Boxoffice-April.07.1958

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. . Henry
. . Exhibitors
'Kwai' Mops Up at 500
In Kansas Cily Bow
KANSAS CITY—By openinp; "The Bridge
on the River Kwai" the day after the Academy
Awards presentation, the Midland enjoyed
a week of unparalleled prosperity,
harking back to the best of "good old days"
we hear so much about. At 500 per cent,
needless to say the picture was holding.
(Average Is 100)
Glen, Dickinson and Shawnee and Leowood
drive-ins The Lost ParodJse (UA);
Fort Bowie (UA) 100
Kimo And God Created Womon (Kingsley),
8th wk 200
Midland The Bridge on the River Kwai (Col)... 500
Missouri Seven Wonders of the World (Cinerama),
32nd wk 125
Paramount Lofoyette Escodrille (WB),
Spanish Affair ;Para) 85
Roxy The Brothers Karamozov (MGM),
4th wk
Tower, Uptown, Foirway and Granada Summer
100
Love (U-l); The Big Beot (U-l) 85
'Pacific' Opens in Loop
After Big Advance Sale
CHICAGO—Early indications indicated big
business for "South Pacific" at the Mc-
Vickers Theatre. It opened after a heavy
advance sale. The only other newcomer. "Girl
in Black" at the World Playhouse, got off
to a good start.
Carnegie Gervaise (Cont'l), 7th wk 185
Chicago Peyton Place (20th-Fox), 4th wk 240
Esquire High Cost of Loving (MGM), 2nd wk. ..210
Garrick Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (BV),
2nd wk 220
Loop And God Created Woman (Kingsley),
13th wk 195
McVickers South Pacific (20th-Fox) 365
Monroe Showboat (MGM); Mogambo (MG.M),
reissues 185
Oriental Seven Hills of Rome (MGM), 2nd wk. . .200
Palace Seven Wonders of the World (Cinerama),
68th wk 290
Roosevelt Paths of Glory (UA);
Mon on the Prowl (UA), 2nd wk 195
State Lake The Bridge on the River Kwai (Col),
2nd wk 250
Surf Golden Age of Comedy (DCA), Sth wk. ... 180
Todd's Cinestage Around the World in 80 Days
(UA), 51st wk 315
United Artists Witness for the Prosecution (UA),
6th wk 205
Woods Brothers Koramazov (MGM), 3rd wk 200
World Playhouse Girl in Black (Union) 205
'Bridge' Soars to 250
Second Indianapolis Week
INDIANAPOLIS—Highlight of the week
was the boost the Academy Awards gave
"The Bridge on the River Kwai." Its second
week at Loew's was bigger than its
first.
Circle Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (BV),
reissue 200
Esquire And God Created Womon [Kingsley),
12th wk 110
Indiono Summer Love (U-l); The Big Beat (U-l).tOO
Keith's The Female Animal (U-l) 100
Loew's The Bridge on the River Kwai (Col),
2nd wk 250
Lyric— Raintree County (MGM), 6th wk 125
ST.
LOUIS
T oial theatre owners and other resident's
generally approved the non-commercial
telecast of the Academy Awards presentation.
Industry leaders expressed the hope that it
would again spon.sor the TV program next
year. Theatres in this area didn't .suffer too
much at the boxoffice; perhajjs. some houses
had a drop of ,5 to 10 per cent but. strangely,
some other houses experienced increa.sed
business. In many houses patrons came for
the early evening show .so that they could
get home to catch the national teleca.st. The
absence of adverti.sing with the Awards program
was especially pleasing to TV viewers.
The closed-circuit telecast of the Ray Robinson-Carmen
Basilio champion.ship fight in
Chicago March i25), was viewed by nearsellout
crowd of some 3.000 at Loew's State
here, with .some 100 loge seats selling at $5
and the balance at $3.65. Over in East St.
Louis about 1.200 paid $3.60 to view the
fight on TV. This was about two-thirds
capacity for that Public Great States house.
Art LaPlante, .salesman for Columbia, was
due home from St. Anthony's Hospital where
.
he underwent a hernia operation. Also recovering
at home from an operation was
Nicholas Misuraca. second shipper for Universal
. Zach. booker for Paramount,
checked into Lutheran Hospital, for
a checkup and rest seen
along Filmrow included Stanley Smith, De-
Soto. Mo.; Izzy Wienshienk. Alton. 111.; Mrs.
Catherine Beckemeyer, Ti-enton. 111. . .
.
George Ware, retired 20th-Fox salesman and
former assistant secretary of the local loge
of the Colosseum of Motion Picture Salesmen,
has moved to Sedalia.
Herman Gorellck, co-owner of Realart Pictures,
and wife returned from California
where they attended an American-International
convention and visited relatives . . .
Residents of Poplar Bluff have had so-called
daylight saving time inflicted on them.
Julius Herman Lending, brother of Ted
Lending, who formerly operated the suburban
Kirkwood Theatre, died at Miami Beach, Fla..
March 27. The funeral was held here. He is
sui'vived by his wife Lena,
'Blues' Day for 'W.C
Despite His Death
ST. LOUIS—The citywide "William Christopher
Handy Day" April 10 proclaimed by
Mayor Raymond R. Tucker, will be changed
to a memorial tribute ti) the beloved "father
of the blues" who died Friday i28) in New
i'ork at the age of 84.
The compo-ser's widow will be invited to
attend the Variety Club benefit premiere of
Paramount's "St, Louis Blues." the composer's
screen biography, that night at the
St. Louis Fox Theatre and to take part in
the ether activities commemorating her husband
and his mu.sic. Before his fatal illness.
Handy had accepted an invitation to be the
guest of honor.
Nat King Cole, who portrays Handy in "St.
Louis Blues," and Pearl Bailey, who plays
his Aunt Hagar, will appear on the stage
at the premiere and take part in the other
scheduled events. The premiere is a benefit
for the National Variety Club fund which
helps needy children.
As one feature of the memorial tribute to
Handy, a massed band of 1.125 students from
St. Louis' 25 high schools will play Handy's
selections in a concert to be held in the
public schools.
HERrSYOURCHANCI
to 9«t in the
BIG MONEY
a screen game,
HOLLYWOOD take» fop
honort. As a box-office attraction,
it is without equal. It hat
been a favorite with theatre goers for
over 13 yeors. Write todoy for complete details.
Be sure to give seating or ear capacity.
NOLLYWeOD AMUtlMINT CO.
- -
St e StoUi. Illlmis
MID-WEST THEATRE SUPPLY CO., INC.
I
J750
1638 CENTRAL PARKWAY CHERRY 1-7724 CINCINNATI 10, OHIO
I
EVERYTHING FOR THE THEATRE
St Louis Theatre Supply Company
Mrs. Arch Hoilar
3310 Olive Street, St. Louii 3, Mo.
Telephone JEffenon 3-7974
RCA Theotre Supply Deoler
"SELECT" FOUNTAIN SYRUPS
DRINK DISPENSERS
Select Drink Inc.
4210 W. Flerlsiant Ave.
St. Looii IS, Me.
Phone
Evergreen 5-593S
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Finest RCA Equipment for Dnve-lns
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BOXOFFICE April 7. 1958 C-l