitol Theatre imprint.<br />
The scene at left below is the "castle" front Reynauld<br />
constructed at a cost of $30. Note the two cutout guards.<br />
Patrons went through the opening as they entered the big<br />
inner lobby. The ticket-taker's stand may be seen in the<br />
doorway.<br />
The smaller photo shows one of the displays that literally<br />
filled every nook and corner of the theatre for the tenweek<br />
series. The huge lifesover, the signs are well calculated<br />
to inspire one with the travel itch.<br />
Each unit extended through six days, the "vacation"<br />
reels being in addition to the regular bookings. Giacomo<br />
Rondinella, Italian singer, was obtained for a one-night<br />
appearance at the Capitol during the Italian week, which<br />
featured an Italian Variety show and a WarnerColor short<br />
on Italy. For this, Reynauld even had some of his displays<br />
prepared in the Italian language.<br />
As the accompanying photos indicate, the success of<br />
the vacation idea depended, in this case, on the thoroughness<br />
with which Manager Reynauld created the proper<br />
vacation atmosphere in the theatre.<br />
Left photo shows entrance to inner lobby, and right another lobby display.<br />
— 142 BOXOFFICE Showmandiser :: June 15, 1957
DRIVE-IN THEATRE REPORT<br />
(Third in a Series of Four installments)<br />
mmm<br />
Descriptions of Theatres Analyzed in June 1 Showmandiser Section<br />
it)<br />
~ Although the concessions business is a<br />
major profit factor at the drive-in theatre,<br />
the findings of the survey could give only<br />
an over-all "fair" rating to the drive-ins<br />
studied. Unfortunately, most managers appear<br />
somewhat indifferent to such factors in<br />
good concessions management as cleanliness,<br />
quality and selection of food items, proper<br />
VII. CONCESSIONS<br />
pricing, effective sales promotion, and hiring<br />
and training good personnel. It is altogether<br />
too often rationalized by managers<br />
that they are theatremen and not concessionaij-es.<br />
What they apparently forget is<br />
that the first purpose of business is profit.<br />
And, as long as concessions is part of the<br />
business, it should be exploited to its utmost<br />
capacity, just as is the picture, or any<br />
other service of the theatre.<br />
Following are<br />
our comments and suggestions<br />
for Improvements at the drive-ins<br />
visited. While they are made in relation to<br />
specific situations and conditions, many of<br />
them undoubtedly can be related to drive-in<br />
operations elsewhere.<br />
DRIVE-IN "A" (350 cars. 8,300-popuIation<br />
agricultural area).<br />
Friendly service is a big factor here, and<br />
patrons noticed it.<br />
Efficiency suggestion: Place an insulated<br />
bag, large enough to hold a half dozen orders<br />
' ->( of French fries and several orders of fried<br />
'l"' chiclcen, adjacent to the deep fry equipment<br />
at intermission time. This will prevent<br />
all those unnecessary trips to the<br />
freezer.<br />
Point of sales displays: Impulse buying is<br />
an important factor at the concessions<br />
counter. Let your products be seen. Try to<br />
have lifelike illustrations of foods and other<br />
concessions items on available display areas.<br />
Suppliers should be able to provide all the<br />
materials needed.<br />
We suggest use of a wall menu, large<br />
enough so it can be read easily. In addition<br />
to listing the standards, the menu should<br />
publicize "specials," food and drink combinations<br />
which supply variety to the bill of<br />
fare. A chicken dinner. French fries and a<br />
coke could sell for 85 cents to 90 cents—<br />
saving to everyone and a profit to the theatre.<br />
This "special" can be used to encourage<br />
"supper at the drive-in" as patrons<br />
will become used to checking the menu for<br />
the economy package deals.<br />
To focus attention on the menu, a turret<br />
lamp should be hung from the ceiling a few<br />
feet from the wall, to spotlight the menu offerings.<br />
Coffee: Although this is a small profit<br />
item, it is an added convenience to the<br />
patron, particularly in the colder months.<br />
Actually, it may sometimes be the availability<br />
of a hot cup of coffee which will keep him<br />
in the drive-in and bring him to the concessions<br />
is<br />
building. It an item which should<br />
be promoted, and on evenings when the<br />
weatiier is cool, the taped concessions message<br />
can include an invitation to "warm up<br />
with some of our delicious hot coffee."<br />
DRIVE-IN "B" (650 cars, 100,000 population<br />
in basically agricultural area, in five-drivein<br />
theatre situation).<br />
There is a need at this drive-in for more<br />
suggestive selling. If a patron asks for a<br />
hamburger or a hot dog, he should be asked<br />
if he would like a drink with it. At present,<br />
when a patron asks for a drink, the attendant<br />
usually asks, "Large or small?" It<br />
is suggested that the sales person, moving<br />
toward the large cup, ask, "Large?" This<br />
simple psychological approach can increase<br />
profits on beverages considerably. The attendant<br />
is allowing the customer to make<br />
the decision, but is completely guiding him.<br />
The cashier should always ask "Is that<br />
all?" The counter at that point should<br />
always contain a display of peanuts, candy<br />
and other tid-bits which can be picked up<br />
as impulse items.<br />
Napkins and straws: These are conveniences<br />
W'hich must be provided. Patrons complain<br />
otherwise. Although Drive-In "B" had<br />
a package of flat napkins behind the counter,<br />
there were no napkin liolders on the counter.<br />
It is burdensome and time consuming for<br />
Attractive counter pieces and display cards are<br />
available from many suppliers, to help dress up<br />
concessions areas. The one above is a recent<br />
promotion distributed by The Popcorn Institute.<br />
employes to reach for these napkins and<br />
distribute them. Beverages are dispensed<br />
in paper cups filled with finely crushed ice.<br />
Without a straw, drinking becomes cumbersome,<br />
as the ice continuously slips toward<br />
the face. The customers have complained<br />
about the failure to provide straws. A minor<br />
irritant but enough of one to eliminate.<br />
Speaker in Concessions: As the screen cannot<br />
be seen from the concessions area, it is<br />
recommended that a speaker be placed in<br />
the building, so patrons can retain some<br />
continuity of what is going on on the screen.<br />
Notice of closing: The concessions service<br />
should not be closed without notice to the<br />
patrons. 'Not only is there a loss of sales, but<br />
ill-feeling is generated when a patron makes<br />
a trip to the concessions building and finds<br />
it is closed. As the stand now closes when<br />
the last feature starts, an announcement<br />
should be made at that time informing customers<br />
the concessions counter would close<br />
in ten minutes.<br />
Carhop services: More than 75 per cent of<br />
patrons interviewed indicated they would<br />
welcome carhop service, and in most cases<br />
approval was given emphatically. This service<br />
can be provided rather inexpensively, depending,<br />
of course, on the method of operation<br />
installed. There are various systems<br />
which can be used—but one which is ab-<br />
.;^.<br />
,
solutely not recommended is to have the<br />
car hops knock on windows to inquire<br />
whether the patron wants anytliing.<br />
An inexpensive method which might be<br />
tried, is having the patron turn on his dimers.<br />
This is strong enough to attract the<br />
attention of the gii'l, and yet not bright<br />
enough to bother other patrons. A more<br />
expensive, but practical system, is to have<br />
a small bulb on the speaker post which would<br />
light up and stay lit until the call was<br />
answered.<br />
Whatever the system, training the girls is of<br />
extreme importance. Since they are in continuous<br />
contact with the customers, it is<br />
imperative that before they begin work they<br />
get instruction in: courtesy, friendliness,<br />
proper approaches, the use of an oral menu,<br />
selling pointers, how to take down orders and<br />
DRIVE-IN "C" (400 cars; one of seven<br />
drive-ins in 165,000 population, university<br />
area).<br />
A large concessions area, such as the one<br />
operated at this drive-in, needs lively colors<br />
to create an atmosphere. Beware of ths<br />
drab concessions area! Adding color is a<br />
simple device, but it creates an atmosphere<br />
of lively activity, and this element of excitement<br />
is essential to good showmanship.<br />
Color is what is needed at Di-ive-In "C." The<br />
concessions layout is large. There is a nice<br />
brick counter and the metal trim is bright.<br />
But everywhere else the colors are dull. The<br />
floor, now a dark concrete, could be livened<br />
up with a layer of bright asphalt tiles. Walls<br />
and posts could be given a splash of bright<br />
color. Eye-catching menus spotted in a few<br />
places would also help.<br />
There are other ways of giving the impression<br />
that business is rushing, that showmanship<br />
is alive. An example: At the end<br />
of the concessions line, where the cash register<br />
is located, the management has placed<br />
a candy counter. Atop the counter are a<br />
couple of well-filled trays, but in the display<br />
space below there are only a few bars of<br />
candy, packages of gum and other uninviting<br />
items. The patron gets the impres.sion<br />
that the merchandise has been there for a<br />
long time. A smaller case, loaded with<br />
sweets, would make the same amount of<br />
merchandise fresh and attractive.<br />
Another contributing factor in giving the<br />
concessions the cold look is the absence of<br />
equipment in operation. Take the situation<br />
at Drive-In "C": Popcorn is prepopped and<br />
the machine, large and handsome in appearance,<br />
is down at intermission time. Nearby<br />
is the area where Sno-Cones are prepared<br />
and kept in trays. This area is in constant<br />
use in the summer months, but in the winter<br />
it is empty and creates a dreary sight. A<br />
substitute service for this area should be<br />
created in the winter months. The popcorn<br />
machine should be in operation, certainly<br />
during intermission.<br />
Displays should not remain static. It takes<br />
prepare the checks.<br />
extra effort to shift or change them, but a<br />
The survey indicates carhop service can change every three or four weeks will get<br />
greatly increase sales. It can create a demand<br />
customers into the habit of looking to see<br />
for the big-ticket items such as chicken what's being promoted. These displays need<br />
and shrimp dinners, de luxe hamburgers, etc.,<br />
as customers will be relieved of the walk to<br />
not be limited to the interior of the concessions.<br />
Attractive boards can be placed outside<br />
the building along the traffic route the concessions building and carrying back<br />
to<br />
dinners for the family.<br />
the concessions. Windows are a convenient<br />
place for colorful drawings.<br />
Once the concessions building gains life<br />
from mass display of merchandise, colorful<br />
decorations, equipment which is in operation,<br />
and bright attractive displays, the drive-in<br />
is bound to experience a rise in sales.<br />
DRIVE-IN "E" (400 cars, oil-agricultural<br />
town of 12,000 in three drive-in theatre situation).<br />
This concessions area is an example of<br />
how to put bounce into the operation. The<br />
entire color scheme is gay and warm. Different<br />
colored lights are strung along the room.<br />
The walls are filled with attractive sales<br />
promotion pieces. Some are from suppliers,<br />
others are home-made. One corner displays<br />
a group of antiques. In another corner<br />
is a collection of cowbells, hung from the<br />
ceiling. The kids are welcome to bang on<br />
them, if they wish. To keep the crowd moving,<br />
there are three aisles of traffic—one<br />
for patrons who want the dinner specials,<br />
another for the popcorn-hot dog and smaller<br />
item crowd, and a third for the beverages.<br />
The management stresses cordiality. The<br />
personnel is instructed to greet patrons<br />
cheerfully. During the intermission, the<br />
manager talks to patrons over the p.a.<br />
Come on In<br />
Ha^L<br />
system, using a mobile microphone in the<br />
concessions building. He talks about the<br />
food and drinks, adds a bit of local gossip or<br />
reports on a news event of the moment, or<br />
interview's some of the customers. To sum it<br />
up, the manager gets to know all of his<br />
patrons by name, talks with them on every<br />
occasion, and thus provides a very warm atmosphere<br />
in his theatre. Result: Patrons<br />
like to go to the concessions area.<br />
VIII. MISCELLANEOUS NOTES<br />
COMFORT STATIONS: Restrooms<br />
generally<br />
need to be kept cleaner than they are.<br />
Patrons repeatedly complained on this point.<br />
Mirrors should be placed in both men's and<br />
women's washrooms, and receptacles should<br />
be large enough to handle paper towels and<br />
other waste materials. Receptacles, with<br />
swinging openings, are recommended so that<br />
used paper is never seen. Some washi-ooms<br />
did not have deodorizers. In most of the<br />
rooms, no effort was made to keep them attractive,<br />
and in some, urinals and basins<br />
were permitted to remain in a state of disrepair<br />
and uncleaned. The drive-in restroom<br />
should be checked for cleanliness and<br />
for continuous availability of towels and<br />
other supplies, on a regular basis, as carefully<br />
as in an indoor house.<br />
PLAYGROUNDS: The most important<br />
suggestion that can be offered, when offering<br />
playground facilities, is "Do it right."<br />
Make the grounds attractive, the facilities<br />
varied and safe, and let the public know about<br />
it. On appearances, the playground should<br />
look like it is made for fun and enjoyment.<br />
When fenced, the fence should be gaily<br />
colored, or certainly not less than a coat of<br />
white paint. The surface should be watched<br />
for broken areas, rocks, debris. E^'idences of<br />
this neglect were found. Equipment should<br />
be checked frequently. At one of the most<br />
elaborate play areas, the elephant slide was<br />
broken and splintered, baby swings were<br />
loose, nails on some of the play wagons<br />
needed to be hammered back in place—evidence<br />
that no manager should take it for<br />
granted that the equipment is being cared<br />
for properly.<br />
Where play equipment is extensive and the<br />
area is large, it is recommended the facilities<br />
be utilized for daytime extra-profit activities.<br />
The drive-in is a wonderful place for birthday<br />
parties or other types of kiddie outings. The<br />
concessions department could cater these affairs.<br />
It is also possible that this type activity<br />
can be developed in cooperation with<br />
church and civic groups. There are any number<br />
of ways to develop this service for profits<br />
and for public relation values.<br />
We wish to point out that the ideas and<br />
thoughts expressed in this study, if properly<br />
instituted, can show favorable results with an<br />
increase in profits. There are tw'o variables,<br />
of great significance, namely, time and<br />
money. We have not, by any means, suggested<br />
any vast extravagances. A number of<br />
the recommendations, however, will cost<br />
money, some more than others. We feel,<br />
though, that in proportion to the capital<br />
worth of a theatre, the suggestions are not<br />
out of line.<br />
Time is important, because results may not<br />
be realized in a short period of time. Some<br />
of the suggestions are long range plans.<br />
."ind, finally, a word of caution: "An idea<br />
not wholeheartedly accepted, supported and<br />
followed through, is an idea not even tried."<br />
144 BOXOFFICE Showmandis June 15, 1957
I Smiley<br />
rp<br />
Geishas Serve Tea<br />
In Colberl's Lobby<br />
Beulah F. Sutton of the advertising department<br />
of Rosenbaum Theatres office<br />
at Florence, Ala., forwarded "with pleasure"<br />
the above photo on a lobby promotion<br />
arranged by Manager Elkins at the Colbert<br />
Theatre in Sheffield, Ala., because, as she<br />
explains, "it was exactly that with the patrons<br />
as well as the management."<br />
Elkins had his usherettes dress in an<br />
oriental attire, with accentuated eyebrows,<br />
chopsticks in their hair, etc., and they<br />
served hot tea at the low table seen in the<br />
photo. The local newspaper publicized the<br />
film as "Hilarious—Year's Best Comedy,"<br />
under a two-column heading. There also<br />
was a street ballyhoo.<br />
In spite of the fact that "Giant" was<br />
showing at other theatres, reports Miss<br />
Sutton, "Teahouse" was satisfactory, indeed,<br />
at the Colbert.<br />
The teabags were donated by the local<br />
Ki'oger store.<br />
Teachers Give 'World' Plug<br />
After Special Showing<br />
Teachers in both public and parochial<br />
schools were special guests of W. J. Towey,<br />
manager of the Strand Theatre, Waterloo,<br />
Iowa, for a Saturday morning screening<br />
of "The Silent World." providing a<br />
topnotch publicity break for the picture.<br />
The teachers were handed hterature on the<br />
picture and in turn, told their students to<br />
be sure to see the picture.<br />
"One teacher at a certain school," Towey<br />
said, "even wrote, 'Go to the Strand Theatre<br />
and see "The Silent World," ' on the<br />
blackboards of all the rooms. Best part<br />
of all is that they didn't erase it immediately,<br />
but let it stay during the entire<br />
engagement."<br />
A Military Show!<br />
Theatre Rewards Safety Patrols<br />
The School Safely Patrol in Au.stin. Tex., became 22 years old this year, willi a<br />
record to be proud of—during all that time not a single child has been killed or in-<br />
.jured at a street crossing where the patrols were on duty. Jeff Wolf, manager of<br />
the Chief Drive-In, one of the four Trans-Texas Theatres units in Austin, suggested<br />
the patrols should be given a "merit award."<br />
Earl Podolnick. Trans-Texas city manager, agreed. The result was the recent<br />
presentation of Merit Award passes, good for admission to the Chief and Burnet<br />
drive-ins and the Capitol and Texas theatres (all Trans-Texas), to 1,465 members<br />
of the safety patrols in 49 elementary and junior high schools of Austin.<br />
Podolnick did not realize the citywide implication of the award when he contacted<br />
the police traffic department for cooperation in setting it up, but it soon appeared<br />
that "this was the most appreciated gesture ever made to the children of<br />
Austin."<br />
•The newspapers, radio and TV stations quickly got behind the theatre proposal,<br />
and soon Podolnick was receiving personal invitations to distribute the award<br />
passes at special assemblies in the schools.<br />
Trans-Texas is expanding the plan. The Merit Award passes (in cellophane.<br />
pocketlx)ok size) can be used continuously until September 1, when they are voided.<br />
Prom then until March 1 will be "another eanring period" for which the eligible<br />
patrol members will receive other passes good until the end of the school year.<br />
From then the process is to be repeated.<br />
"We have made nearly 15.000 children very, very happy and proud of their work,"<br />
comments Podolnick.<br />
New Paint Machine Tied<br />
In 'Carousel' Campaign<br />
Arthur Fitch, manager of the Paramount<br />
in Kentville, N.S., tied in with a local hardware<br />
store to plug the introduction of a<br />
new paint machine developed by B&H<br />
Paint Co., and "Carousel."<br />
Three weeks in advance the store<br />
launched its publicity, with announcements<br />
that the new "Carousel" machine would be<br />
unveiled on the stage of the Paramount.<br />
Good window displays, made up from sixsheets<br />
were placed in the hardware store,<br />
also a local music store two weeks in advance.<br />
Specially prepared cards were<br />
spotted in every downtown window, and a<br />
huge baiuier was suspended across the back<br />
of the theatre and later moved to the<br />
front lobby.<br />
Five days before opening, the hardware<br />
store mailed out 7,000 heralds; also ran a<br />
page ad with a banner headline plugging<br />
th8 pic and the theatre. On opening day<br />
the paint company engaged a comely lass<br />
to be "Miss Carousel," and she appeared<br />
on the stage to announce the winners of a<br />
contest based on lucky numbered heralds<br />
distributed to the audience. A photo of<br />
the gal appeared in the following day's<br />
newspaper.<br />
Encourages Good Grades<br />
Sam Fi-adkoff, manager of the Picfair<br />
Theatre at Beverly Hills, Calif., encourages<br />
the smallfry to get good grades in school.<br />
The Whalley Theatre in suburban New<br />
If a child gets all As and Bs he or she is<br />
Haven, Conn., featured a "Military Holiday<br />
Show" on Memorial<br />
given<br />
E>ay. Frank Ferguson,<br />
promotion chief, stressed the day afternoon kiddy shows. All As gets a<br />
a pass to two weekly Picfair Satur-<br />
line,<br />
"Southern Military vs. West Point," in youngster a pass to four kid performances<br />
newspaper ads for "The Strange One" and which feature adventure films, cartoons,<br />
"The West Point Story."<br />
and are PTA approved.<br />
BOXOFFICE Showmandis 145 —<br />
Co-Op Pass Gimmick<br />
Promoted on 'Allison<br />
A pass giveaway—250 in all—was worked<br />
in on a co-op ad deal by the Liberty Theatre<br />
at New Kensington. Pa., for "Heaven<br />
Knows. Mr. Allison," and plenty of attention<br />
was directed on the film, the participating<br />
merchants, and the Marines. The<br />
deal was good for nearly two co-op pages,<br />
one full and the other shy by a few inches.<br />
The banner lines were: "New Kensington<br />
Wants You to See This Picture . . . Win<br />
Fi-ee Passes to 'Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison.'<br />
Total of 150 to be Given Away . . . Count<br />
the number of times the word MARINE or<br />
MARINES appear on this page, and mark<br />
the number here—and bring the entire<br />
page to any one of the merchants listed<br />
below. Each merchant will give away one<br />
free pass to the first 15 presenting the correct<br />
answer."<br />
Ten merchants had ads on the full page,<br />
each giving away 15 passes. Ten other merchants<br />
appeared on the nearly full page,<br />
and each gave away 10 passes.<br />
The film ad occupied a space measuring<br />
7 col. 11 inches on each page. Merchant<br />
copy was<br />
written around the Marines.<br />
Moss From River Frames<br />
Front Displays on 'Tarzan'<br />
Manager B. E. Smiley added a bit of<br />
realism to his front displays on "Tarzan<br />
and the Lost Safari" at the Dixie Theatre<br />
in Scotland Neck, N. C, by raking in some<br />
moss from a nearby river and framing his<br />
displays in the gi-een water vegetation.<br />
forwards a photo of the front<br />
which lacks the sharp definition necessary<br />
for reproduction.)
*<br />
1<br />
BOXOFFICE<br />
BAROMETER<br />
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©Daniel<br />
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Scandal,<br />
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The<br />
I<br />
Above<br />
I Lawless<br />
The Abductors (..)... .Ac .<br />
if Is My Partner (. .) . D.<br />
.W.<br />
. . .<br />
D<br />
.CD.<br />
.Ac<br />
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W.<br />
. . Ho.<br />
. . .D.<br />
FEATURE<br />
CHART<br />
Th« k«y to letters and combinotlons thereof indicating story type: (Ad) Adventure Drama; (Ac) Action<br />
Drama; (An) Animated-Action; (C) Comedy; (CD) Comedy. Drama; (Cr) Crime Dramo; (DM) Dromo<br />
with Music; (Doc) Documentary; (D) Drama; (F) Fantasy; (FC) Farce-Comedy; (Ho) Horror Drama; (Hi)<br />
Historical Drama; (M) Musical; (My) Mystery; (OD) Outdoor Dromo; (SF) Science-Fiction; (W) Western,<br />
REPUBLIC<br />
20TH-FOX<br />
UNITED ARTISTS ^ 1° UNIVERSAL-INT L s<br />
U WARNER BROS<br />
Boone, Trail<br />
Blazer (76) Ad.. 5513<br />
Bruce Benwett, Chaney<br />
Lon<br />
. . . . Inc. (79) D. .5514<br />
Hubert Hutton, Patricia Wright<br />
Is Man Armed<br />
(70) Ac. 5538<br />
Dane Cl.irk, May Wynn<br />
Us the Waves (92) D. .5601<br />
John Mills. John Gregsor<br />
©Accused of Murder<br />
(73) ® 0.5603<br />
David Brian, Vera Ralstojl<br />
1<br />
©Tears for Simon (91) . .0 . .5604<br />
David Farrar, Julia Arnall.<br />
David Knight<br />
J ©The Congress Dances<br />
(90) © IVI..5605<br />
Johanna Matz and German cast<br />
i Duel at Apache Wells<br />
(69) (g) W..5606<br />
Jim Davis, Anna Maria Alberghettl,<br />
Ben Cooper<br />
©Between Heaven and Hell<br />
(94) © D.. 621-3<br />
Robert Wagner, .Mitchell<br />
Cameron<br />
The Black Whip (77) ®.W. .628-8<br />
Hugh Marlowe, (Joleen (Jr»y<br />
©Anastasia (105) ©.... D. .627-0<br />
Ingrld Bergman, Yul Brynner<br />
©The Girl Can't Help It<br />
(99) © M. 629-6<br />
Tom Ewell, Jayne Mansfield<br />
©Oasis (84) © D. .632-0<br />
Michele Morgan, Cornell Borchers<br />
Momtn of Pitcairn Is. (72). D. 631-2<br />
3 Brave Men (89) ©.... D. .701-3<br />
Ray Mllland, Ernest Borgnlne,<br />
Frank Liovejoy, Nina Foch<br />
©Smiley (97) © OD.. 703-9<br />
Ralph Richardson, Oilps Ralferty,<br />
Colin Peterson, John McCallum<br />
©The True Story of Jesse<br />
James (92) OD. .704-7<br />
Robert W.igner, Jeffrey Hunter<br />
©Oh, Men! Oh, Women!<br />
(90) © C. 706-2<br />
Dan Dailey, Ginger Rogers<br />
The Boss (87) D..5641<br />
John Payne, WjiUam Bishop<br />
Attack! (106) D..5540<br />
J,ick Palance, Eddie Albert<br />
Flight to Hong Kong (88) D , . . .<br />
5639<br />
Itory Calhoun, Barbara Rush<br />
Man from Del Rio (85) . .5643<br />
Anthony Qujnn. Katy Jurado<br />
Teenage Rebel (94) ©..CD. 622-1<br />
g] ©A Woman's Devotion<br />
Ginger Kogeis, MIcIiael Rennle ©Sharkfighters (73) ©..Ad.. 5644<br />
(88) D . . 5602 Love Me Tender (90) ©OD.. 624-7 Victor M.ilure, Karen Steele<br />
Ralph Meeker, Janice Rule<br />
Richard Bean, Debra Paget, ©Running Target (83) . . .5642<br />
Elvis Presley<br />
Arthur Franz, Doris Dowliiig<br />
^©Oklahoma! (140) ©..M. 630-4 The Peacemaker (S3) W..5646<br />
Gordon MacRae, Shirley Jones<br />
James Mitchell, Rosemarie Bowe<br />
The Desperados Are in Town<br />
Gun the Man Down (78) . .5645<br />
(72) ® W.. 626-2 James Arness, Angle Dickinson<br />
Robert Artliur, Kathy Nolan<br />
©The King & Four Queens<br />
(90) W..5701<br />
Clark G.ible. Eleanor Parker<br />
Dance With Me Henry (80). C. 5650<br />
Bud Abbott, Lou Costello<br />
The Wild Party (82) D. .5648<br />
Anthony Quinn, Carol Olimart<br />
The Brass Legend, (79) . W. .5549<br />
Hu gh O'Brlan, Nancy Gates<br />
Five Steps to Danger (80). My, .5705<br />
Stfrling Haj'den, Ruth Roman<br />
The Halliday Brand (77) . .W. .5703<br />
Joseph Cotleo, Viveca Lindfors<br />
The Big Boodle (83) . . . . Ad. .5704<br />
Errul Fljun, Rossana Rory<br />
Four Boys & a Gun (73) . . Ac .5702<br />
Friuik Sutton, Tarry Green<br />
Drango (91) OD,.5706<br />
Jeff Chandler, Joanne Dru<br />
Tomahawk Trail (60) . . . . W . 5708<br />
John Smith, Susan (^minings<br />
Crime of Passion (84) D..5709<br />
Barbara Stanwyck, Sterling Flayden<br />
Men in War (102) D..5712<br />
Robert Rvan, .\ldo Itay<br />
Voodoo Island (78) AD.. 5710<br />
Boris Karloff, Beverly Tyler<br />
Pharaoh's Curse (66) . . . . Ho. .5711<br />
Mark Dana, Ziva Itodann<br />
.<br />
©Pillars of the Sky<br />
(94) © 0D..5630<br />
Jeff Chandler, DoroUiy Malone<br />
©The Unguarded Moment<br />
(95) D..5701<br />
Biither Williams, George Nader<br />
The Mole People (78) . .5702<br />
Jolui Agar, Cynthia Patrick<br />
©Curucu, Beast of the<br />
Amazon (76) Ho. .5703<br />
John Btomfleld, Beverly Garland<br />
©Everything But the Truth<br />
(83) CD. 5704<br />
Maureen 0'Hara,_John Forsythe.<br />
'11m Hovey<br />
©Written on the Wind (99) D. .5705<br />
Rock Hudson, Lauren Bacall<br />
©Four Girls in Town<br />
(94) © D..5706<br />
George Nader, Julie Adams<br />
Rock, Pretty Baby (94) . . .M. .5707<br />
Sal Mineo, John Sa.xon<br />
©The Light Touch (S5) . .C. .5783<br />
(Rev. as "Touch and Go" 3-31-66)<br />
Jack Hawkins, Margaret Joluiston<br />
The Great Man (98) 0..5708<br />
Jose Ferrer, Dean. Jagger,<br />
Koenan Wyim, Julie London<br />
M ©Toward the Unknown<br />
(115) D..604<br />
William Holden. Virginia Leltb<br />
©Giant (201) D..606<br />
Elizabeth Taylor, Hudson,<br />
Rock<br />
James Dean, Jane Withers<br />
m Baby Doll (114) CD.. 607<br />
Karl Maiden, Carroll Baker,<br />
Ell Wallach, Mildred Dunnock<br />
IDTop Secret Affair (100). CO.. 609<br />
Susan Hayward, Kirk Douglaa<br />
©The Big Land (93).. W.. 610<br />
a<br />
Alan l-add, Vligtnla Mayo<br />
Hell's Crossroads<br />
I (g)<br />
(73) D..5608<br />
Stephen McNally, Peggie Castle<br />
Spoilers I of the Forest<br />
(68) ® 0D..5609<br />
Veia Ralston, Rod Cameron<br />
fjl The Man in the Road<br />
(83) Ac. 5610<br />
Ella liaine-s Derek Fan-<br />
©Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison<br />
(106) © D..710-'<br />
Deborah Kerr, Robert Mltchum<br />
Spring Reunion (90) . . . .CD. .5715<br />
Betty Hutton. Dana Andrews<br />
Hit and Run (84) D..5718<br />
Cleo Moore, Hugo Haas<br />
©The River's Edge<br />
The Bachelor Party (94) . .5722<br />
(87) © OD. 708-8 l>on Murray. Carol.vn Jones<br />
Itay Mllland, Anthony Qulnn Fury at Showdown (75) . .5719<br />
,j©Boy on a Dolphin<br />
John l)erek, Caroljn Oaig<br />
(111) © D.. 714-6 12 Angry Men (95) D..5723<br />
A. Ladd, C. Webb, S. Loren<br />
Henry Fonda, l«e J. C^ibb<br />
Kronos (78) ® SF. 712-0 The Iron Sheriff (73) . . .W. .5720<br />
Barbara Lawrence, John Emery<br />
Sterlhig Hayden, Constance Ford<br />
She Devil (77) ® Ac. 713-8 ©War Drums (75) 0D..5713<br />
Marl Blanchard. Albert Dekker Lex Barker, Joan T.iylor<br />
Badlands of Montana<br />
(75) ® W.. 716-1 The Ride Back (79) D..5726<br />
©The Restless Breed (81) W.. 718-7 Anthony Quinn. William Conrad<br />
Scott Brady, Anne Bancroft<br />
Bailout at 43,000 (78) . .5727<br />
Way to the Gold (95) © Ad. .717-9 .lohn Payne, Karen Steele<br />
Sherce North, Jeffrey Hunter Monkey on My Back (93) . . D . . 5729<br />
China Gate (96) © Ac. 715-3 Cameron Mitchell, Dlanne Foster<br />
Nat "King" Cole, Gene Barry Gun Duel in Durango (73). W.. 5721<br />
©Desk Set (103) ©... .CD. .719-5 George Montgomery, Ann Robin-<br />
Spencer Tracy, Katharine Hepburn<br />
Wayward Bus (86) ©.... D .720-3<br />
Han Dailey, Jayne Mansfield<br />
Lure of the Swamp<br />
(..) ® Ac. 722-9<br />
Willard Parker, M. Thompson<br />
Two Grooms for a Bride<br />
(.71) C. 705-4<br />
©Island in the Sun<br />
(125) © D.. 721-1<br />
M;ison, J. Fontaine. Belalonte<br />
H.<br />
©Bernardine (..) © C/M.. 723-7<br />
J. Gaynor, P. Boone, T. Moore<br />
Hatful of Rain (..) © D.,<br />
Eva Marie Saint, Don Murray<br />
©An Affair to Remember<br />
( .) © C-D,,<br />
ary Grant, Deborah Kerr<br />
©Revolt at Ft. Laramie<br />
(73) W..5647<br />
Gregg Palmer, Frances Helm<br />
The Delinquents (81) Ac .5714<br />
Tom Lttughlin, Peter MUIer<br />
Sweet Smell of Success<br />
(..) 0..5733<br />
Rnrt Lincaster, Tony Curtis<br />
The Monster That Challenged<br />
the World (83) . . . . Ho. .5735<br />
Saint Joan (110) D.,5732<br />
Kiohard \Vidmaik, -lean Suherg<br />
Bayou (88) Ac.<br />
The Vvipire (..) Ho. .5736<br />
The Big Caper (84) Ac. 5724<br />
©The Pride and the Passion<br />
(..) ® D..<br />
Cary Grant, Sophia Loren, Frank<br />
©Gun for a Coward<br />
(88) © W..5711<br />
Fred MacMurray, Jeffrey Hunter,<br />
Janice Rule, Chill \Wlls<br />
^©BattlB Hymn (111) © D..5712<br />
Rock Hudson, Martha Hyer,<br />
Dan Duryea, Anna Kashfi<br />
©Mister Cory, (92) ©....D..5713<br />
Tony Curtis,<br />
Martha Hyer<br />
e Incredible Shrinking Man<br />
(94) SF,.5715<br />
Grant Williams, R.indy Stuart<br />
The Young Stranger (84) . .D. .5717<br />
(KKO)—James MacArthur, James<br />
Daly, Kim Hunter, James Gregory<br />
Man Afraid (84) © D..5720<br />
George Nader, Tim Hovey, Phyllis<br />
Thixter<br />
The Kettles on Old MacDonald's<br />
Farm (82) C..5721<br />
Marjorle .Main, Fenneily<br />
Parker<br />
©Public Pigeon No 1 (79),. C,<br />
(RKO)..Red Skelton, Janet Blair<br />
©Joe Butterfly (90) © ..C..5723<br />
Audie Murphy, Keenan Wynn, Burgess<br />
Meredith<br />
©Tammy and the Bachelor<br />
(89) © C-D.. 5724<br />
Debbie Reynolds, Leslie Nielsen<br />
©Paris Does Strange Things<br />
1<br />
(86) CD.. 611<br />
Iiigrid Bergman, Mel Ferrer<br />
m
Auo<br />
Nov<br />
. Sep<br />
. Feb<br />
. . .D.<br />
. Apr<br />
. Dec<br />
Jan<br />
May<br />
May<br />
Mar<br />
FEATURE CHART<br />
INDEPENDENT<br />
AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL<br />
lANUS<br />
Girls in Prison (87) Ac. Jul 56 Bullfight (76) Doc<br />
Huh, ml lit-iiriiiig. Joan Taylor<br />
English narration<br />
Hot Rod Girl (75) Ac. Jul 56<br />
Lorl Nelson, Jolm Smith<br />
JOSEPH BRENNER ASSOC.<br />
riie She-Creature (77) Ho..Au||56<br />
Drew Pearson Reports on tlie Holy<br />
.M;irla English. Chester Monb<br />
Land (60) Doc.<br />
It Conquered the World (75) .SF. . . . . 56<br />
Peter Graves. Beverly Garland<br />
LOUIS deROCHEMONT<br />
Shake. Rattle and Rock (77) . . . M. .Nov 56 ©Albert Schweitzer (80) Doc. Mar 57<br />
F;its I>omijio. Lisa Gaye<br />
Runaway Daughters (90) D . . Nov 56<br />
.Maria English. Lance Fuller<br />
MOTION PICTURE DIST'RS<br />
QNaked Paradise (SO) Ac Jan 57 ©Oedipus Rex (88) D.. Jan 57<br />
UiclKird Kenning. Beverly Garland<br />
(StratfurJ. (Int., Festival players)<br />
©Flesh & the Spur (80) W. Jan 57 RANK FILM DISTRIBUTORS OF AMER.<br />
John Agar, Maria English<br />
Reach for the Sky (123) D.. Jun 57<br />
Voodoo Woman (75) Ho. .Mar 57 Kenneth Mure. .Muriel Pavlovv<br />
Maila English. Tim Conway<br />
©Checkpoint (82) D. .Jun 57<br />
Undead. The (75) Ho. Mar 57 Anthony Steel. Odile Ver.sois<br />
I'limela Dirncan. Hlchard Garland<br />
©Value for Money (83) Cyi C. Jul 57<br />
Draostrip Girl (75) Ac. Apr 57 Diana Dors. John Greg.son<br />
l'"ay Spain. Steven Terrell<br />
QTriple Deception (85) i» ....D.Jul 57<br />
Rock All Night (75) M. Apr 57 Miiltuj Craig. Julia Arnall<br />
Dick .MUler and the Platters<br />
lOut of tlic Clouds (75) D..Jul 57<br />
ASSOCIATED FILM<br />
,\iiil y Steel. Robert Bcalty<br />
Three Outlaws, The (74) ®235. .W. May 56 Tlie Third Key (83) D.. Jul 57<br />
Neville Brand. Bruce Bennett, .Man Hale .luk llmvkins. Dorothy AILsuri<br />
Frontier Gambler (70) W. Jul 56 TOP PICTURES<br />
John Bromfield, Coleen Gray<br />
Frontier Woman (80) W. Jul 56<br />
Naked Gun. The (70) W.. Nov 56 Cindy C.u-son, Lance Fuller, Amx Kelly<br />
Willard Parker, ,Mara Corday, B. .MacLane<br />
TRANS-LUX<br />
ASTOR<br />
©Dance Little Lady (87) D.. Mar 56<br />
Passport to Treason (70) Md..Jun56 Mai Zellerllng, TereiKe Morgan<br />
Itod Cameron, Uls Maxwell<br />
©Men of Sherwood Forest (77) . .Ad. .Sep 56<br />
Hon Taylor, Eaieen Moore<br />
Hour of Decision (70) D . . Jan 57<br />
Jeff iMorrow. Ilazel Court<br />
Stranger in Town (74) D.. May 57<br />
\\a Nlcol, Colin Tapley. Anne Paige<br />
BUENA VISTA<br />
©Davy Crockett and the River<br />
Pirates (81) Ad .Jul56<br />
Fess Parker. Budd)' Ebsen<br />
©SecreU of Life (70) Doc 56<br />
©Westward Ho, The Wagons<br />
(86) © 0D..Dec56<br />
Fess Parker, Katlileen Crowley<br />
If All the Guys in the World<br />
(95) Ac -May 57<br />
CONTINENTAL<br />
Ship That Died of Shame (79) . .0 . .Sep 56<br />
Richard Attenborough, George Baker<br />
©Secrets of the Reef (72) . . . . Doc .Oct 56<br />
Undersea chonicle<br />
©Love Lottery, The (82) C. Feb 57<br />
l>avid Niven, Peggy Gumming<br />
©Raising a Riot (91) C. May 57<br />
Kenneth .More, Mandy Miller<br />
DCA<br />
©Jedda the Uncivilized (88) . . . .D. .Jun 56<br />
.Narlii Kumogh. Robert TudewaU<br />
Private's Progress (99) C 56<br />
Richard Attenborough, Dennis Price<br />
Woman of Rome (93) D.. Sep 56<br />
GUia Lollobrlelda, Daniel Gclln<br />
Rock, Rock. Rock (85) M.. Dec 56<br />
Alan Freed. Frankle Teenager-<br />
Lymon t<br />
©John and Julie (82) C. Feb 57<br />
Constance Cummings. Hyde-While<br />
WllTred<br />
Colditz Story (97) D.. Feb 57<br />
Jolm Mills. Eric PorLman<br />
Unnatural (90) D. Feb 57<br />
Hildegarde Neff. Stroheim<br />
Eric Von<br />
Widow (87) D.. The Feb 57<br />
Patricia Hoc. Aklm Tamiroff<br />
Gold of Naples (107). .Episode Dr.. Mar 57<br />
Vittorio de Sica. Sllvana Mangano, Sophia<br />
Loren. (lUlian-langii.ige; Bng. titles.)<br />
©Baby and the Battleship (96) . .0. . Mar 57<br />
John Mills. Richard .Utenborough<br />
Bermuda Affair (87) D.. Mar 57<br />
Kim Hunter. Gary Merrill<br />
©Loser Takes All (88) ©. . . CD. Mar 57<br />
(Jlynis Johns. Kossano Brazzi<br />
Hell in Korea (82) D. Apr 57<br />
Stanley Baker. George Baker<br />
©Don Giovanni (157) Opera Film. Apr 57<br />
Cesare Siepl. Lisa DcUa Casa<br />
Battle Hell (112) D. May 57<br />
(Formerly "Yangtze Incident "i<br />
Richard Todd. Aklm Tamirolf<br />
EDEN<br />
One Way Ticket to Hell (65) . . . . D . 56<br />
Non-profesaional cast<br />
©Man of Africa (75) OD..<br />
Frederick Bijuerecda. Violet Mukahuerza<br />
EMBASSY<br />
Monsters<br />
Godzilla. King of the<br />
(80) Ho Apr 56<br />
Raymond Burr. Japanese ca.st<br />
(Bngliib dialog and narritioo)<br />
JACON<br />
Rosanna (72) D. Jun 56<br />
Koasana Podesta, Qox .Uvarado<br />
(Dubbed tai English)<br />
Midnight Episode (78) C. .Aug 56<br />
Stanley llolloaay, Leslie Dwycr<br />
Forbidden Cargo (83) Ac. .Sep 56<br />
Nigel Patrick, Elizabeth SeUirs<br />
Lovers and Lollipops (85) CD. .Apr 56<br />
Ix)ri March, Gerald O'Uughlin<br />
WOOLNER BROS.<br />
©Swamp Women (75) D . 56<br />
Beverly (larhuid, Marie Windsor. C. .MatJiews<br />
REISSUES<br />
ALLIED ARTISTS<br />
Rose Bowl Story. The (73) D . 56<br />
Marshall llionipsun. Vera Miles,<br />
Nalaiio Wood<br />
BUENA VISTA<br />
Cinderella (75) An.. Feb 57<br />
COLUMBIA<br />
©Ten Tall Men (97) Ad.. Nov 56<br />
Hurt Lancaster. Jodv Lawrance<br />
Rogues of Sherwood FVest (80) .Ad. . Nov 56<br />
Juhn Dereli. Diana Lynn. Alan Hale<br />
MGM<br />
Tale of Two Cities (128) D.. Nov 56<br />
lion.ild Colman. Elizabeth Allan<br />
Mutiny on the Bounty (133) . .Dec 56<br />
diaj-Ies Laughton. Clark Gable<br />
Green Dolphin Street (141) . . . . D . 57<br />
Lana Turner. Van Ueflin. Doiuia Reed<br />
Boys Town (96) D.. Jan 57<br />
Spencer Tracy, Mickey Rooney<br />
Gaslight (114) D . . Apr 57<br />
Ingrid Bergman, (Jiarles Boyer<br />
Postman Always Rings Twice, The<br />
(114) D.. Apr 57<br />
l,an.i Turner. Jotin Garfield<br />
The Bride Goes Wild (98) C Jun 57<br />
.tune Allysun, Van Jolinsuii<br />
Our Vines Have Tender Grapes<br />
(106) D. .Jun 57<br />
Edward (J. Hobinson. Margaret O'Brien<br />
PARAMOUNT<br />
©For Whom the Bell Tolls (130) D.. May 57<br />
(iary Cooper. Ingrid Bergman. A. Tamiroff<br />
REPUBLIC<br />
The Red Pony (89) D.. Apr 57<br />
Robert Mitdium. Myrna Loy, L. Caihem<br />
The Woman They Almost Lynched<br />
(90) D.. Apr 57<br />
Juhn Lund. Audrey Totter. B. Donievy<br />
©The Quiet Man (129) ...... CD. . 57<br />
20th-FOX<br />
Rebecca (127) D.. Oct 56<br />
Laurence Olivier. Joan Fontaine<br />
UNIVERSAL-INT'L<br />
Killers, The (102) O.Sep 56<br />
Burt LaJicasler. Ava Gardner.<br />
Edmond O'Brien<br />
Sleeping City. The (85) My. Sep 56<br />
Richird Conte. Coleen Cray. Alex Nicul<br />
yi^ARNER BROS.<br />
©East of Eden (U5) D.. Mar 57<br />
J,im.-.s Dean. Julie Harris. Jo Van Fleet<br />
©Rebel Without a Cause (111) . . D. . 57<br />
James Dcm. Natalie Wood, Sal .Mlnco<br />
Jim Thorpe, Ail-American (105) . . D. .May 57<br />
Burt Lancaster, Charles Blckford<br />
The Winning Team (98) D. May 57<br />
Doris Day, lion&ld Reagan, F. L,OTejoy<br />
Bright Leaf (110) D . . May 57<br />
Gary Cooper, Laureo Baeall<br />
The West Point Story (107) .. . D. . 57<br />
James (^agney, V. ^layo, Doris Day<br />
Strangers on a Train (101) D. .May 57<br />
Farley Granger, Ruth Roman<br />
Young Man With a Horn (101) . .0. .May 57<br />
Kirk Douglas. Lauren Bacill, Doris Day<br />
FOREIGN FEATURES.<br />
Forei9n-langua90 productions by notive country listed olphebetlcolly<br />
by title, followed by running time. Dote shown is Issue of BOXOFFICE<br />
in which review appeared. Nome of distributor is in parenthasei.<br />
ARGENTINA
May<br />
Oct<br />
.Jun<br />
May<br />
KhORTS chart :;<br />
^^^^<br />
Short subjects, listed by company, in order of releose. Running time follows title. First<br />
nth, second the dote of review in BOXOFFICE. Symbol between dotes is roting from BOXOFFICE<br />
review, ff Very Good. + Good, rt Fair. — Poor. = Very Poor. Photogrophy: Color and process as sp ecifie d.<br />
BUEHA<br />
ViSTA<br />
LIVE-ACTION FEATHRETTES<br />
(In Color)<br />
(20)..Jun57 006S Wetback Hound H 5-25<br />
00o9 The Story of Auybura,<br />
U.S.A. (10)<br />
0049 Samoa (31) (4-rcel)<br />
WALT DISNEY CLASSICS<br />
(Technicolor Reissues)<br />
74101 Hockey Champ (7)..Aub56<br />
at 74102 PUito the Zoo (8) Aua 56<br />
74103 Donald's Tire Trouble<br />
(7) Sep 56<br />
74104 Purloined Pup (7). Oct 56<br />
74105 BiHiioiters (8) Oct 56<br />
74106 Pluto's Playmate Nov 56<br />
(8)<br />
74107 Donald's' Snow Fight<br />
(7) Dec56<br />
Society 74108 Dob Show<br />
(g) Dec 56<br />
Donald's 74109 Gold Mine<br />
(7) Jan 57<br />
74110 T-Bonc for Two (7). .Feb57<br />
of 74111 Dumbcll th« Yukon<br />
(7) M»r57<br />
74112 Bone Trouble (9).. Mar 57<br />
74113 Window Cleaners (8'/2><br />
COLUMBIA<br />
ALL-STAR COMEDIES<br />
1475 Paidon My NiohUhirt<br />
(I6I/2) Nov 56 + 1<br />
ASSORTED FAVORITES<br />
1421 Clunked in the Clink<br />
(16) Sep 56<br />
1422 When the Wife's Away<br />
(17) Oct 56<br />
1423 She Took a Powder<br />
(I6I/2) Dec 56<br />
1424 Nervous Shakedown<br />
(151/2) J'" 57<br />
1425 A M«s in a Mess<br />
(I51/2) Feb 57<br />
1426 Hot Heir (161/2)..- Apr 57<br />
CANDID MICflOPHONE<br />
(One-' Reissues)<br />
1551 Subiect 3, 3cr,a 3<br />
(10/2) Sep 56<br />
1552 Subject 4, Series 3<br />
(11) Dec 56<br />
1553 Subject 5, Series 3<br />
(IOI/2) Jan 57<br />
1554 Subject 6, Series 3<br />
(10) Mar 57<br />
1555 Subject 1, Series 4<br />
(10) May 57<br />
CAVALCADE OF BROADWAY<br />
(Reissues)<br />
1951 Cafe Society (11) . . . .Sep 56<br />
1952 Blue Aooel (IOI/2) . . . Nov 56<br />
1953 Village Barn (I01/2) Dec 56<br />
. .<br />
1954 Leon & Eddie's (11). Feb 57<br />
1955 The Versailles (11).. Feb 57<br />
19S5 The China Doll (11) Apr 57<br />
CINEMASCOPE FEATURETTES<br />
(Technicolor)<br />
8441 Vi/ntiilers of Manhattan<br />
(16) Feb 56-1+<br />
8442 April In Portugal (20). Apr 56<br />
(1956-57)<br />
1441 Wonders of New Orleans<br />
(19) Jan 57<br />
1442 Wonders of Washington.<br />
D. C. (18) Apr 57 4+<br />
Arrivedcrci Roma Jun 57<br />
1443 (19)<br />
COLOR FAVORITES<br />
(Technicolor Reissues)<br />
1601 Leave Us Chase It<br />
(6i,'2) Sep 56<br />
1602Toi)sy Turkey (6/2) .. .Oct 56<br />
1603 Silent Tweitnjcnt<br />
(6I/2) Nov 56<br />
1604 Coo-Coo Bi'd Dog (6) Nov 56<br />
1605 Concerto in B-Flat<br />
Mijior (8) Dec 56<br />
Robin Hoodlums Jan 57<br />
1606 (7)..<br />
1607 Fowl Brawl (6) Feb 57<br />
1608 Magic Fluke (7).... Feb 57<br />
1609 Cat-Ta5tro(jhv (6) ... Apr 57<br />
1610 Punchy De Leon (61/2) Apr 57<br />
1611 Wacky Quacky (6)... May 57<br />
1612 Grape Nutty (6) Jun 57<br />
1613 Swing, Monkey, Swing<br />
(8) Jun 57<br />
COMEDY FAVORITES<br />
1431 Scooper Dooper (18).. Oct 56<br />
1432 Jiggers, My Wifel (IS) Nov 56<br />
1433 Sheepish Wolf (171/2).Dec56<br />
1434 Wiiere the Pest Begins<br />
C17) Jan 57<br />
1435 Stage Frights (IS)... Mar 57<br />
1436 Rlr. Wright Goes Wrong<br />
(19) Jun 57<br />
MR. KAGOO CINEMASCOPE SPECK<br />
1751 Trailblazer Magoo (6). Sep 56<br />
1752 Magoo's Problem Child<br />
(6) Oct 56<br />
1753 Meet Mother Magoo<br />
(6/a) Dec 56 +<br />
1754 Magoo Goes Overboard<br />
(S) Feb 57 -f<br />
1755 Matador Wagoo (6) . .May 57 -j-<br />
1756 M.igoo Breaks Par<br />
(. .) Jun 57<br />
SCREEN SNAPSHOTS<br />
1851 Hollywood Stars at a<br />
Parly O'/j) Dec 56<br />
Hollywood Star 1S52 Night<br />
(lU) Feb 57<br />
1853 Waif International Ball<br />
(9) Mar57<br />
1854 The Walter WInchell<br />
Party (9) Apr 57<br />
Meet the Photoplay<br />
1855<br />
Winners (..).... May 57<br />
lS65Mocambo Party (..).. Jun 57<br />
SERIALS (15 Chapters)<br />
8120 The Sea Hound Sep 55<br />
8140 Perils of the Wilderness. Jan 56<br />
8160 Monster & the Ape... Apr 56<br />
8180 Blazing the Overland<br />
Trail Aug 56<br />
Hop Harrigan Nov 56<br />
1120<br />
Bill 1140 Congo Mar 57<br />
1160 The Green Archer Jun 57<br />
STOOGE COMEDIES<br />
(1956-57)<br />
1401 Hot Stuff (16) Sep 56<br />
1402 Scheming Schemers<br />
(16) Oct 56<br />
1403 Commotion on the<br />
Ocean (17) Nov 56<br />
1404 Hoofs & Goofs (I51/2) Jan 57<br />
1405 Muscle Up a Little<br />
Closer (17) Feb 57<br />
1406 A Merry Mix-up (16). Mar 57<br />
1407 Space Ship Sappy (16) Apr 57<br />
1468 Guns A-poppin' (..) Jun 57<br />
WORLD OF SPORTS<br />
1801 Asphalt Playground<br />
(10) Oct 56<br />
1802 Midget Musclcmen<br />
(9/2) Nov 56<br />
1803 Tee Topnotchers (10) Dec 56<br />
1S04 Sharpshootin' Sportsmen<br />
(9) Jan 57<br />
1805 Flying Horses (9) . . . . Feb 57<br />
1806 Winged Fury (IQi/j) . . Apr 57<br />
1807 Panama Playland (..) May 57<br />
1M7<br />
12-15<br />
11-17<br />
12-15<br />
METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER<br />
CINEMASCOPE CARTOONS<br />
C-831 Muscle Beach Tom (7) Sep 56 -f 7-21<br />
C 832 Millionaiie Droopy (7) Sep 56 + 7-21<br />
C-S33 Downbeat Bear (7)... Oct 56 -f 7-21<br />
C-834 Blue Cat Blues (7) Nov 56 -f 2-9<br />
. .<br />
C-840 Grin & Share It (7)<br />
C-841 Feedin' the Kiddie<br />
(8) Jun 57 6- 8<br />
C-S4? Scat Cats
ALLIED ARTISTS<br />
Crashing Las Vegas iAA)^Leo<br />
Gorcey, Huntz Hall, Mary Castle.<br />
I do'nt know about you guys, but<br />
I am tired out at seeing these<br />
boys and for the first time they<br />
failed to draw. I didn't think this<br />
one came up to "Dig That Uranium"<br />
at all. Played Wed.<br />
Weather: Very nice. — Harry<br />
Hawkinson, Orpheum Theatre,<br />
MarietU, Minn. Pop. 380.<br />
COLUMBIA<br />
Blackjack Ketchum, Desperado<br />
(Col)—Howard Duff, Victor Jory.<br />
Maggie Mahoney. We were late<br />
running this good western, but<br />
did not hurt business. Outdrew<br />
it<br />
some of the new ones. I would<br />
if suggest, you haven't shown<br />
this yet, play it by all means, and<br />
advertise to the limit. Played<br />
Fri.. Sat. Weather: Warm.—L.<br />
Brazil Jr., New Theatre, Bearden,<br />
Ark. Pop. 961.<br />
Eddy Duchin Story, The (Col)<br />
—Tyrone Power, Kim Novak,<br />
James Whitmore. 'What a story!<br />
What color! What music! But<br />
what a boxoffice. Guess these<br />
people never heard of Duchin<br />
and they sui-e did not hear him<br />
here. Played Sun., Mon. Weather:<br />
Fair.—Joe and Mildred Faith,<br />
Linn Theatre, Linn, Mo. Pop. 758.<br />
My Sister Eileen ( Col )—Janet<br />
Leigh, Jack Lemmon, Betty Garrett.<br />
I guess this picture is good,<br />
but it just didn't jeU here. I<br />
thought it was good, but apparently<br />
my patrons thought differ-<br />
;; ently, because not too many of<br />
them turned out to see it. We did<br />
have strong opposition both<br />
nights, which perhaps didn't help<br />
too much. However, I think it<br />
would not be a very strong drawing<br />
card anyway Played Fri.. Sat.<br />
Weather: Good.—F. L. Murray,<br />
Strand Theatre, Spiritwood, Sask.<br />
Tall T, The (Col)—Randolph<br />
Scott, Maureen O'SuUivan. Richard<br />
Boone. Ju.st another Randolph<br />
Scott western. Our people<br />
don't think much more of him<br />
than folks used to think of Gene<br />
Aulry and Roy Rogers, and the<br />
story is always the same one,<br />
with little variations. Would make<br />
a good weekend double bill if<br />
Columbia didn't want too much<br />
for them to double bill. Played<br />
Tues., Wed.. Thurs. Weather:<br />
B.<br />
Rain.-Mickey and Penny Harris.<br />
rolled in the aisles when Jerry<br />
BUENA VISTA<br />
Wakea Theatre, New Boston,<br />
Pop. 2.688.<br />
said he was going to milk the<br />
cow and her milk would be warm<br />
Tex.<br />
Cinderella iBV)—Reissue. Animated<br />
because she had been out in the<br />
feature. Believe the job<br />
hot sun all day. Played weekend.<br />
of TV advertising which Disney One of Best<br />
Weather: Cool.—Sam Holmberg,<br />
gives his movies should prove<br />
Regal Theatre, Sturgis, Sask.<br />
"The Spirit of St. Louis" is<br />
that it does pay off. Any Disney<br />
Leather Saint, The (Para) —<br />
excellent. James Stewart does<br />
movie does a nice business here,<br />
such a wonderful job that he<br />
Paul Douglas, John Derek, Jody<br />
even a rerelease. such as this one.<br />
Lawrance. Running it about 17th<br />
seems like Lindbergh himself.<br />
The children love it, teenagers<br />
run in the county on a solo, even<br />
This is one of the best pictures<br />
have played in several<br />
bear it, some adults come with<br />
though it was bank night, gave<br />
I<br />
their chUdren. Played Sun.. Mon.<br />
this nice famUy feature more of<br />
years. Terms are high on this<br />
and<br />
a hurdle than it deserved. Business<br />
one. but I believe worth it. Did<br />
Weather; Rain. — Mickey<br />
Penny Harris. Wakea Theatre,<br />
was about as so-so as usual<br />
in several<br />
the best business<br />
New Boston, Tex. Pop. 2.688.<br />
for these less than lush times.<br />
months.<br />
Song of the South tBVi—Reissue.<br />
Ruth Warrick, Luana Pat-<br />
Butler Theatre<br />
My goodness, I just recollected<br />
W.WNE GOODWIN<br />
It's nice to have folks praise a<br />
prize fight story for a change.<br />
Bobby Driscoll. Zlp-pa-deedoo-da,<br />
Ind.<br />
this stUl sets my tired<br />
ten, Butler,<br />
this bucked graduation night and<br />
Memorial night, so it's more of a<br />
old heart asingin'. The years<br />
haven't dimmed the color or unzip-pa-dee-doo-daed<br />
the songs Bad Day at Black Rock (MGM)<br />
METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER brawler than I realized. Played<br />
Wed., Thurs. Weather: Nice. —<br />
Bob Walker, Uintah Theatre,<br />
and from the booth it shows up —Spencer Ti'acy, Robert Ryan,<br />
Fruita, Colo. Pop. 1,463.<br />
as still Mr. Disney's greatest. I Anne Pi-ancis. Ran this in the<br />
Rainmaker, The (Para) — Burt<br />
liked it the first time last week of school, so just threw<br />
best,<br />
Wendell Corey. Very good.<br />
shows seemed when<br />
though. Sure is funny how much the doors open for all school kids, Lancaster, Katharine Hepburn,<br />
Fine<br />
vacation show," but still<br />
there were customers. This just had a pretty good gross from<br />
and Katharine<br />
southwest,<br />
barely made its way and in no adults. A good show. Played Wed.,<br />
better all a "free<br />
performances by Burt Laneaster<br />
Hepburn. The<br />
way helped make up for the last Thurs. Weather: Rain.—Joe and story takes place in the<br />
but still will not completely<br />
horrible beating I had from a Mildred Faith, Linn Theatre,<br />
satisfy<br />
Disney show. One more<br />
your western fans. The<br />
like it Linn, Mo. Pop. 758.<br />
and somebody's either gonna get<br />
adults will enjoy this much more<br />
Julie (MGM)—Doris Day, Louis<br />
cheaper or he's gonna get<br />
than the kids and teenagers.<br />
left<br />
Jourdan, Barry Sullivan. This is<br />
out again. Playd Sun., Mon.<br />
Played Thurs., Fri., Sat. Weather:<br />
a very good show and everytime<br />
Weather: Lovely. — Bob Walker,<br />
Good.—Wayne Goodwin, Butler<br />
I've played MGM product I've<br />
Theatre, Butler, Ind.<br />
Uintah Theatre, Fruita, Colo.<br />
had good crowds, as it this was<br />
BOXOFFICE BookinGuide June 15, 1957<br />
time. Tlris .show held my patrons'<br />
attention every minute. Some,<br />
however, said the excitement came<br />
at the end. If you have not<br />
played it, give it a try. Played<br />
Sat., Sun. Weather: Very nice.—<br />
Harry Hawkinson, Orpheum Theatre.<br />
Marietta, Minn. Pop. 380.<br />
Opposite Sex, The (MGM) —<br />
June AUyson, Joan Collins, Dolores<br />
Gray. It is a darn good<br />
show, but did not do as well as<br />
expected. Sure does please the<br />
ladies, though. Played Tues.,<br />
Wed., Thurs. Weather: Okay.—<br />
W. L. Stratton, Lyric Theatre.<br />
Chains, Ida. Pop. 728.<br />
Ransom! (MGM)—Glenn Ford,<br />
Donna Reed. Robert Keith.<br />
Highly dramatic. Good adult entertainment.<br />
Suspense, all they<br />
XHIBITOR HAS HIS SAY<br />
Hollywood or Bust (Para) —<br />
Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis, Anita<br />
Ekberg, Why these boys had to<br />
split up, I guess they only know,<br />
but they sure were money in the<br />
pocket for us, anyway. They<br />
seemed to bring better crowds<br />
with every picture, but maybe<br />
Lewis will do okay on his own. In<br />
our opinion, this was their best.<br />
Laughs by the dozen, with Jerry's<br />
good corn charm. They darn near<br />
REPUBLIC<br />
Roogie's Bump (Rep) —Robert<br />
Marriot, Ruth Warrick, Robert<br />
Simon. The way they laughed at<br />
the trailer I was tempted to ask<br />
the city for a policeman to help<br />
me keep the crowds from smashing<br />
the boxoffice. Guess they<br />
got enough fun out of the trailer,<br />
for the lines never did form. This<br />
is a cute, though at times woefully<br />
draggy, little time killer.<br />
Doubled with "Idaho" to about<br />
average business. Reminds me of<br />
some of the nice little living<br />
room shows I've watched the fewtimes<br />
I've been trapped in a<br />
friend's TV dungeon. Played<br />
Fri., Sat. Weather: Nice. — Bob<br />
Walker, Uintah Theatre, Fruita,<br />
Colo. Pop. 1,463.<br />
lABOUT PICTURESi<br />
its own more than most have<br />
been doing. Played Sun., Mon.<br />
Weather: Showers.—Bob Walker,<br />
Uintah Theatre, Fruita, Colo.<br />
Desperados ."^re in Town, The<br />
(20th-Foxi — Robert Ai-thur,<br />
Kathy Nolan, Rhys WiUiams.<br />
They must havs been in town<br />
and forbidden everyone to go to<br />
the show. A straight run-of-themill<br />
western with no name stars<br />
for drawing power. In our opinion,<br />
P.N.P this one if you bought<br />
it. We doubled this with a Roy<br />
Rogers, "Sunset in the West."<br />
Rogers must have been away too<br />
long, as he didn't draw any kids<br />
either.—Sam Holmberg, Regal<br />
Theatre, Sturgis, Sask. Pop. 640.<br />
Love Me Tender (20th-Fox) —<br />
Richard Egan, Debra Paget, Elvis<br />
Pi-esley. Everybody laughs at<br />
him and he laughs all the way<br />
to the bank. So did we. They<br />
may ridicule him, but the point<br />
is they come to see him. More<br />
boys than girls. Played Sun., Mon.<br />
Weather: Pair.—Joe and Mildred<br />
Faith, Linn Theatre, Linn,<br />
Mo. Pop. 758.<br />
Three Brave Mei> (20th-Fox)—<br />
Ray Milland, Ernest Borgnine,<br />
Frank Lovejoy. Nice show, but<br />
the poorest grossM- in ages and<br />
ages. It would be a good .show to<br />
let some group sponsor. It just<br />
didn't sell by itself. Played<br />
Thurs., Fri.. Sat. Weather: Warm.<br />
—Jim Fi-aser, Auditorium Theatre.<br />
Red Wing, Minn.<br />
Three Young Texans (20th-<br />
Fox)—Mitzi Gaynor, Keefe Brasselle,<br />
Jeffrey Hunter. Fair western<br />
in color. Scenery and color<br />
good, story a little weak, but the<br />
young fry loved it and the older<br />
fry didn't complain. Drew very<br />
well it<br />
considering the chance<br />
had with cold and rainy weather.<br />
I have only played this one night<br />
as yet, but we liked it here and<br />
you won't go wrong with this one.<br />
Not big, but at least entertaining<br />
to all except the high brows.<br />
—F. L. Murray, Strand Theatre,<br />
Spiritwood, Sask. Pop. 355.<br />
Wonderiul<br />
It's<br />
One of the best of this or<br />
any other year, "Heaven<br />
Knows, Mr. Allison" is original<br />
and wonderful. By far<br />
the best thing Mitchum has<br />
ever done. The people liked<br />
this one very much and told<br />
others about it. This is what<br />
it takes to have a hit nowadays.<br />
We are giving this one a<br />
second run soon.<br />
could ask for. Glenn Ford well<br />
ED SCHOENTH,\L<br />
liked. Business good. Played Fri.,<br />
Sat., Sun.—Frank E. Sabin, Majestic<br />
Theatre, Eureka, Mont. Bus Stop (20th-Fox)—Marilyn<br />
20th CENTURY-FOX Empress Theatre<br />
Fremont, Neb.<br />
Monroe, Don Murray, Arthur O'-<br />
PARAMOUNT<br />
Connell. Stop right where you UNITED ARTISTS<br />
Far Horizons, The (Para) — are. Marilyn, you done got yourself<br />
another captive! I've panned<br />
12 Angry Men (UA) — Henry<br />
Fred MacMurray, Charlton Heston.<br />
Donna Reed. This show drew this gal for all I'm worth, but<br />
Fonda, Lee J. Cobb, Ed Begley.<br />
One of the best and most human<br />
a very good crowd and the show after each picture I get to feeling<br />
pictures of the year, or of any<br />
was very well liked. You almost more sheepish. I gotta admit it's<br />
other year. Those who saw it<br />
have to give Paramount a little off-screen tactics that get<br />
were most enthusiastic, but the<br />
credit for the clear and sharp picture<br />
which always seems to go<br />
After this little<br />
with VistaVision. Very beautiful<br />
scenery also. Played Wed.<br />
Weather: Rain.—Harry Hawkinson.<br />
Orpheum Theatre, Marietta, well. She to be actress!<br />
Minn. Pop. 380.<br />
We didn't bank a lot, but it held (Continued on following page)<br />
her<br />
me so het up. title is very misleading. Most<br />
job, I gotta admit the gal really<br />
people thought it a western from<br />
can act. She's wonderful in this<br />
the title. — Kenneth M. Gorham,<br />
and no blond could be dumb Town Hall Theatre, Middlebury,<br />
enough to play a dumb blond so<br />
Vt. Pop. 3,614.<br />
had an
'<br />
'iitiiuied<br />
Manson<br />
.Times<br />
.Tohan<br />
EXHIBITOR HAS HIS SAY<br />
from preceding page)<br />
UNIVERSAL-INTERNAT'L<br />
All That Heaven Allows lU-I)<br />
—Jane Wyman, Rock Hudson,-<br />
Agnes Moorehead. When you<br />
have Jane Wyman and Rock<br />
Hudson, what more can you ask.<br />
A very good picture with color<br />
that pleased all who came, but<br />
weather was against us. We were<br />
sure glad that we played it. With<br />
this combination of these two<br />
stars, it's bound to be good. A<br />
great pictm-e from a great company<br />
that pulls through with<br />
darn near every pictm-e good for<br />
the small town. Played weekend.<br />
Weather: Cold. —Sam Holmberg,<br />
Regal Theatre, Sturgis, Sask.<br />
Battle Hymn (U-I) — Rock<br />
Hudson, Martha Hyer, Dan Duryea.<br />
A wonderful movie with<br />
many comments about what a<br />
truly outstanding show this is.<br />
Didn't do big business due to<br />
being end of school week, but<br />
everyone who came enjoyed it.<br />
Played Sun., Mon.—Mickey and<br />
Penny Harris, Wakea Theatre,<br />
New Boston, Tex. Pop. 2,688.<br />
Brave One, The (U-I i—Michel<br />
Ray, Rodolfo Hoyos, Elsa Cardenas.<br />
Original, different, heartwarming<br />
entertainment, deserving<br />
it<br />
the Academy Award re-<br />
ceived as the best story. It will<br />
entertain any group. Quality<br />
merchandise. Hard to sell, but<br />
you can guarantee that the folks<br />
will like it. Played Thurs., Fi-i.,<br />
Sat. Weather: Fair.— Ed Schoenthal.<br />
Empress Theatre, Fremont,<br />
Neb. Pop. 14,762.<br />
Female on the Beach (U-I)—<br />
Joan Crawford, Jeff Chandler,<br />
Jan Sterling. I guess everyone<br />
liked this one all right. It must<br />
be awfully old, though, and I<br />
know that as soon as I get caught<br />
up with U-I, I'll be minus one<br />
company. This show pleased the<br />
adults and I think probably the<br />
women went for it more than the<br />
men. Business was good. Played<br />
Wed. Weather: Rainy. — Harry<br />
Hawkinson, Orpheum Theatre,<br />
Marietta, Minn. Pop. 380.<br />
Four Girls in Town (U-I) —<br />
George Nader, Julie Adams, Sydney<br />
Chaplin. Good enough show,<br />
but didn't draw. Played Wed.,<br />
Thurs. Weather: Good. — Mel<br />
Danner, Circle Theatre, Waynoka,<br />
it. A really good story, also.<br />
Play it. You can make dough off<br />
it if bought middle bracket. Played<br />
weekend. Weather: Good. —<br />
Sam Holmberg, Regal Theatre,<br />
Sturgis, Sask. Pop. 640.<br />
Star in the Dust (U-Ii — John<br />
Agar, Mamie Van Doren, Richard<br />
Boone. A nice little colored timekiller<br />
that I don't suppose has<br />
gotten anyone under a marquee<br />
Rock Hudson, Lauren Bacall,<br />
Robert Stack. This is a great<br />
movie. It's not for kids, but the<br />
adults sure did get a bang out of<br />
it. It fell flat for me, but had<br />
played all around me and so was<br />
not the fault of the picture. It<br />
was just great! Played Sun., Mon.<br />
Weather: Partly cloudy and wet.<br />
—Victor Weber, Center Theatre,<br />
Kensett, Ark. Pop. 1,000.<br />
WARNER BROS.<br />
Baby Doll (WBi-Karl Maiden,<br />
Carroll Baker, Eli Wallach.<br />
We got stung, but I am sure the<br />
customers got stung worse. The<br />
worst picture we have played in<br />
many a moon. Sure wish they<br />
had banned it in Saskatchewan.<br />
Played midweek. Weather: Cool.<br />
—Sam Holmberg, Regal Theatre,<br />
Sturgis, Sask. Pop. 640.<br />
Our Miss Brooks (WB)—Eve<br />
Arden, Gale Gordon, Don Porter.<br />
Just the usual Our Miss Brooks.<br />
This program came over the air<br />
sometime ago, but is now taken<br />
off, at least in Canada. This was<br />
one of the most appreciated programs<br />
on the ail', and believe<br />
me, it was just the same as a<br />
picture. Good old Eve Arden. She<br />
has brought us many an enjoyable<br />
evening in the years her<br />
program came over the air, and<br />
now finally made me some<br />
money to pay off the mortgage.<br />
Thanks to Warners, this was better<br />
than a lot of their bigger<br />
ones. Gross 140 per cent. Played<br />
Mon., Tues. Weather: Good. —<br />
P. L. Mui-ray, Strand Theatre,<br />
Spiritwood, Sask. Pop. 355.<br />
Santiago (WB) — Alan Ladd,<br />
Rossana Podesta, Lloyd Nolan.<br />
Wow! This junk just left on the<br />
film truck and sure am glad.<br />
As long as I have been in the<br />
business I have not hit a poor<br />
weekend picture like this. I didn't<br />
think Ladd would let us down,<br />
but I guess he just got a poor<br />
picture. No business and a very<br />
poor picture. Played Sat., Sun.<br />
Weather: Warm. — Harry Hawkinson,<br />
Orpheum Theatre, Marietta,<br />
Minn. Pop. 380.<br />
Searchers, The (WB) —John<br />
Wayne, Jeffrey Hunter, Vera<br />
Miles. No picture you can run<br />
FOREIGN FEATURES DIGEST<br />
n olphobeticol index by country of origin and by title of current<br />
ireign-mode product, together with on interpretotive onolysis of Icy ond<br />
odepress reviews. Symbols ond terminology ore the some os those<br />
nployed in REVIEW DIGEST. Except where specified, fort<br />
Ims carry English titles.<br />
ARGENTINA<br />
ilillli<br />
Dark River (90) Melodrama Times 4-28-56 ± ++ 3+1-<br />
AUSTRIA<br />
± + 6+1-<br />
©Don Juan (85) Opera film Times 7-7-56-+ + tt<br />
BRITAIN<br />
Anjel Who Pawned Her Ham (73) Com...Dom'nt 4-28-56 -f ± + ± 4+2—<br />
Drama Kingsley 10- 1-55 + 8-t-<br />
Court Martial (105) +<br />
©Dance Little Lady (87) Melodr Trans-Lux 12-24-55 +<br />
-H-<br />
±<br />
-H-<br />
+<br />
-H-<br />
+ -H 6+1—<br />
His Excellency (84) Drama Brenner 4-28-56 ± ± + 3+2-<br />
©John and Julie (82) Comedy-Dr Dominant 12- 8-56 + + 5+<br />
+ ++<br />
Farthings, ©Kid Two A (91) C-D....Lopcrt 4-28-56+ +f 10+<br />
+ (+ for<br />
©Make Me an Offer (88) Comedy Dominant 4-7-56+<br />
-H<br />
± ±<br />
-H-<br />
+ -1+ 6+2-<br />
©Richard III (152) ® Shakes. Drama Lopert 3-17-56 ff + !+++++ ++11+<br />
©Wee Geordie (94) Comedy Times 11-10-56 + + + + tt tt 8+<br />
FRANCE<br />
Adorable Creatures (108) Comedy. .. Confl Dis 1-14-56+ ± ++ ± + 6+2-<br />
DiaboliQue (107) Horror-Drama UMPO 3- 3-56 (+ ± -H + -H 10+1-<br />
++<br />
Doctors, The (92) Drama Kingiley 1- 5-57 ± ± + •(+ 5+2—<br />
Fruits of Summer (102) Comedy Ellis 8-11-56+ ± + + ± — 5+3-<br />
' ++ + + - 5+1-<br />
Gamc of Love, The (108) Drama Times 2-19-55+<br />
©Grand Maneuver, The (107) Rom. UMPO 12- 8-56 + Comedy + + ++ -H 7+<br />
Heartbreak Ridge (86) Documentary-Dr Tudor 6-11-55+ + -H- 14 + 7+<br />
Holiday for Henrietta (103) Farce-Corn... Ardee 5-21-55+ + + ++++ + S+<br />
Inside Girls a Dormitory (100) Mystery Ellis 11-17-56 ± -H 3+1—<br />
La Sorcicre (97) Drama Ellis 3-9-57+ + 6+<br />
+ 4+ +<br />
Letters From My Windmill 4-21-56+ tt + -H -H- 9+<br />
Comedy (116)<br />
©My 7 Little Sins (98) Comedy/Songs. Kingsley 6-23-56 ± + +<br />
+<br />
+ + (+ 7+1-<br />
One Step to Eternity (94) Drama Ellis 1-28-56+ ± + + 4+1-<br />
©Only the French Can (93) Cos. Musical., UMPO 8-4-56+ ++ ± + ++ 7+1-<br />
©Pantaloons (93) Comedy Satire UMPO 5-4-57+ ++ + ++6+<br />
Papa. the (94) Col. -ft Mama, Maid & Com., Infl 11-10-56 + + 6+<br />
I tt<br />
Proud and the Beautiful (94) Drama. .., Kingsley 9-1-56++ + ++ ± + ++ 9+1-<br />
Rififi (119) Crime-Suspense Drama UMPO 9-22-56++ ++ + ++ ++ 9+<br />
©Royal Affairs in Versailles<br />
(152) Historical Drama Times 5-4-57+ + + + 4+<br />
Sheep Has 5 Legs (93) Farce-Comedy, .., UMPO 11-26-55+ + + + ++ 6+<br />
Snow Was Black, The (105) Drama, ,, .Cont'l Dis 1-12-57 ++ + + + + 6+<br />
Are All Murderers ,.. Kingsley ++ ++ ++ We (118) Drama 2-16-57 ± 7+1-<br />
GERMANY<br />
+ ++3+<br />
Dairy of a Lover (96) Comedy Grand Prize<br />
Emperor's Waltz (107) Comedy/Songs Casino + + +3+<br />
Last 10 Days, The (113) Drama Col. Int'l 5-12-56+ ++ + + + + 7+<br />
GREECE<br />
Barefoot Battalion (63) Drama 20th-Fox 5-6-54+ + + + ++ + 7+<br />
INDIA<br />
Awara (The Vagabond) (100) Drama... Hoffberg ± — 1+2—<br />
1« (90) Drama URO ± + 2+1-<br />
ITALY<br />
Bed, The (101) Episodes Getz- Kingsley 8- 13-55 + + ± ± 4+2-<br />
Gold of Naples (107) Episode Drama OCA 4-13-57 ++ ++ + ++ ++ 9+<br />
will give better satisfaction. Does Hello, Elephant (78) Comedy-Drama Arlan 1-22-55+ ± -^ ++ + 6+1-<br />
very well at the boxoffice and ©House of Ricordi (117) Drama/Music. . 6-30-56+ + + r^ ++ ++ 9+<br />
will make money. You can't keep La Strada (115) Drama Trans-Lux 11- 3-56 ++ ++ +t + + ++ 10+<br />
them away. Played Tues., Wed., ©Madame Butterfly (114) Opera Film IFE 5-26-56+ + + + + ++ 7+<br />
Okla. Pop. 2,018.<br />
Thurs. Weather: Okay. — W. L. ©Maddalena (90) Drama IFE 10- 8-55 + ± =t + ++ 6+2-<br />
Rock, Pretty Baby (U-I) —Sal Stratton, Lyric Theatre, Challis, Return of Don Camillo (115) Comedy IFE 7-7-56+ ++ + + + + 7+<br />
Mineo, John Saxon, Luana Patten.<br />
Oh, yes, they came, they Pete Kelly's Blues (WB) —Jack Too Bad She's Bad (95) Comedy. Getz- Kingsley 1-21-56+ it ++ + it 6+2-<br />
Ida. Pop. 728.<br />
©Riviera (88) Drama IFE 11-10-56 it + + 3+1-<br />
saw, they liked every minute of Webb, Janet Leigh, Edmond Umberto D. (S9) Drama Harrison 12-31-55 ++ i+ + + it 7+1-<br />
O'Brien. Mr. Webb had better Vitteloni (103) Satiric Drama Janus-API 2-9-57+ ff +t ff — 7+1-<br />
trade in his cornet for a gun and White Sheik, The (86) Farce-Comedy. .Janus-API 12- 1-56 ± ± ff 4+2-<br />
a badge. He's a detective by<br />
JAPAN<br />
reputation and they will not pay ©Gate of Hell (89) Drama, Harrison & Davidson 1- 8-55 ++ ++ ff ff +f ff 12+<br />
to see him in another type role. ©Golden Demon (95) Drama Harrison 6-23-56+ ff + ff ff 8+<br />
Played Sun., Mon. Weather: Fair. Hiroshima (85) Documentary-Drama, Cont'l Dis 7-30-55+ it —<br />
—<br />
+ + 4+2—<br />
Joe and Mildred Faith, Linn Imposter, The (89) Cost. -Drama Brandon 11-26-55 ± — it 2+3-<br />
Theatre, Linn, Mo. Pop. 758.<br />
Magnificenl Seven, The (155) Dr Col. Infl 1-5-57+ + ff ff ff 8+<br />
Untamed Youth (WBi—Mamie ©Phantom Horse, The (90) Drama Harrison 8-4-56+ + ff ff ff 8+<br />
Van Doren, John Russell, Lori ©Samurai (100) Drama Jacon 11-19-56 + +f + + + ff 8+<br />
Nelson. Did better than average ©Yang Kwei Fei (95) Costume Dr..Bueria Vista 11-17-56 ± + + + + 5+1-<br />
that wasn't already a-goin', but business. Suited the teenage<br />
it's as good as the entertainment crowd as it has some rock and<br />
RUSSIA<br />
they've got in the living room roll numbers wliich are the fad ©Boris Godunov (105) Opera Film Artkino + ± 2+1-<br />
and it's wider and prettier, so at present. Mamie Van Doren ©Romeo & Juliet Ballet (%) Tohan 9- 1-56+ ft + + ff 7+<br />
no one's going to say it ain't does a good job in the role of<br />
worth 40 cents. I guess the<br />
SPAIN<br />
sister to Lori Nelson. The girls<br />
average crowd we had on bank<br />
Marcelino (90) Drama<br />
are picked up<br />
UMPO<br />
for hitch-hiking<br />
ff ff ff ff 8+<br />
night this w-eek was pleased. and placed on a cotton farm to<br />
Played Wed.. Thurs. Weather:<br />
SWEDEN<br />
work out their sentences with<br />
Rain, Naked Night.<br />
frost, scattered<br />
The (82) Drama Times<br />
showers.<br />
7-21-56+ + + ± + 5+1—<br />
other young people. Played Sun.. One Bob Summer of Happiness Walker, Uintah (103) Drama. .<br />
Theatre,<br />
7-16-55+ ff ff ff 7+<br />
Mon., Tues. Weather: Good. —<br />
Fruita, Colo. Pop. 1,463.<br />
Wayne Goodwin. Butler Theatre, YUGOSUVIA<br />
Written on the Wind (U-D — Butler, Ind., Pop. 1,914.<br />
Legends of Anika (85) Fantasy Grand Prize 2: + 2+1—<br />
E E<br />
s<br />
u BOXOFFICE BookinGuide :: June 15, 1957
?<br />
Opinions on Current Productions<br />
Symbol Q denotes color photogrophy; © CinemoScope; Vj VistoVision; (f) Su<br />
^EATURE REVIEWS<br />
reverse<br />
side.<br />
Night Passage<br />
F ^Z °"T T'<br />
Univ.-Infl ( ) 90 Minutes Rel. Aug. 57<br />
first Universal's feature in Technirama. the Technicolor<br />
,e7 ,<br />
ifiici- widescreen process which brings the backgrounds into sharp<br />
focus, is a top-grade, action-filled outdoor drama with two<br />
of U-I's biggest stars. James Stewart and Audie Murphy, •>- i<br />
who broke records with "The Glenn Miller Story" and "To "?,^ |<br />
Hell and Back," respectively. In addition to the magnificent<br />
Colorado scenery, which i.s often breathtaking in its beauty<br />
and will create audience comment, the picture has an interest-holding<br />
plot, which builds up to a blazing shooting<br />
climax, taut direction by James Neilson and a fair share<br />
of romance—what more could audiences want? Stewart<br />
gives his customary laconic, completely convincing performance<br />
as an honest, forthright railroad employe, who<br />
even sings and accompanies himself on a guitar for "You<br />
Can't Get Far Without a Railroad." a Dimitri Tiomkin-<br />
Ned Washington tune. Murphy plays his first unsympathetic<br />
role as Stewart's gunman brother—he still looks too boyish<br />
for a deadly killer—and does well enough but Dan Duryea.<br />
as a hardened, snarling outlaw, and Brandon deWilde.<br />
as an orphaned boy who gets mixed up with the killers, are<br />
outstanding. Dianne Foster is pleasing as the love interest.<br />
Aaron Rosenberg produced.<br />
James Stewart, Audie Murphy, Dan Duryea, Dianne<br />
Foster, Jay C. Flippen, Elaine Stewart, Brandon deVVilde.
FEATURE REVIEWS Story Synopsis; Exploitips; Adiines for Newspaper and Programs<br />
THE STORY: "Beau James" (Para)<br />
Hope, as Walker, a playboy politician, is induced by<br />
Walter Catlett. portraying Gov. Al Smith, to run for mayor<br />
of New York City. Hope likes the idea, but is afraid that his<br />
separation from his wif-e, Alexis Smith, might defeat him.<br />
A reconciliation is effected and he is elected. But the reconciliation<br />
is short-lived and Hope soon meets up with Betty 1<br />
Compttn (Vera Miles), a dancer, and a romance results.<br />
Hope is re-elected and, to celebrate, takes Miss Miles to a<br />
party, an act which is regarded as political suicide. Although<br />
he is cleared of corruption in oSfice, he ultimately resigns,<br />
gets a divorce and sails for Europe with Miss Miles.<br />
EXPLOITIPS:<br />
Tie up the song "Will You Love Me in December as You<br />
Did in May," which Walker wrote, with the picture. Newspapers<br />
will provide front pages of their issues telling of the<br />
Seabury investigation. Walker's romance with Betty Compton,<br />
his resignation, etc. These could make interesting lobby<br />
displays.<br />
CATCHLINES:<br />
Bob Hope in a New Kind of Role ... He Burned His<br />
Fingers on the Toast of the Town ... He was the Personality<br />
Kid of Politics . . . You'll Roar at What They Roared<br />
at in the Roaring Twenties ... He Was at Home in City<br />
Hall or Bistros . . . Romance and Politics—They Couldn't<br />
Mix.
'<br />
Opinions on Current Productions<br />
Feature reviews<br />
Symbol Q denotes aScope; ^ VistoVision; (|) Superscope; # Noturomo. For story synopsis<br />
The Curse of Frankensfein A ":^i<br />
"°"" ^'""'<br />
Warner Bros. ( ) 83 Minutes Kel. July 20, '57<br />
Horror is piled on horror in this British film about the<br />
iest i<br />
ifiio: evil son of Frankenstein who, following in his father's footsteps,<br />
creates a moronic, murderous human monster.<br />
,,<br />
Corpse and sections of dead human bodies have been "ms ..<br />
seen before on the screen, but seldom if ever to the degree -'<br />
shown here. The film is only for audiences with strong<br />
stomachs and sensation-seekers. Since it is in Eastman<br />
Color, all of the goriness is brought out in detail. There<br />
are scenes of bodies hanging from gallows and of cadavers<br />
in coffins, and the operations performed bv Baron Frankenstein<br />
in joining segments of different bodies together<br />
to produce what he hopes will be a superior man but who<br />
turns out to be a monster are somewhat more than hinted<br />
at. The final result is a completely repulsive creature. The<br />
cast, headed by Peter Ctishing as the baron and Robert<br />
Urquhart as his unwilling friend, performs capably at all<br />
times, but the players are not known in this country. The<br />
backgrounds, most of the interior laboratory type, are good.<br />
Michael Carreras was executive producer, Anthony Hinds<br />
producer and Anthony Nelson-Keys associate producer. Terrence<br />
Fisher directed.<br />
Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee, Hazel Court, Robert<br />
Vrquhart, Valerie Gaunt. Noel Hood. Marjorie Hume.
. .<br />
FEATURE REVIEWS Story Synopsis; Exploitips; Adiines for Newspaper and Programs<br />
THE STORY:<br />
"Value for Money' (Rank)<br />
When John Gregson inherits his father's fortune, he also<br />
inherits the latter's caution with cash. His narrow outlook<br />
frustrates his financee, Susan Stephen who rejects his<br />
proposal until he changes. On a trip to London. Gregson<br />
meets a dancer, Diana Dors, who believes him to be poor.<br />
;<br />
He invites her to his Yorkshire town and she wakes up to<br />
the fact that he is wealthy. Although he has proposed to<br />
her, he can't take her extravagance and when he tries to<br />
break off, both Miss Dors and Miss Stephen sue for breach<br />
of promise. But after complications, he decides that Miss<br />
Stephen is his choice.<br />
EXPLOITIPS:<br />
The notoriety that Diana Dors has had in the U. S. should<br />
be put to work in centering advertising attention on her. A<br />
swimming pool sequence opens possibilities for swim suit<br />
tie-ups. The title offers bank cooperation on the premise<br />
that thriftiness and penny-pinching are not the same. Travel<br />
agencies might provide window pictures of Yorkshire, locale<br />
of the story.<br />
CATCHLINES:<br />
He Had Money to Burn, But Only in His Pockets .<br />
The Heir Was Given the Air Until Blonde Hair Stepped In<br />
. . . It's a Bundle From Britain—a Bundle of Sheer Joy.
I<br />
writing,<br />
1 character.<br />
'<br />
:<br />
• !•><br />
\<br />
rr<br />
i;<br />
lis<br />
::<br />
^<br />
I . 20350<br />
.<br />
RAIXS: 15c per word, minimum $1.50, cash with copy. Four consecutive insertions for price<br />
oi three. CLOSING DATE: Monday noon preceding publication date. Send copy and<br />
• answers to Box Numbers to BOXOFFICE, 825 Van Brunt Blvd., Kansas City 24, Mo. •<br />
POSITIONS WANTED<br />
Experienced drive-in and conveniional Iheatre<br />
manager. Knovis booking, buying, esploiution,<br />
advertising and concessions. Available Immedlalel)'<br />
BUdwest location, year around situation desired.<br />
Boxofrice 7S02.<br />
I am your boy! With 30 years experience and<br />
capital. Married, sober and reliable. Sold my circuit.<br />
8 units. Too young to retire. Will buy.<br />
lea.'^e. or partnership. Wbat have you to offer?<br />
Write, Boxofflce 7503.<br />
Experienced executive available September for<br />
Miami. Florida ,uea. Top calibre qualifications<br />
—Booking—liuying—tixplollatlon—Excellent business<br />
and soci.il background. Boxofflce 7508.<br />
seeks good con-<br />
Projectionist, 28 years, married, sober, reliable.<br />
If Interested phone person to person.<br />
Garfield 1-8370 collect. .Available short notice,<br />
desire warmer, drier climate, sinn^ victim. References.<br />
rh:irsc-n.r .imi ;iliilitv \.lilr«s 9507<br />
Euclid :iwrii. I :.] 11 1, I'. -,. consider<br />
carefully- 1 m<br />
HELP WANTED<br />
Representative wanted. Exdu.sive turritory available<br />
to sell co-operative advertising In conjunction<br />
with Theatre Out-Door Frame Service. Experience<br />
in advertising or specialty selling preferred, but<br />
not essential. Liberal commission plan assures high<br />
eirnlngs to qualified man after short training<br />
period. Car required. Write or wire at once:<br />
Romar Vide Company, Chetek, WU.<br />
Charley DUler, Cripple<br />
Theatre Manager for small first run art situation.<br />
Must have at least some theatre experience<br />
and a flair for publicity and advertising. Modest<br />
salary to start. Good future depending on ability<br />
of individual to produce profits. Willis Vance,<br />
Guild Theatre. I'eebles Corner. Cincinnati 6. Ohio.<br />
nanager wanted in New Jersey<br />
' -'-al opportunity for aggressive man; many<br />
including retirement plan: group inri.l<br />
hospitalization. Apply Walter Reade<br />
Mayfalr House. Deal Rd., Oakhurst,<br />
or Call KELLogg 1-1600.<br />
v<br />
Stiiilent Managers. We can place a couple of<br />
Dung men who arc interested in theatre business<br />
5 a tireer. Our organization can offer many<br />
fnrfi*. to yo*i. Your future will be in your<br />
•"'I V"'i will be trained by a top midwest show-<br />
give draft status and exper-<br />
I photograph. Here Is a company with<br />
r the sons of shovrmen. Fox Midwest<br />
I'red Souttar, Uptown BIdg., K-ansas<br />
Theatre Manager: Indiana location. Exill-around<br />
man with good reference for<br />
All year around job. $100-<br />
lily group ins. Boxofflce 7510.<br />
Experienced projectionist and part-time manager<br />
for drUe-in. Sober, honest, with references.<br />
$300 00 month. Southern New Mexico. Boxofflce<br />
T50fl.<br />
Experienced projectionist for new drive-in. Honil.<br />
luslern Kansas location. Write Melbourne<br />
narks. Center Theatre. Oakley. K.insas.<br />
M.inajer. "a,ASS" neighborhood. Fort Worth,<br />
lAperlencc necessary. State salary reand<br />
qualifications. Boxofflce 7516.<br />
Manager—night operation. Experience<br />
mg. Have good references. Oul-of-town<br />
l.ilary $100. Replies confidential. Box-<br />
DRIVE-IN THEATRE EQUIPMENT<br />
$3,495 Buys Complete Equipment! Super Simplex.<br />
Krcnkert. RCA or Motiograph AA projection<br />
and siHind—ail excellent condition. Time deals<br />
11. Send for deulls. Bept. cc—SOS.<br />
' .< ipply Corporation. 602 W. 52nd Street.<br />
device for speakers: Complete proonly<br />
64 cents per speaker! Secure<br />
against costly and repeated losses,<br />
lers from co.ist to coa.st are happy!<br />
Willow Are.<br />
Drivein Theatre Tickets! 100.000 l"x2" special<br />
printed roll tickets. $31.95. Send for samples<br />
or our special printed stub rod tickets for drtve-<br />
Ins. Safe, distinctive, private, easy to check.<br />
Kansis nty Ticket Co.. Dept. 10. 109 W. 18th<br />
81 iKilmrnwt K:insK Hty 8. Mo.<br />
BOXOFFICE :: June 15, 1957<br />
GENERAL EQUIPMENT—USED<br />
S.O.S Buys Complete Supply Dealer's Stock!<br />
.Miignarcs, $.'ia5 pair—others from $200, all excellent<br />
condition; Strong (i tube rectifieis (like<br />
new): g5A. 220V single phase. $505.00 pr.:<br />
80A 220V, 3 ph, $495.00; 70A 220V. 3 ph,<br />
$495.00; Generators w/control panel, rheostats<br />
50/lOOA rebuilt, $395.00; 70/140A (rebuilt)<br />
$495.00; 100/200A (new) $995.00; 150/150<br />
(new) $995.00; 36 new Motiograph in-car speakers,<br />
all<br />
for $150.00; Motiograph K mechanisms<br />
is as $50.00 ca.; lOOW spotlights w/bulb on<br />
telescoping stand, excellent. $39.50. Dept. cc<br />
SOS. Cinema Supply Corporation, 602 W. 52nd<br />
Street, New York 19.<br />
4" EF Kollmorgen F1.9 Supcrsnaplight lenses,<br />
factory rebuilt. New guarantee. List, $460. Our<br />
price, $175 pair. Ask for list of booth equipment<br />
bargains. Atsco, 980 North Main, Akron,<br />
Two reconditioned Caibon Arc Spot Utes complete<br />
with new rectifiers. Moon Lite Drive-In,<br />
Box 97, Mooreiiead, Minn.<br />
Complete booth for sale by owner. Two Century<br />
CC Projectors. Strong 40 Amp. Lamps. KCA<br />
sound, etc. (jood condition; available after June<br />
7th. Hugh Robinson, 1615 Bist Seventh. Okmulgee.<br />
Oklahoma.<br />
Lenses for Sale; Pair 4" BF Snaplite, 1 year<br />
old. like new, $75. with shade tubes. Pair $5.75<br />
Ross series 2. $35. Wanted: Pair 6" Snaplite.<br />
Park Theatre. Columbia Falls. Montana.<br />
Used Motiograph 90 ampere arc lamps. $500<br />
pair. National Theatre Supply Company. 2128<br />
PaiTie Avenue, (^eveland 14, Ohio.<br />
2'/n". F1.9 series Z super solmar lens, $150:<br />
3". Fl.G super cinephor TV lens, $150;<br />
Superscope anamorphic. $250: drinkolator carbonated<br />
drink machtae. $175. Mid-South Tlieatre Supply<br />
Co.. 502 South Second, Memphis, Tenn.<br />
Motiograph and Simplex magazines, 16 inch<br />
and 18 inch, perfect condition. (Jimplete sets $35.<br />
Arcs, lamps, pedestals, picture heads. Motiograph<br />
and Simplex. Very reasonable. Call or write. Abbe<br />
Films and Equipment Co., 4-17 West 44th Street,<br />
New York, N. Y. Telephone PLaza 7-2219.<br />
DeVry projectors, amplifier. Strong KW lamps,<br />
Kollmorgen widescreen lenses, seats. Cinemascope,<br />
side lights, widescreen, safe. What's your offer?<br />
Boxofflce 7415<br />
Ccmuletp the:itre equipment, Empress Theatre.<br />
The G..,nii The.ntre at Albany. N. Y. is being<br />
d.il, .Ml theatrical equipment for sale.<br />
1.500 plus cushioned seats, screen, electrical fixtures,<br />
etc. Phone or write; Becker the Wrecker.<br />
Inc. Foot of Green Street. .Mh.iny. N' Y. 5-9911.<br />
GENERAL EOUirMFlNT<br />
NEW<br />
',' ,. it
IVIENT!<br />
SU<br />
IM<br />
BIG<br />
IVIOIMEY!<br />
m-<br />
COSlA-GREGORy<br />
hKh 1 ml ROBERT H. HARRIS • COREY ALLEN<br />
U 1 1 LU U l\ I Screenplay by MARTIN BERKELEY Produced by<br />
THOMAS HOWARD • PINE • Directed by ROBERT STEVENS • A.Pine-Thomas Production