Boxoffice-May.11.1959

NATIONAL EXECUTIVE EDITION
MliyfiliiMilliHMiil
grosses more than 20 per cent in two months ... A report on the theatre's program to get "talkedobout"
ond its promotions to boost attendance appears in the Showmandiser section in this issue.
MAY
f^ictuAe yncLcd^
PUTTING ZIP IN A SUBRUN THEATRE: Shown here are some of the informol reader ads announcing
promoHons at the Polk Theatre in New York City, a technique which helped increase
Showman's Manual
.i'»o.
C.y
Kootot Cily, Mo
Publicofinnj. 825
FLOODS OF FEAR'
Universol-lnternotional
-See Showmandiser Section

"*"-««' ' -,;^¥.i??S!?^^-'3^::?''«s
^^Most provocatiil
that matter ma^i
The film is
fascinating, stimnlai
craft. It is a whale of a picture n
^'There's greatnei
World, the Flei
A fascinating and fantastic pica
with one of the trulY great sec
from
CLEVELAND'S
World Premiere
Engagement!
No matter what
the most excitin
Fascinating ... really extraowi
than to recommend that yo^
I
wd
SMASH
BUSINESS
in eveiY
pre-release
engagement!
HARRY BEi
screen Play by P

ture of the vear-or for
ear.
ntroversial...a continuing amazement of imagination and
rictlY without compare as a celluloid experience.
— Arthur Spaeth, Cleveland News
it.
I urge you see 'The
1 the Devil.' i
aying is unbelievablY great. HarrY Belafonte soars into stellar skies
fals. It is tremendous. Scripting, editing, directing are perfect.
-W. Ward Marsh Cleveland, Plain Dealer
ning up, this is
tures of the Year.
one o
le pictures a reporter should not talk about, other
-Stan Anderson, Cleveland Press
IjSITEINGER STEVENSMEL FERRER
'jJGALL • Screen Story by FERDINAND REYER . in Cinemascope . IVIade by I
by RANALD MacDOUGALL • Produced by GEORGE ENGLUND

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THATCHER.
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miiinuer
. .Managing
; Null Adants. 707 Snrtng !^t
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7i(j^of^y/2otwn7^ictu^/ndcai^
tE NATIONAL FILM WEEKLY
Published In Nine Sectional Editions
BEN
ditor-in-Chiel
SHLYEN
and Publishe:
.
)NALD M, MERSEREAU, Associote
Publishe' & General Monager
MHAN COHEN Executive Editor
Editor
SSE SHLYEN.
Field Editor
JGH FRAZE
STEEN Eostern Editor
N SPEAR Western Editor
Equipment Editor
ORRIS SCHLOZMAN Business Mgr
Pubhstied by
ASSOCIATED PUBLICATIONS
blication Offices: 825 Van liriint lilid..
I'll.v 24, .\lo Nalhan I'nhen, Eltulltnr:
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irmze. \'Wli\ Edlhir; 1. L.
Dlfher, Edllor The Moilern Ttleatrp
I :Mun. Telephnnp Cllcslinil 7777.
Offices: 45 llnrkifrller I'laza.
aO. N. Y. Iloilalil M. Mer-
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iekiplHinr ANdover :j-;i(142.
lern Offices: Eilllorlal and I'llni Adverillvi
falll ha-i SlJu.ir. manager. Tete-
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fi'llin .Vilvi-rtlsing—(172 8. Lafayette
I'liire, Us Angeles, falif. liiib Wetl-
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m Office: Anthony Orinier, 14F
'de Park Mansions, N. W. 1. Teleone
GBaSard 572(1/8282.
MIIUKKN illBAluE Secllun ts lull
In 'the first Issue of each month
ila: Manila riiandler, 191 Walton NW.
ly: .1. S. Ciiimers. 21-23 Walter Ave.
innre: llenriie llrnuning. Stanley Thea.
ille Badger. The News.
Ifardlng, fill 2-1141
arlnlte: lllanfhe Parr. SOI S. Church,
rliinatl: Frances llanrord. IlMverslty
-7ISn.
nier: llnice Marshall. 2881 S. Cherry
iFs lliiss SriKirh. Iti-uMer Trlliiinr
II. P. Reves, 906 Pox Theatre
woodward 2-1144.
: Allen M. Hhlrm. CU 9 8211.
itlanalinlls: Ann Craft. .'il2 N Illinois
Theatre.
He: Iluhert Cortiwell. San .Maren
ami: Martha Liiminiis, 622 N. E. 98 St.
e: Wni. NIchnl. 2251 8. l.a>lon
ills: Donald M. Lyons. 72 Glei
nood A\c.
Orleans: Mrs. Jack Anslet. 22«8i
St. (Tande Ave.
I City: Sam Itniiik. 3416 N. VI
51s!
Jladeliihla Nurman Shlgon. 5363 Iterk
ttslmrgh It. F. Kllngensmlth, 516 Jean-
He. Wllklnsbiirg, Clliirchlll 1-2809
and. Ore.:. Arnold Marks. Jmirnal.
I.onis: Dave Barrett, 5149 Itosa.
Lake City: II, I'earson. lleseret News.
Franelsco: Dolores Bariisch. 25 Taylor
St.. Oltdway 3 4813; Advertising:
2-9S37,
yi;i
Charles Hurley. 203 Eye St.,
itreal: Itoom 314. 625 Itelmoni
lues I.arochelle.
John: 43 Waterloo, Sam Babb
'onto: 1675 Bayvlew Ave.. Willow
On.. W. Cladlsh.
ncomer: Lyric Theatre BIdg.. Jack I
nnlpej: 157 Rupert. Barney Broo
Member Audit Bureau of Circulatio
Mod Class postage paid at Kansas (
.50.
$3.(
WIDENING THE MARKET
(y XPLORING the possibility of increasing
theatre attendance from among the vast
audience of infrequent and non-moviegoing patrons.
Universal-International has struck a rich
pay lode. This was the result of research revealing
tliat only 16.5 per cent of the population
comes into the classification of frequent moviegoers.
Hence, the remaining 83.5 per cent provides
a potential very much worth going after.
And go after it Universal did.
By well-planned and timed promotional and
advertising approaches, Universal set its sights
on penetrating and influencing a long-neglected
and important element of the so-called "lost
audience"—the feminine contingent. Once the
biggest provider of movie money, this substantial
patronage source had been virtually driven
away by an over-playing of types of pictures
that were almost totally lacking in appeal to
women. Now that television is following this
course, women are, again, looking to movies to
give them more palatable entertainment.
Cognizant of these facts, David A. Lipton, U-1
vice-president in charge of advertising, appropriately
gave the "woman-appeal" facets of
"Imitation of Life" a thorough selling job. It
included an extensive advertising program, beginning
far in advance of the picture's release,
with intensive promotion prior to openings and
during runs at points-of-sale. That the campaign
had widespread effect and was highly successful
is implicit in the record grosses it attracted.
In a tradepress conference, reported elsewhere
in this issue, Mr. Lipton referred to a recent
survey made by Sindlinger & Co., business
analysts, whose findings revealed a good deal of
encouraging information. Significant is the report
that, for the first time in ten years, the
attendance of frequent moviegoers is increasing,
rising in age level as well as in numbers. Increases
also have been noted among the infrequent
patrons (those attending less than once a
month I , and which group comprises 36.4 per
cent of the total population. A climbing trend
also is taking place in the marginal category
(those going once a month)
Also noteworthy is Mr. Lipton's observation
that "we don't have to aim film appeal primarily
at young people."
In other words, we need to direct the appeal
of our films to all age groups and to the variety
of tastes that seek and will patronize motion
pictures, if they are properly presented and
properly sold. While teenagers, or young people
in tlie 14-24 age group, may constitute the more
frequent and greater percentage of moviegoers,
catering largely to their tastes, will soon make
non-moviegoers of older frequent patrons and,
certainly, the infrequent ones. In fact. o\erplaying
a cycle, regardless of what type of picture
it stems from, soon will bring dwindling
attendance even from those it served first to
attract. To direct the appeal of individual pictures
toward a particular type of audience is
one thing. But to gear this out of all proportion,
as cycles have been wont to do, is restrictive
and poor business.
Good showmen know this
and they vary their
picture offerings, thus maintaining overall appeal
to the variety of patronage elements to
which they must cater—not just one, but all.
And in this way, too, they can attract patronage
from groups where little or none has been
coming from—especially if they go after it
aggressively.
The Brandeis
Plan
The formation of an Amusement Arts Division
to Support Brandeis University, and the launching
during the past week of a ten-year program
to link American university life as a training
and development ground "to the huge complex
of this country's amusement industries" holds
special significance for the motion picture industry.
First, the movement, under the leadership
of George Skouras, is basically one backed
by leaders in the film industry and, second, is the
important fact that here, at long last, is to be
created a great and continuing reservoir of talent
to serve motion pictures as an art and a business.
As president Abram L. Sacher of Brandeis
said at the dinner held in New York, this provides
the opportunity to "develop a close working
partnership between the theoretical aspects
and the practical considerations of all the entertainment
professions." The failure, heretofore,
to provide a training ground to give the industry
a continuing source of college-trained people,
ready to step into a profession or business for
which they have been prepared, often has been
decried. College studies have repeatedly revealed
that few undergraduates consider motion pictures
as a career. And one basic reason may well be
the fact that within academic halls, the amusement
industries lack stature, even though in
recent years a few universities have been offering
courses in motion picture production.
Nowhere, on the academic scene, however,
does there exist the kind of a training ground
envisioned in the broad program on which
Brandeis University has embarked. The possibilities
of what it can offer for young people eager
for a career in motion pictures, the legitimate
stage, radio and television are endless.
CJLu /O^oU^c^iA^

INDUSTRY AWAITS CONFERENCE:
PRODUCT SHORTAGE KEY TOPIC
Long-Sought Top Level
Meeting Scheduled
Thursday in N.Y.
NEW YORK—Ten men will meet over
a conference table Thursday 'Hi in what
may become a historic event in the annals
of the motion picture industry.
The ten men. four of them representing
the Motion Picture Ass'n of America
and six the American Congress of Exhibitors,
will meet to begin discussions of
troublesome problems confronting the relationship
between the producer-distributor
of motion pictures and the exhibitor of
this product. It is a meeting which exhibitor
leaders have been seeking for many
years.
NO AGENDA DRAFTED
An agenda has not been drafted, though
both sides are believed to have come to
agreement among themselves as to what
will and what will not be discussed. Although
the MPAA committee may decline
to discuss specific trade practices, the
ACE representatives intend to introduce
recommendations regarding runs, availabilities,
terms and clearances.
The MPAA has not said that the subject
of trade practices would be taboo, but one
ACE spokesman commented that "it is
possible." He said that the distributor representatives
may claim that legal obstacles
created by the antitrust decrees prohibit
joint consideration of trade practices by
defendant companies. This has been cited
frequently in the past to create a stumbling
block to top-level meetings.
Nevertheless, a conference has now been
scheduled, and the ACE committee is
highly optimistic that the session will be
fruitful. Members look for definite "accomplishments,"
even if trade practices are bypassed.
Actually, another ACE spokesman told
BoxoFFicE, "We are more concerned over
the product shortage and the need for
increased production than we are of anything
else."
He .said that many of the present problems
facing exhibition would disappear
completely if there were more pictures on
the market. It has been the dearth of
pictures which has created the crises which
exist, he added.
Across the conference table for the distributors
will be Spyros P. Skouras. president
of 20th Century-Fox: Arthur Krim.
WITH AN OPEN MIND'
As if to put all this ACE conjecture at president of United Artists, and A. Montague,
rest, Eric Johnston, president of MPAA,
executive vice-president of Columbia.
late in the week commented that the session
Johnston will preside.
would only be an exploratory one and In addition to the official conferees, the
that no official agenda will be presented. MPAA will be represented by several advisers,
including John P. Byrne, general
Production-distribution, he added, is approaching
the conference with "an open sales manager for Loew's, Inc., who will be
mind," and was looking forward to a "fresh present as an authority on distribution,
start" at solving indu-stry problems.
and Adolph Schimel of Universal who will
appear as counsel. Ralph Hetzel. MPAA
Sitting in for ACE at the meeting will
be Horace Adams, president of Allied States vice-president, will serve as coordinator.
Ass'n: George KerasoUs. president of The-
Originally the meeting was scheduled
atre Owners of America; H. C. Arthur-,
president of Pacific Coast Theatres Ass'n:
For the Motion Picture Ass'n of America
Eric A. Johnston Arthur Krim Spyros P. Skouras
For the American Congress of Exhibitors
Harry C. Arthur Harry Brandt
S. H. Fabian George Kerasotes Sol A. Schwartz
Sol Schwartz, president of Metropolitan
Motion Picture Theatre Ass'n: Harry
Brandt, president of ITO of New York, and
S. H. Fabian, president of ACE.
for Tuesday il2i, but was set back to
Thursday because Skouras wouldn't be back
from Europe to make the earlier date. The
conference will be held at 3 p.m. in the
MPAA board room.
Heavy Attendance Assured
COMPO Committee Meet
NEW YORK—The meetins of the executive
committee of the Council of Mo:
tion Pictm-e Organizations Wednesday (13)
at the Paa-k Sheraton Hotel will be heavily
attended, according to Charles E. Mc-
Carthy, information du-ector. He based his
statement on the number of acceptances
already received.
Industry leaders have asked COMPO to
wage more active campaigns in certain exhibitor
problems, such as censorship and
daylight saving, because they have become
national in character.
BOXOFFICE May 11. 1959 '/.

East
126 DEALERS WILL COOPERATE
IN BETTER PROJECTION PLAN
Questionnaire Now Being
Drafted to Submit to
U.S. Exhibitors
NEW YORK—Cooperation of 126 theatre
equipment dealers throughout the country
has been obtained for the inspection and
training program of the Council for the
Improvement of Theatres and Motion Picture
Projection.
George Kerasotes, president of Theatre
Owners of America, said that the cooperation
of the field organizations had been
secured by Ray G. Colvin, executive director
of the Theatre Equipment Dealers
Ass'n, and that all of them would assist
in the progiam to be launched in the very
near future.
PREPARING QUESTIONNAIRE
Questionnaires are being prepared by
TOA to be sent to all theatre owners and
operators, asking them to return to TOA a
list of their needs and desires for technical
assistance. TOA then will send the requests,
either to the dealer specified by the theatreman,
or to the dealer located nearest to
the theatre, if no dealer is named. The
dealer will coordinate the services of sound,
projection and other equipment technical
experts to have them visit and inspect
the theatre. The technicians will make their
report directly to the theatre owner, leaving
it to the exhibitor to decide whether he
wishes to make the corrections, repairs, alterations
or modernizations suggested by
the technicians as desirable for the theatre.
When the surveys are completed, the
equipment dealer will notify TOA so that
an effective followup can be maintained.
Kerasotes said that all of the cooperating
firms had agreed to make the inspections
without cost or obligation to the theatre
operator. He said all recognized that, if
theatres did not present the best possible
picture and sound in the most comfortable
surroundings, they could not hope to remain
in business for long In the face of
competition from other entertainment
media. The Councils effort, he said, was
aimed at giving the operator the technical
information he needed, without cost for
this service.
The Motion Picture Research Council
recently reported a big majority of U. S.
theatres offer inferior screen presentation.
TO DEALER OF HIS CHOICE
Armed with this information, Kerasotes
added, the theatre owner will be a position
to undertake such alterations, repairs or
remodeling as are within his economic
ability, and select the dealer or supplier
of his own choice for the job.
The Council, organized on April 16 at
the call of TOA, has the pledged cooperation
of TEDA, Theatre Equipment and
Supply Manufacturers Ass'n, Society of
Motion Picture and Television Engineers,
lATSE, Altec Service Corp., RCA Service
Corp., National Carbon Co. and Lorraine
Carbon Co.
Alabon
Dealers Participating in Inspection Program
Queen Feature Service
ingham.
19121/2
Coliforn Midstate Theatre Supply, 1906 Thomos,
rex Corp., 6601 Romairve Street, Hollywood.
J. M. Boyd Co., 2032 S. Vermont Ave., Los
Angeles; John P. Filbert Co., Inc., 2007 S. Vermont
Ave., Los Angeles; National Theatre Supply Co.,
196)' S. Vermont Ave, Los Angeles; Pembrex Theatre
Supply Co., 1969 S. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles; B. F.
Sheerer Co., 1964 S. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles;
Glenn E Kcropp, 3600 Son Ysidro Way, Socramento;
National Theatre Supply Co., 255 Golden Gate Ave.,
San Francisco- Vi/olter G, Preddey, 187 Golden Gate
Ave., San Francisco; B. F. Shearer Co., 243 Golden
Gote' Ave., San Francisco; Western Theotncol Equipment
Co., 168 Golden Gate Ave., San Francisco.
Colorado: Notional Theatre Supply Co., 21 1 1 Chompo
St., Denver; Service Theatre Supply Co., 2054 Broodwo'y,
Denver; Western Service and Supply, Inc., 2134
Broodwoy, Denver.
Theatre Supply Co., 1819
District of Columbia: Ben Lust Theotre Supply Co.,
1001 New Jersey Ave,, N. W., Woshington; R&S
Theatre Supply Co., 1015 New Jersey Ave., N. W.,
Washington.
Ave
npo

'
Eastman Introduces New
High-Speed Color Film
NEW YORK—Eastman Kodak Co. 1ms
developed a new 35mni color negative motion
prctuie film which, it claims, has twice
the speed of negative color materials m
current use by the motion pictiu-e industix
The new film, demonstrated thLs week
in New York. Holly%vood and Miami Beach,
will enable production crews to capture
scenes in locations previously too dark for
Hclly^vood-quality shooting. It can /ecord
sequences in places where extra lighting
equipment cannot be used, and the lower
heat-Ulumination levels will mean added
comfort for the actor and gi-eater economy
in
For it was pointed out, since
,
longer „„„^
shooting.
takes will be possible under cooler hghts,
it is expected that more scenes will be completed
in one shooting—thereby sidestepping
technical problems involved in
piecemeal shooting of important sequences
The demonstrations this week were at
the RCA exhibition hall here, on the west
coast for .studio personnel and others, and
in Miami Beach for the Society of Motion
Picture and Television Engineers. Edward
Peck Curtis. Eastman vice-president, spoke
at the SMPTE convention on the new film.
The film, which the company identifies
as Eastman Color Negative Film. Type
5250. has been in research and development
fcr three vears and has been proved in
trade tests by more than 400 motion picture
companies. Curtis told the SMPTE
that the film will provide "new artistic
freedom and major economic advantages
for movie producers and will aid in makmg
movies more interesting and excitmg for
millions of theatregoers."
He said that the film is twice as sensitive
to light as present Eastman negative
material, surpasses the present product in
color rendition and requires no special
processing or handling.
Among the advantages listed were: The
fihn can be exposed in half the artificial
iUumination or sunlight required by presently-made
materials; location shootmg in
northern latitudes wiU benefit economically
from the longer shooting day possible
with the higher speed film: dramatic unpact
of widescreen spectaculars will be enhanced
by the sharper long-shot definitions;
smaller lens openings will help bring
far-distant objects into sharper focus; and
following moving action in close-ups will
be made easier.
The film will be manuf actui-ed m 35mm.
65mm and 70mm widtlis and wiU come
in standard 100, 400, 1,000 and 2,000-foot
reels It will be supplied on special order
until expanding production makes possible
offering the new film as a regular order
product.
How Film Is Processed to Reach Theatre Screen
COLOR
DUPUCATE
NEGATIVE
- sa^a
in releasing as announcement on its new high-speed ^olornegaUve motion
picture film, Eastman Kodak Co. supplied
f^^^^-^X'smif ^ reL 5ed on
ra:;marc:iorSt?e%TirThen,^rad¥
ar^'erployetto^^ivf color duplicate negative
f 'ch '« "-f^^^^'^^ ZrltnSX
with the original negative for making the final prints oj
'•^f'^^e oftwo ways
theatres. The duplicating operations are earned out °'^ "^ '"'^'f ''*.° ",. J^h^
in the first method, black-and-white separation positive
^^"^^f^J^^J^^
nrieinal negative on to Eastman Panchromatic Separation Film. -These separa
Hons are then printed in register on to Eastman Color Intermediate Film to
r the' color dupUcate negative. In the --nd method. Coloi^Inten^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Film is used for preparing both a color master po.sitive and a duplicate negatue.
Lewis: Fresh Selling View
Needed for Each New Film
PROVIDENCE—While tlie ba.sic problem
in selling motion pictui-es to the public
remains virtually unchanged—how to tell
vour audience you liave a picture they'd
enjoy seeing—motion picture promotion in
market is a complex and unique
today's
form of merchandising that requires a
fresh approach and fresh thinking for each
individual picture. Roger H. Lewis, national
director of advertising and publicity
for United Artists, made this statement
while discussing the role of the f "
vertising director on the Betty Adams tele- ;
vision program over WJAR-TV here.
There is no pat formula in solving the
;
problem, he declared.
"Public responsiveness changes, and no
two featui-es demand precisely the same
kind of handling. As a result, merchandising
that hits and holds its audience is m
some respects an ad-libbed operation,
played by instinct and ear," he said.
"Carrying the message to the movie market
is more than anything a matter of
alertness and flexibility. As long as the
audience tastes and habits sliift, film promotion
will continue to be a dynamic art
rather than a science."
Lewis said that hard-hitting and unusual
campaigns also sei-ved to make the
film's producer and stars aware of the
importance of promoting the film on all
levels "By establishing this awareness in
their minds, we are better able to get the
kind of material and cooperation necessary
to penetrate the broadest possible
audience. In today's market, it is most important
to have production people working
and thinking in terms of merchandismg
youi- picture before as well as after it is
completed," he said.
Md. Attorney General Says
Obscenity Bill Is Legal
BAL-nMORE—A legislative bill making
it a criminal offense to sliow obscene motion
pictures to minors is constitutional m
the opinion of Maryland's Attorney General
C. Ferdinand Sybert. The opinion.
written at the request of Governor J. Millard
Tawes, clears the way for signing ot
the controversial measure.
..„„w-i
Constitutionality of the bill was attacted
by opponents who cited a Chicago ordinance
held invaUd in a ruling several w^
ago by Judge Philip L. Sulhvan of Federal.
*'°Sybert said the Chicago ordinance differs
from the MaiTland biU "in many pertinent
respects." He also said decisions of
the Federal District Court in Chicago have
no controlling influence upon Maryland
laws He also declared it is possible for
fihns to be obscene to a minor .^h^ugj
f f.'^
they are not within the legal definition ol
obscenity when applied to adult^-
The supreme Coui-t. he said, left the door
open for this form of censorship m the
1952 case of Burstyn vs. Wilson. He quot^
from the Supreme Court opinion in th^
case- "Motion pictures
capacity for evil, particularly finong U»
youth of a community, than other modes |
"
possess a gi-eatw
. . . expression of i* ir. o
infractions of the law would result in a
fine up to $100 or up to 30 days \nj«'^-
It now awaits the governor s signature.
BOXOFFICE :: May 11, 1959

.
4-H Club to Teach
Etiquette at Movies
Camden, N. J. — The Gloucester
County 4-H Club believes that the
knack of escorting a girl down the aisle
in a motion picture theatre is one of
the "social graces" being overlooked
these days. So to correct this, the club
is launching a project to "re-educate"
youngsters in its area on how it should
be done properly. The club explains
that this, among other courses in a
special class it plans, will help youngsters
feel more at ease when in the
company of one another.
Although there is no pat technique
for being popular, the club says, knowing
what to do when you are escorting
a girl certainly will be a help.
"Movie etiquette," the club says, "is
one of the things that will help pave
the way for greater happiness."
In addition to the special course the
club will offer hints and guides for
making gracious introductions, how to
accept or refuse a date and how to
dress properly for every occasion.
Columbia Signs Schneer
To Nine-Film Contract
NEW YORK — Columbia and Charles
Schneer have signed a new financing and
distribution contract calling for the delivei-y
within tlii-ee years of nine pictures
to be made by Schneer's Morningside Pictures
Corp. and Morningside Productions
International. The last Schneer pictui-e under
the foraier contract was the successful
"The 7th Voyage of Sinbad."
First pictui-e under the new contract will
be "Battle of the Coral Sea," costarring
Cliff Roberston and Gia Scala, which was
recently completed. "Gulliver's Travels."
the second, will be in the Dynamation process
and color and will start the end of June
in Europe with Jack Sher directing.
A September start has been set for
the Wernher Von Braun story, now titled
"I Aim at the Stars." It will be followed
by Jules Verne's "Mysterious Island,"
which will be in Dynamation and color.
Ray Harryhausen is supervising pre-production
work. "Air Force Academy" -will
follow in 1960. Material for the others is
being sought.
Three Warner Bros. Films
For N.Y. Summer Dates
NEW YORK — Three Warner Bros, releases,
"The Nun's Story," "John Paul
Jones" and "The Young Philadelphians"
will be presented in New York during the
city's summer festival to be celebrated in
1959 as the Hudson-Champlain 350th Anniversary
Fete.
"The Young Philadelphians" will open
the Criterion Theatre May 21, spotlighted
at
with the arrival May 20 of the
ten Hollywood players participating in the
Warner Bros. Transcontinental Star Parade.
"John Paul Jones" will open at the
RivoU Theatre June 16 as a benefit for
the Scholarship Fund of the New York
Council and the Navy League of the U. S.
"The Nun's Story" will be the Fourth of
July attraction at the Radio City Music
Hall, probably opening late in June.
Loev/'s Putting Its Profits
Back Into the Business
HOLLYWOOD—Loew's, Inc. is going to
plough its six-month profit of nearly $5,-
000,000 back into the
business, rather than
declare a dividend.
This was the decision
of the board of directors
at a two-day
meeting held at the
studios last week.
The dividend would
have amounted to
$1.80 per share on
2,668,000 shares in
the new Loew's, Inc.
(MGM) company, on Joseph R. Vogel
the $4,798,000 net
profit for the 28 weeks ending March 18,
announced earlier by President Joseph R.
Vogel.
George Killion, chairman of the board,
emphasized that if present progress continues
the company plans to initiate a
regular dividend policy later in the year.
For the present, howr.
. '
ever, Killion ex-
";. plained that the vote
to put the money
back into the company
puts it in an
V
"even stronger finaniK
"TSs^
.
^^^^ position and as-
^jHk ~'^ij^L^ sures stockholders of
^^l^^^^^k a greater return on
^H ~^^^^^^| their investments."
^B ^ ^^^H Vogel informed the
^^ Mi^^^M board that every
George Killion
branch of the company
Is now operating
at a profit.
The group also gave its approval to a
schedule of films, both for theatre and
television, which will keep the studio at
virtual capacity for the balance of the
year.
Board members expressed agreement
with the plans of Sol C. Slegel, vice-president
in charge of production; Benjamin
Thau, administrative head of the studio,
and other executives to keep the MGM
sound stages fully occupied with an impressive
list of new properties.
At the same time, it was disclosed that
the company has ready for release 12 pictures
which are expected to "add substantially"
to the company's current profits.
Included in this group is "Ben-Hm-,"
recently filmed in Italy.
Among the theatrical films which it is
expected will go into production before the
end of the year are:
"The House of Seven Hawks," to be produced
David Rose, directed by by Richard Thorpe and
storring Robert Taylor.
"Please Don't Eot the Doisies," an Euterpe Production,
produced by Joe Pasternak, directed by
Chorles Wolters, starring Doris Day and David
"The Subterraneans,
v,'ith Denis SarxJers aj
Sanders.
"Bells Are Rir^ing,'
directed by Vincente A
"The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn," a 5i
Goldwyn, Jr. Production.
"The Secret Classroom," an Avon Producti(
be produced by Pandro 5. Bermon.
produced
by George Pol.
"Lady L," a Julion Bloustein Production.
to
"Go Naked In the World," on Arcolo Pictures
Production to be produced by Aoron Rosenberg, directed
by Ranald MocDougoll.
Andrew and
Sto
"How .Good Girls Get Morried," on Euterpe Production,
to be produced by Joe Posternak, storring
Debbie Reynolds.
"Key Witness," on Avon Production, to be produced
by Pondro S Bermon.
"The Elsie Jams Story," on Euterpe Production, to
be produced by Joe Pasternak.
"Cimorron," to be produced by Edmund Grainger,
v/ith Glenn Ford starring.
"The Travels of Jamie McPheeters," on Avon Production
to be produced by Lawrence Weingorten.
Before the cameras currently are "The
Wreck of the Mary Deare," a Julian Blaustein
Production, directed by Michael Anderson
with Gary Cooper and Charlton
Heston starred: "It Started With a Kiss,"
an Areola Production, produced by Aaron
Rosenberg, directed by George Marshall,
starring Glenn Ford and Debbie Reynolds:
and "Home From the Hill," a Sol C. Seigel
Production, produced by Edmund Grainger
with Vincente Minnelli directing and
Robert Mitchum and Eleanor Parker
starred. Slated to begin production next
week is "Sacred and Profane," also being
produced by Edmund Grainger with John
Sturges directing and Prank Sinatra and
Gina Lollobrigida heading the cast.
The board announced, too, that MGM
will continue its active production of films
for television with a number of new TV
series now being readied for the cameras.
In addition to Vogel and Killion, members
of the board attending the meetings
were: Ellsworth C. Alvord and J. Howard
McGrath, of Washington; Nathan Cummings,
Chicago: and Bennett Cerf, Ii-a
Guilden, Benjamin Melniker, Robert H.
O'Brien, Philip A. Roth, John I. Snyder,
of New York; and William A. Parker, Boston.
SIGN FOR BEN-HUR' — Contracts
for the world premiere of "Ben-Hur"
at Loew's State Theatre in New York
were signed in the office of Eugene
Picker, seated left, president of Loew's
Theatres. Seated with Picker is Jack
Byrne, MGM vice-president and general
sales manager. Standing are Robert
Mochrie, left, special "Ben-Hur"
representative, and Burtus Bishop, Assistant
general sales manager.
BOXOFFICE May 11,

forced
U-l Plans Strong Preselling of Films;
Encouraged by Rise in Attendance
David A. 1 ipton third from left I nnosal I'.dures vice-president, is seen
he talked to tradepress editors and reporters ubuut the company's plans to increase
its budget to presell "This Earth Is Mine." In the photo, left to right:
Herman Kass, eastern exploitation manager; Philip Gerard, eastern pubhcity
manager: Lipton; Charles Simonelli. eastern advertising and pubUcity department
manager, and Jeff Livingston, eastern advertising manager.
New York—The preselling campaign on
"Imitation of Ufe" was so outstandingly
ance.
successful that Universal-International will 000,000.
follow the same pattern—and to a greater Lipton said the tradepapers should be
After the interview, U-I reported that
"Imitation" is meeting with the same success
in its fh-st overseas openings that
degree—on forthcoming product, including
"This Earth Is Mine," David A. Lip-
exhibition interest. The first requisite of
"loaded" with film advertising to stimulate
ton, vice-president, told the tradepress May a successful campaign is to sell exhibitors marked its reception in the U. S. It is scoring
in the Philippines and England.
1 at company headquarters. He said the through the tradepapers. Ti-adepaper advertising
instills confidence in product
time is ripe for more promotion because
television is driving women away from the among those in the field who must seU
'South Pacific' in 35mm
sets, and there is actual evidence they are the film. Theatre managers have films
returning to the picture theatres.
handed them by the bookers. Tradepapers To Get June Release
Lipton quoted from a survey prepared should make a special efforts to tell the NEW YORK—"South Pacific" in conventional
35mm prints will become avaU-
for U-I by Sindlinger & Co., business analysts,
managers how to handle the films.
which showed increased attendance. Advertising is all-important, Lipton said. able starting in late June. The release
It found that frequent moviegoers currently
Publicity sells personalities and supplies in-
policy will be tailored to fit the situation
are 16.5 per cent of the population, confoi-mation
about a film. Ads create an in each city and the picture will be shown
stituting 63.9 per cent of the average weekly
"image" of the film and have a sales appeal
only in situations where the Todd-AO en-
not found in pubUcity.
gagement has terminated or where no
Women are not interested in TV westerns,
Todd-AO installations exist. It will not
audience; marginal moviegoers, ciu--
per
rently 12.3 per cent, constituting 15.9
cent of the average weekly audience; infrequent
action films and films about private-
emotional
play where the Todd-AO engagement is
moviegoers, 36.4 per cent, coneyes,
Lipton said, because they lack content, so women are reading more
stituting 20.2 per cent of the average week-
and are leaving the home to find entertainment
elsewhere, When suitable films
come along, women recognize them as what
they want and need in an entertainment
way. Downtown shopping has increased so
that the first-runs are getting the benefit
of more women shoppers, and there is more
ly audience, and those who haven't attended
in a year, 34.8 per cent of the total
population.
The frequent group consists of those who
attend more than once a month. The marginal
group attends once a month and the
infrequent group attends less than once.
For the first time in ten years the number
of frequent moviegoers is increasing,
rising in age level as well as in numbers,
Lapton said. He called it significent in
terms of overall business. He said an increase
among marginal moviegoers is also
noticeable and is an encoui-aging .sign, and
that there is evidence the infrequent group
Ls shifting to the marginal group. The importance
of the trend, he said, lay in the
fact that "we must get a high percentage
of the marginal and infrequent groups to partly due, he said, to theatre demands for
early releasing of product, and the whole
hit high grosses."
Lipton saw a heightened industry confidence
in the future. He called the summer The fact that women have flocked to
industry suffered.
"
release list "incredible." He predicted more the theatres to see "Imitation the
national advertising by the majors and conclusion that U-I had presold them expertly,
Lipton maintained. The campaign,
called it a good thing, because the more
advertising money spent, the more editors aimed principally at them, attracted 70 To date the film rental gross on the picture
In lodd-AO is $9,000,000, of which
wiU conclude that the IndustiT is healthy per cent female audiences, most of the
and the more alU-nlion they will pay to women more than 25 years old. Preselling $6,000,000 has been obtained in 58 U. S,
The more a company has at stake in reduced the effect of some adverse reviews. and Canadian engagements and the balance
it.
a film, the more it should spend in .sup-
Some critical reviewers later admitted that.
overseas.
port of it, he said. U-I has four coming
films that represent an investment of $15,-
of a choice of entertainment nowadays to
satisfy more selective tastes.
"We don't have to aim film appeal primarily
at young people," Lipton said.
He spoke out in favor of escapist films
such as "Imitation of Life" and "The Vikings,"
saying people want them because
of international and national tensions. He
regretted that the industry is "getting out
too many films and too fast and too cold,"
and not preselling them properly. That was
in addition to expressing their opinions,
they shouldn't Ixave tried to forecast a
lack of public acceptance.
Imitation" publicity reached 14,000,000
before the first ads appeared, according to
Lipton. If the film had been released then,
he said, it would have had limited appeal.
The potential audience rose to 23,000,000
after the first ads appeared and then to
55,000,000 the last week of the campaign.
U-I followed the preselling ads with premieres,
tours, newspaper ads off the entertainment
pages and radio spots ten days
before premieres. The latter were aimed at
women between the hours of 10 a.m. and
4 p.m. and at teenagers between 4 to 6 p.m.
Little attention was paid to the teenagers
until after the basic female audience had
been captm-ed.
A preselling campaign greater than that
for "Imitation" wiU be used this summer
for "This Earth Is Mine." There wiU be
ads in the tradepapers and fan and national
magazines. The consumer media ads
WiU be aimed especiaUy at women and the
amount spent on them will be substantially
more than that spent on "Imitation," Lipton
said.
He stated he had received a recent report
showing that eight out of ten current films
are benefiting from a high female attend-
cui'rent.
Alex Harrison, 20th-Fox general sales
manager, said the general release prints
were not in CinemaScope but that the aspect
ratio would be the same as Cinema-
Scope, 2.55 to 1.
The 20th-Pox policy will be similar to
that adopted by Paramount for the general
release of "The Ten Commandments."
However, 20th-Pox will recommend that
the picture be shown on the basis of one
performance a night and one or two matinees
a week. There will be no intermission
nor will there be any hard-ticket policies.
Whether to raise admission prices will be
a decision for the exhibitor to make.
Glenn Norris, assistant general sales
manager, and Joseph Sugar, sales manager
for "South Pacific," explained at a
press meeting during the week that in
cities where the film had played in Todd-
AO. the picture would open in key neighborhood
theatres simultaneously. So far
the picture has been set to play in eight
theatres each in Chicago and Philadelphia.
Approximately 250 prints wiU be in use at
the start.
BOXOFFICE May 11, 1959

^p
e have tried to
create something new.
Porgy and Bess as a motion picture is
the fulfillment of a dream I have had
for many years.
It is also my personal tribute to
America's greatest composer, the composer
of this immortal music-drama,
George Gershwin.
George Gershwin was a dear friend
of mine, as is his brother and collaborator,
Ira. When they combined their
talents with that of the distinguished
poet and novelist DuBose Heyward,
they created, in Porgy and Bess, an
American classic.
The years that have passed since
first burst upon the scene have enhanced
its stature, both in America and
throughout the world. To its vast audiences—
spanning two generations and
both hemispheres— it has brought enduring
joy. To our country it has
brought glory.
it
Magnificent as its many stage productions
have been, its expansion on the
screen has opened exciting doors of
opportunity for hitherto unrealizable
movement and color, scope, intensity,
intimacy and maximum sound control
of its unforgettably melodious and
rhythmic range.
I
believe that we have risen to these
opportunities. And I feel deeply honored
that Ira Gershwin and the heirs of
George Gershwin and DuBose Heyward
expressed their confidence in us
by granting me the privilege of making
this classic into a motion picture.
For over two years, with the finest
available talent in every phase of filmmaking,
we have sought to justify
their trust.
All the world is now the stage for
Porgy and Bess. It is a motion picture
of proud people and my pride in presenting
it is immeasurable!'
SAMUEL GOLDWYN

A
fitroduct
fM^Wk
i

•
. .
.
I
i
TILL YOU'VE SEEN IT
ON THE SCREEN!
SAMUEL GOLD\V\'N
PORGY
arvd
jM^
^iN
SIDNEY POITIER u Porgy
Bess, she is his woman now—
no matter what, no matter
who. And he'll make them all
"keep their mouths ofFher". .
DOROTHY DANDRIDGE .
is
Bess
She carries Crown's money in
her stocking— till a dollar and
|
a half divorce and a long look
from Porgy "change woman
into ladv"
starring
SIDNEY POITIER • DOROTHY DANDRID6E
SAMMY DAVIS,Jr.-
Music by GEORGE GERSHWIN
PEARL BAILEY
• Libretto by DuBOSE HEYWARD
Lyrics by DuBOSE HEYWARD and IRA GERSHWIN
(Founded on the play 'Porgy' by DuBOSE and DOROTHY HEYWARD)
Originally produced for the stage by the Theatre Guild • Screenplay by N. RICHARD NASH
Directed by OTTO PREM1N6ER • Distributed by COLUMBIA PICTURES
TODD-AO • TECHNICOLOR
STEREOPHONIC SOUND
SAMMY DAVIS, JR. u
Sporting Life
He peddles "happy dust" and
ten cent dreams, and there's
a smell of brimstone aboutj
him ...
PEARL BAILEY m Man..
Someday someone will gjvt
Sporting Life what's cominij
to him and she has a
it'll he her .
feelinp
\V.\RM':R
\\\)RL1) PRKMII^RK
rHKATRl NKW YORK CVVW l

from
National Theatres Net
For 26 Weeks Is Up
LOS ANGELES—An upswing in consoli-
Theatres Inc.,
26 weeks ended
dat;i net income of National
and its subsidiaries for tlie
March 31. 1959. was announced, with $903.-
838 or 34 cents per share for the period
as compared with $743,897 or 28 cents per
share for the first 26 weelcs of the preceding
fiscal year. These amounts include
gains mot federal taxes
i the disposition
of interests in theatres and properties
of $259,000 or 9 cents per share for
the current period which compares with
$170,000 or 6 cents per share for the corre;p3nding
period of last year.
For the 13 weeks period ended March 31.
1959 the consolidated net income of NT
and subsidiaries was $541,000 or 20 cents
per share, compared with $678,000 or 25
cents per share in the corre-sponding quarter
last year. Net gains and losses from
the dispositions of interests in theatres and
properties were insignificant in each of
these periods.
The company disposed of 26 theatres
during the first half of its fiscal year.
The net income does not include NT's
newly acquired subsidiary. National Telefilm
Associates, Inc. NTA was acquired
April 6 when NT obtained 88 per cent of
the common stock in an exchange offer.
Wilcoxon Goes to England
For Scout Film Data
HOLLYWOOD—Henry Wilcoxon left for
England Friday 8 ) for conferences on the
forthcoming
<
film, "On My Honor," on
which he was working with C. B. DeMille
at the time of the producer-director's
death. The film is a biography of Lord
Robert Baden-Powell, founder of the
Scouting Movement. Wilcoxon is to confer
with Lady Baden-Powell and to receive
from her the handwritten diaries and personal
letters of her husband. Meetings are
also scheduled with the British soldiern?ros
son. the present Lord Baden-Powell,
and with Mrs. E. K. Wade. Baden-Powell's
secretary for 27 years.
"On My Honor" is being produced by
Motion Picture Associates, who co-produced
"The Ten Commandments" with
Paramount. Wilcoxon is producing the
film, on which Jesse Lasky jr. is now wilting
the screenplay.
While in England, Wilroxon will be house
guest of Lady Baden-Powell at Hampton
Court Palace.
'Anne Frank' Rated High
By Film Estimate Board
NEW YORK—"The Diary of Anne
Prank" (20th-Fox> is awarded the rating
cf an outstanding picture in the April 15
issue of reviews prepared by the Film Estimate
Board of National Organizations. It
is also rated for adults and young people.
Other adult-young people ratings go to
"The Bandit of Zhobe" iCoD ,
"Count Your
Bljssings" iMGMi, "Thunder in the Sun"
(Parai, "Up P'risco;>e" (WB), "Green
Mansions" (MGM). "Juke Box Rhythm"
•Coll and "Warlock" (20th-Poxi.
"Mustang" lUAi is the only picture in
the listing rated for family audiences.
Detroit Budgets $50,000
For New B-B Campaign
CEREBRAL PALSY CAMPAIGN —
Edward L. Hyman and Simon B. Siegel,
vice-presidents of American Broadcasting-Paramount
Theatres, inaugurate
the 1959 fund-raising campaign
for United Cerebral Palsy by
presenting a check for more thin $75,-
000 to Leonard H. Goldenson, center, a
founder of UCP and chairman of its
board of directors, representing the
combined contributions of the home
office staff and executives of AB-PT
and his personal friends. With Goldenson
is four-year-old Paula Suter of
Baltimore, campaign poster girl.
Messmore Kendall Rites;
Built N. Y. Capitol Theatre
NEW YORK—Funeral services for Messmore
KendaU, 86, who built the Capitol
Theatre, New York, in 1919, were held at
the Chm-ch of the Heavenly Rest Tuesday

.
nation
'
WHAT A JANE!
WHAT A JOY!
WHAT A JUST PLAIN
WONDERFUL PICTURE!
Like
"IT
"IT
HAPPENED ONE NIGHT"...
HAPPENED TO JANE"!
Like
"MR. DEEDS GOES TO TOWN"...
"JANE"'llgototown!
It's
Columbia's
big -and -different
family picture
^^^.
this year...
and count on it,
the whole
moviegoing
is
/.c^
one big
1 family!
STEVE FORREST- NORMANKATKOV- MAX WIIK and'NQRMAN KATKOV-RICHARDQUJ-MARTIN M?LCHER-AN ARWIN PRODUCTION -IN jS

m WAYS TO PICK A WINNi
:e PATRON

. . . Coronita
. . Gogol's
. .
^oiiffW^Md ^Cfo

3 TIMES
O
*This is the third time that SindMnger & Co. has tabulated
large samples pertaining to the subject of the impact of the
theatre trailer. Each time the same approximate result is
derived, regardless of whether the tabulations are based on
"admissions" or on "dollars"; that is, each time the theatre
trailer has been found to be the motivating factor that
delivers approximotely 43.5% of the dollars.
*tFull particulars of Sindlinger's detailed analysis substantiating
these statements will be mailed to you upon request.
nfiTionni
SERVICE
f wfinDusmy

20th-Fox Releasing
Blockbusters at Rate
Of Two Each Month
Established Stars Joined by Studio-Developed
New Faces' in Great Variety of Summer Fare
CURRENT
"Worlock," a big-scale
western in CinemaScopc
and color, wos an April
release. Its stors ore
Henry Fonda, Richord
Widmark,
Anthony
Quinn, Dorothy Malone,
Dolores Michaels. Edword
Dmy+ryk produced.
CURRENT
Two young stars. Dean
Stockwell and Bradford
Dillman, and veteran
Orson Welles oppear in
"Compulsion," the story
of one of the century's
greot crimes. Richard
Zonuck produced, Richard
Fleischer directed.

,
will
, and
'
and
operates in a New York parish and his
guiding hand is aimed at a young entertainer
who has fallen for a heel.
The blockbusters scheduled for June
dates are "The Man Who Understood
Women," an adaptation of Romain Gary's
novel, "Colors of the Day." with Leslie
Caron and Henry Fonda in the marqueelights
roles, and a summertime cinematic
sundae, "Holiday for Lovers," starring
Clifton Webb and Jane Wyman and featuring
the younger element in the
Fox stable—Gary Crosby, Jill St.
20th-
John
and Carol Lynley. This film is a frothy
concoction of warm-weather fare, based on
a holiday in Latin-America, in which
harassed parents and their romantically
inclined young ones battle it out on a
south-of-the-border front. "The Man Who
Understood Women" is the story of romance
set against the backgrounds of the
Riviera. Paris and Hollywood. Cesare
Danova, Myi-on McCormick and Com'ad
Nagel are featured players.
For July, the emphasis is on the younger
players. One of the pictures. "Blue Denim"
is an adaptation of a major Broadway hit
of the current season, in which the serious
side of teenage problems holds the spotlight
of interest. The adults are Marsha
Hunt and Macdonald Carey and the young
people are Brandon DeWilde, Warren Berlinger
and Carol Lynley.
Buddy Adler, 20th-Fox production chief,
has called special attention to Miss Lynley
as a coming personality, and is urging
exhibitors to help build her as a real boxoffice
asset. He calls the script of "Blue
Denim" a "sizzler." The second release of
the month will be "A Pi-ivate's Affair," a
service comedy which stars Sal Mineo,
Gary Crosby, Christine Carere and Barry
Coe, and is aimed at the vacationing teenage
crowd.
July also is the month in which "South
JULY
Pacific," the Rodgers and Hammerstein "Blue Denim" wos one
musical success, heretofore available only of the hit plays of the
to theatres equipped for the Todd-AO current Broadway season
process, will be released for 35mm Cinema- and comes to the screen
Scope projection. The production stars in a version produced by
Rossano Brazzi, Mitzi Gaynor, John Kerr, Charles Brockett and directed
by Philip Dunne.
Ray Walston and France Nuyen, the young
star of Broadway's hit "The World of It is comedy-droma
Suzie Wong."
of young people and
The 20th-Fox sales and ad-publicity organizations
have revealed plans for some Nina Shipman and Mar-
stars Brandon DeWildc,
of the early fall releases. At the moment, sha Hunt (shown here),
the company intends to place "The Alaskans,"
starring John Wayne and Robert Lynley and Warren Ber-
Macdonald Carey, Carol
Mitchum, into release in August, about the linger, the lost two repeating
roles they cre-
same time they have scheduled "Casino,"
starring Richard Widmark. Then in September,
will come a remake of a famous
ated on Broadway.
movie clasric, "The Blue Angel," in which
May Britt and Curt Jurgens will be starred,
and Jerry Wald's "The Best of Everything,"
based on a best-selling novel, whi
pail- Suzy Parker and Robert Evans
feature Margaret Leigh ton.
In the works, accordinti to Adler, are a
great many productions which are shaping
up as strong entries for later in the year
early 1960. Among them are Walter
Wanger's "Cleopatra"; F. Scott Fitzgerald's
great novel, "Tender Is the Night," which
David O. Selznick will produce: Gustave
Flaubert's classic novel, "Salammbo," a
spectacle which Charles Brackett will produce,
and Jules Verne's "Journey to the
Center of the Earth" which Brackett also
will produce: Terrence Rattigan's "O
Mistress Mine," a Broadway success which
will star Deborah Kerr. And Cole Porter'.s
"Can-Can" will be still another.
JUNE
The young players join
with veterans Clifton
Webb and Jane Wyman
in "Holiday for Lovers."
The youngsters shown
here are Carol Lynley
and Gary Crosby. Jill
St. John is also in the
picture which David
Weisbart produced and
Henry Levin directed.
JUNE
"The
Mon Who Understood
Women" is on
adaptation of the novel
"Colors of the Day" by
Romain Gory. Produced
and directed by Nunnally
Johnson, it stors
Leslie Caron and Henry
Fonda and features Cesare
Danova, who is
shown with the stars in
the scene from the film.
JULY
A service comedy, "A
Private's Affair," highlights
acting talents of
the younger set. The
"new faces" include Sol
Mineo, Gary Crosby,
Barry Coe, Christine Corcre,
Barbara Eden, plus
Kendoll Scott, the sergeant
in the photo.
Djvid Weisbart produced
and Rooul Walsh
directed.
BOXOFFICE :: May 11. 1959

Sanders,
producer
and
FEATURE REVIEW
'The Nun's Story'
Warner Bros.
By FRANK LEYENDECKER
HS AN authentic
and moving picturization
of Kathryn C. Hulme's best-selling
novel about the real-life adventures of a
Belgian nun. this Fred C. Zinnemann
production will have a tremendous appeal
to women patrons. The marquee value ot
Audrey Hepburn, giving another of her
gentle, luminous portrayals, should guarantee
strong boxoffice value generally.
Production-wise. Zinnemann. who won an
Academy Award in 1953 for his direction
of "From Here to Eternity," and producer
Henry Blanke spared no effort to make
this widely read book an equally profitable
motion picture. The picture was entirely
filmed abroad, partly on actual locations
In the Belgian Congo, in various cities of
Belgium and in studios in Rome. Tlie Technicolor
photography by Fi-anz Planer adds
immeasurably to the realism and beauty
of these backgrounds. A fine musical score
composed and conducted by Fi-anz Waxman
is another plus value.
It is a film industry axiom that no religious
picture has failed to make money,
as witness "Going My Way." "The Song of
Bemadette." "The BeUs of St. Mary's"
and countless more and. among women
fans. "The Nun's Story" has a great "wantto-see"
potential just as the HuUne novel
was being read or discussed by women in
every walk of life two years back. Because
the title and the subject matter of a young
woman's valiant attempt to conform to the
life of obedience and humility required by
her religious order seem.s lacking in excitement,
the film will have lesser interest
for male moviegoers or to the teenagers, but
Miss Hepburn's draw will pull in many.
The distaff side will guarantee its success
Worner Bros,
presents
Fred Zinnemann's production
"THE NUN'S STORY"
Cinemascope and Technicolor
Rotio:
2.55-i
Running time: 149 minutes
CREDITS
Produced by Henry Blonke. Directed by Fred
Zinnemonn. Screenplay by Robert Anderson from
book by Kathryn C. Hulme. Director of
t+ie
pfiotogro.-hy, Franz Ploner, AS C Art director,
Fi Alexander Trouner, m editor, Walter Thompson.
Sound by Oliver S Gorretson. Hair stylist,
Grozia De Rossi. Mokeup by Alberto Do Rossi.
Music composed and conducted by Franz Woxmon.
Costumes designed by Mar|orie Best. Set
rector, Piero Mussetta
THE CAST
Sister Luke Audrey Hepburn
Dr. Fortunoti Peter Finch
Mother Emonuel Edith Evons
Dome
Mother Mothilde Dome Peggy Ashcroft
Dr. Von Der Mol Dean Jogger
Sister Morghorito Mildred Dunnock
Mother Chnstophe Beatrice Straight
Sister Williom Patricio Collinge
Sister Eleonof Rosalie Crutchley
Mothcf Kothorine Borbora O'Neil
Mother Morcello
Ruth White
Sister Poullne Morgoret Phillips
Sister Aurclie Dorothy Alison
Archangel Colleen Dewhurst
Father Vermeuhlen Nioll MacGinnis
Choploin Stephen Murray
ond Patricio Jeffries, Tonio
Bosworth, Lionel
iL-lwcrt, Richord O'Sullivan.
Audrey Hepburn with Peter Finch in
Fred Zinnemann's production of "The
Nun's Story," for Warner Bros, release.
boxoffice-wise. without question.
The screenplay by Robert Anderson
highlights the most dramatic parts of the
Huuue novel and Zinnemann has guided
his top-flight cast magnificently. While
the picture's mood is often necessarily
somber particularly when the young nun
dedicates her life to the church, the 149-
minutes running time allows for many human
interest touches but only rare comedy
bits, one of the best of the latter being
the antics of a minute monkey that frolics
on Sister Luke's sick bed.
In addition to Miss Hepburn's beautifully
poignant portrayal, which encompasses
her training at the convent, her
adventures as a nursing nun at a mental
hoispital in Belgium and in the Belgian
Congo and her eventual return to the outside
world, the picture has two outstanding
performances. Dame Edith Evans, who
so calm, majestic and compassionate as
is
Mother Emanuel, and Dean Jagger, who
is the picture of simplicity and imderstanding,
as the young nun's father. Excellent,
too. is Peter Finch, as the worldly
surgeon who comes to have a high regard
for Sister Luke. Such noted stage actresses
as Mildred Dunnock, Beatrice
Straight, Margaret Phillips. Patricia Collinge.
Ruth White and Britain's Dame
Peggy Ashcroft are well cast but, perhaps
because their nuns' habits reveal only the
oval of their faces, they fail to stand out
as personalitias. Only Dorothy Alison, as
the gentle nun who is killed by a fanatic.a
Congo native, and Colleen Dewhurst.
in a vivid bit as a dangerous mental patient,
make a strong impression.
The picture opens as the young Audrey
Hepburn leaves her father (Dean Jaggen
to enter a Belgian convent to dedicate
h'!r life to the church. She reveals to
Mother Emanuel (Dame Edith Evans) her
desire to become a nursing nun in the Congo
but. because she is not altogether successful
in her attempts to show complete
humility in her new life, she is first sent
to a mental sanatorium near Brussels. At
returns to the outside world.
'Crime, Punishment USA'
On Art House Policy
NEW YORK—Allied Ai-tists will employ
an art house pattern of release for the first
showings of "Crime and Punishment,
U. S. A.." the modest-budget feature made
by Ten-y and Denis Sanders, the first art
house picture released by AA except for the
British films formerly distributed by its
subsidiary, Stratford Pictures.
Jolin Dei-vin. who formerly handled the
British product for AA. will handle tlie
sales for this modern version of the Dostoevski
classic. It will open at the Guild
Theatre here May 26 and in other key cities
shortly thereafter. Meanwhile, the pictures
will also be playing in college towns,
none of them in conflict with the key cities.
The picture, which was made for little
more than $100,000, as the fu-st feature
i i
effort of Terry Denis ' director
i has no star names and
must be sold to the student and classic
public, as was the case when "Marty" was
first shown, the Sanders maintain. Later,
as "Marty" did. they hope to play "Crime
and Punishment, U. S. A." in regular
houses.
The picture, which was financed 60 per
cent by AA, was actually shot in 12 days
mainly in Santa Monica locations, following
a three-week rehearsal period and more
than three months of preparation. The
best-known screen name is Mai-y Mui-phy,
playing her first "bad girl" role, but Frank
Silvera and Marian Seldes are well-known
on stage and TV and the Sanders believe
they have a "find" in George Hamilton,
the 19-year-old lead who never acted before.
The Sanders have Hamilton under
contract but MGM has recently taken over
part of the contract and are featuring him
in "Heme Fi-om the Hill," starring Robert
Mitchum.
'Medusa' on AIP Slate;
Eight Releases Reset
HOLLYWOOD—American-International
Pictm-es toppers James H. Nicholson and
Samuel Z. Arkoff have announced "Medusa,"
based on the maiden of mythology,
as a forthcoming featm-e.
At the same time. AIP disclosed it has
rescheduled release dates for eight 1959
features and set dates for thi-ee I960 pictures.
New dates for the eight rescheduled
films are:
July 8— "Diary of a High School Bride":
July 29— "The Haunted House of Usher":
August 19—"Sheba and the Gladiator":
September 23— "The Gill on Death Row":
September 23— "The Jailbreakers" :
November
18— 'Colossus and the Golden
Horde": and December 23— "Take Me to
Your Leader."
The three AIP features scheduled so far
for 1960 are:
last, she leaves for the Congo, where she
is assigned to work with Peter Pinch, a January 13—"Bombs Away
": January 13
fine doctor but an unbeliever. Later, she — "Foxhole": and Februai-y 3— "Eve and
discovers she has tuberculosis, but Finch the Diagon."
and the nuns care for her and she recovers.
As World War II starts, she is sent
back to Belgium and is told she cannot return
to the Congo. Instead she is sent to NEW YORK— "Hideout in the Sun is
Nudist Film Retitled
"
a Dutch hospital, where she Is drawn into the final title of the Doris Wishman nudist
underground activities. When she leams feature which was filmed in Florida. It
that her father has been killed by machine be released by Astor Pictures, which is
will
guns Audrey realizes she must help her planning an advertising campaign for the
people. She signs the nece.ssary papers and picture's June release, according to Fred
Bellin. Astor president.
22
BOXOFFICE May 11. 1959

_y .:.r^
HIGHEST
RATING IN
20 YEARS
Film business history was made
last week at Loew's 72nd St,
N.Y. when M-G-M's smashing
new METROCOLOR hit "ASK
ANY GIRL" got a 99.4 rating
by Film Research Surveys, Inc.
TOPPING ALL PRIOR AUDI-
ENCE PREVIEWS in its history.
AND SHIRLEY MacLAINE GOT
THE TOP ALL-TIME FEMALE
STAR RATING! With Outstanding
Male Star Acclaim
For Academy Award Winner
DAVID NIVEN!
WATCH FOR
THEATRE PREVIEWS IN
EXCHANGE CITIES!

1 12'
6
. Johnston
BETWEEN THE LINES
1
1
Johnston Optimistic
£RIC JOHNSTON, pre.sident of the Motion
Picture As.s'n of America, addressed
the National Film Carriers at a
luncheon which closed the organization's
annua! convention in New York Wednesday
said that, despite problems
facing every segment of the industry.
motion pictures were not going out of
business. Describing motion pictures as
"the most powerful medium of communication
that the world has ever known,"
Johnston said that this was still an infant
industry and that it was growing and developing
continuously.
The MPAA president said he believed
"the worst of om- difficulties are in the
past" and that "we are about to look at
greener pastures from new mountain tops."
But all segments of the industry must
work together in ironing out the many problems,
adding that it was "a challenge to
of us."
all
Johnston's optimism was warmly received
by the men who transport the films
to the theatres.
The ACE-MPAA Meeting
pHE MEETING scheduled for Tuesday
between representatives of the
Motion Picture Ass'n of America and the
American Congress of Exhibitors is expected
to be the first of a series of sessions
to be called to delve into distributorexhibitor
problems. Some industry observers
believe that the first meeting will
be primarily exploratory, with definite action
to be taken at subsequent sessions. In
fact, it is reported that MPAA-ACE meetings
will become regular and continuous
events, possibly on a quarterly basis.
Commenting on this week's initial gettogether.
Theatre Owners of America, in
a current bulletin, stated that "the mere
fact that the meeting will be held, and
should make progress in the areas of increasing
production and improving film
company-exhibitor relations, is in itself
of tremendous importance."
•
Behavior in Theatres
^LTHOUGH theatre attendance appears
to be on the uptrend, various reasons
for the past doldrums have been assigned
to television, unpopular film fare and other
competitive forces. But another reason may
have been touched upon only slightly.
While on a recent trip to the midwest.
we had the occasion to discuss motion
pictures with several families and learned
that .some of them had not been to a theatre
for a long time. When we asked for
rea.sons, the answers were not television
want to go or not. Also, some groups of
juveniles use the theatre as a meetini;
place for chatter and gossip, she said,
without any intentions of seeing the program.
One manager told her that he had
seen teenagers attend the theatre two
nights in a row; one night to talk and the
next night to see the picture.
"That is why my husband and I have
stopped going to the movies." she stated.
Many theatremen are faced with the
same problem. Rowdy patrons keep a big
segment of potential ticket buyers at home
or send them to other sources of amusement.
In discussing the situation, another
woman said she had asked the manager of
her neighborhood theatre what could be
done about it. He said he had tried everything
and had not come up with a solution.
It may seem like an offbeat project, but
it might be possible for an organization
such as the Council of Motion Picture
Organizations or the American Congress
of Exhibitors to devise an educational
program that would put a halt on both
vandalism and rowdy behavior in theatres.
Schools might be solicited for support.
Parent-Teacher groups might cooperate.
Such a plan, if successful, would be
rendering a great sei-vice to the industry.
Tightening Up
'UNITED ARTISTS' recently adopted
policy of insisting on full payment of
terms before negotiating an adjustment is
being followed by some other companies
—not exactly on the same pattern, but
along similar lines. At least one company,
and perhaps others, has adopted a policy
of shipping prints C.O.D. to accounts which
have withheld payment or have paid a
smaller amount than specified in the contracts.
Also, in some instances, the distributor
is demanding the guarantee in advance.
The companies are getting tough, one
exhibitor said. He added that he did not
blame them entirely because their accounts
receivable on played pictures run into
more than a million dollars.
A distribution executive said that in
many cases the large circuits are the
slowest payers. However, he blamed a retrenchment
of personnel in the accounting
departments for the slowdowns, rather
than a reluctance to pay up.
•
Girls and the Movies
n ND SPEAKING of teenage girls.
Seventeen
Magazine has brought out some
interesting figures based on a recent survey.
It found that 54.9 per cent of them
attend a theatre during an average week.
And they are influenced the most by the
type of picture, the stars and word-ofmouth.
The poll, conducted through the
or subject matter or any other medium of
diversion. The reason, many of the persons
said, was the behavior of teenagers
and children in the theatre. The kids run
up and down the aisles, talk in loud voices
and cause considerable annoyance to the
magazine's 985 Consumer Panel members,
showed that 34.6 per cent of the girls attend
grownup patrons.
a theatre regularly with other girl
It seem.s. one woman said, that too many friends. 43.3 per cent with boy friends and
parents use the theatre as a "baby sitter." 40.6 per cent occasionally with their parents.
Most of them—67 per cent—rarely
They send the children to a theatre to get
them out of the way, whether the kids go to a theatre alone.
- New Columbia Int'l Posts
zzzzzm —
To Frankovich, Hargreaves
NEW YORK—M. J. Ranko\ach. managing
ciiicctor of Columbia Pictures, Ltd.,
By AL STEEN °^ Great Britain, has been elevated to the
Kenneth Hargreaves M. J. Frankovich
post of chairman of the board and Kenneth
N. Hargreaves, until recently president
of Rank Film Distributors of America,
will succeed Frankovich in his foiiner
post, according to A. Schneider, president
of Columbia, and Lacy W. Kastner. president
of Columbia International Corp.
The reorganization of the Columbia organization
in Britain was prompted by the
expaiLsion of the production program in
the eastern hemisphere with Fi-ankovich,
who is also vice-president of Coltimbia International,
to act as Columbia's Hollywood
liaison to represent the studio in all
production activity in England and Em-ope.
Frankovich, who was formerly an independent
film producer, will also coordinate
the activities of independent producers
based in England and the Continent.
Hargreaves, who was in cliarge of distribution
in Britain for the Rank Organization
before coming to New York two
years ago, will retm-n to London in the
near future to assume his new assignment.
Fred Astaire Takes Top
TV Academy Awards
HOLLYWOOD—An old film pro, Fred
Astaire, took top honors in the TV Academy's
Emmy Awards Wednesday i6). His
"An Evening With Fi-ed Astaire." a program
which was telecast twice dm'ing the
season, was named the best single progiam
of tlie year and the best special musical
or variety show. In addition, Astaire won
an Emmy as the best single performer and
various aspects of the production of the
show were singled out for honors.
Among others winning Emmys were Jack
Benny for best comedy series and best actor
in comedy series: Dinah Shore, best
actress in a musical series and best variety
series; Loretta Young, best actress in a
dramatic series; Jane Wyatt, best actress
in comedy series; and Julie Harris, best
performance by an actress for her role in
"Little Moon of Alban."
Record First-Quarter Net
Reported by Coca-Cola
WILMINGTON, DEL. — Record firstquarter
sales and higher earnings for the
Coca-Cola Co. were reported by William
E. Robinson, chairman, at the annual
meeting hei-e Monday c4t. Con.solidated
net profit for tlie period rose to $5,240,240,
or $1.24 a share, from $4,699,923. or $1.11
a sliare for the same period in 1958. Lee
Talley. president, said April sales, both
domestic and foreign, will exceed last year.
24 BOXOFFICE May 11, 1959

Translated from the original Watusi!
Vg^MsWATUSI A SMASH
THCHNICOUOR HIT IN ITS
3'WBEK.455THEATRE
SOUTHEASTERN
SATURATION
E/VGAGBM6/VTSI
MOW AVAILABLE FOR
NATIOA/WIOE BOOKI/VGS/
pLEWry UOWG-GREEIV/
STUFF, O^NTSl
BANK
ON
MGM

TWO WAYS TO UP PRODUCT OUTPUT
Quit Doubling 'A Features, Help
Finance Independents: Grainger
HOLL\'WOOI>—Tliere are two ways in
which exhibitors could help induce Hollywood
to tuin out more pictures to relieve
the acute product shortage, according to
producer Edmund Grainger.
One is for the theatremen to act upon
that much-talked-about idea of financing
independent pi-oducers on an established
and regular basis.
The other is to bring about some kind
of mutual understanding between exhibitors,
distributors and producers with resard
to double-featuring that would lead
to better consei-vation and utilization of
the available pictures.
Grainger does not believe in the doctrine
of scarcity so far as films are concerned,
but says exhibitors also must realize
that the uncertain condition of the
boxoffice today makes it difficult to finance
pictures without a big star name or
other "presold" values. So, if exhibitors
really mean what they keep saying—that
they want "new faces" and that fresh
talent in good stories are better draws
than the aging stars in poor yarns—let
them back up their talk with financial
backing, says the producer. In this way,
they not only will be enabling the production
of more films but they'll have a direct
voice in the kind of pictures made, he
points out.
With regard to double-featuring, being
fully
convinced that no amount of debate
is ever going to wipe out the practice,
Grainger suggests that dual-billing be controlled
by never pairing two blockbusters
or "A" features but confining such bills
to an "A" film and a secondary feature,
the latter serving more or less the same
functions once filled by short subjects.
This, the producer believes, would be in
the public interest, as well as advantageous
to the trade, since "bargain hunters"
still would be getting two pictures for the
price of one, yet progi-ams could be held
to a reasonable rimning time; also, total
cost of the bill to the theatre would be
lower-, giving the exhibitor a ibetter chance
to make a profit.
Unless some such steps are taken, Grainger
believes the exhibitoi- is in for more
difficult times, since fewer pictures—and
the steadily mounting production costs
inevitably wall mean higher rentals.
For his own independent slate, released
through Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Grainger
intends to make as many pictm-es as he
can handle. He will wind up with at least
four this year— "Green Mansions," recently
completed; "Home From the Hills,"
staiTing Eleanor Parker and Robert Mitchum,
and "Sacred and Profane," stan-ing
Pi-ank Sinatra and Gina Lollobrigida, both
now shooting; and "Cimarron" which will
roll in the fall.
Brandeis U to Become a Training
Ground for Amusement Industries
NEW YORK—The first step toward linking
more closely the entertairmient and
communications industries, comprising motion
pictures, theatre, radio and television,
with university life, was announced as a
ten-year program by Dr. Abram L. Sacher,
president of Brandeis University, at the
inaugural dinner of the amusement ai-ts
division to support the university held at
the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel Tuesday 1
Some 400 industry leaders attended the
dinner for the university, one of the counti-y's
newest institutions of higher learning,
located outside of Boston at Waltham,
Mass., which was organized under the
chairmanship of George P. Skouras,
president of United Artists Theatres and
of Magna Theatre Corp.
Brandeis, said president Sacher. is looking
foi-ward to a decade of growth in theat;e
and entertainment arts studies which
will incorporate general concepts of education
with intensive training in acting, directing,
production techniques, writing and
aesthetics. The program calls for the construction
of a theatre, increase in faculty
and expansion of scholarship opportunities.
Study of the motion picture arts will be
one of the first objectives of the program.
'It is hoped that thLs program will develop
a clo.se workinc partnei-ship between
the theoretical aspects and the practical
5 1
.
considerations of all the entertainment
professions," Sacher said.
Dore Schary, producer, was principal
speaker of the evening and Isadore Lubin,
one of the trustees of Brandeis University
and formerly New York industrial commissioner
and economic adviser to the late
Franklin D. Roosevelt, conveyed greetings
from the university trustees.
Oscar Hammerstein II was toastmaster
for the occasion, which was opened and
closed by the blessings of Monsignor Thomas
F. Little and Rabbi Bernard Birstein.
Dais guests included: Eugene Picker, pw^&ident of
Loew's; Samuel Rosen, executive vice-president of
Stanley Warner Corp, Robert 5, Benjamin, choirbion,
president of Stanley Warner; Sol Schwartz
president of RKO Theatres; Herman Robbins, head o
Notiorral Screen Service; Williom J, German; Max E
Youngstein, vice-president of United Artists, ant
Jomes M. Landis.
Jack Droy Suffers Stroke
VANCOUVER^-Jack Droy, Boxoffice
corresix)ndent, suffered a mild stroke April
29, and will be hospitalized for some time.
He has, however, shown considerable improvement.
At a special meeting of the
Canadian Picture Pioneers, Vancouver
branch, it was decided to have Jim Davie,
secretary, can-y on for Droy as correspondent
during his illness.
—
Heavyweight Title Bout
Goes to Theatre TV
NEW YORK—The Floyd Patterson-
Ingemar Johansson heavyweight
championship fight June 25 at the
Yankee Stadium will be seen on theatre
television. Exhibitors were prepared
at the weekend to open negotiations
with Irving Kahn, president of Tele-
Pi-ompTer, who got the rights from
Gus D'Amato, manager of Patterson.
Kahn estimated the closed-circuit
income from theatres at between $750,-
000 to $1,000,000. The big theatre circuits
especially were showing gi'eat interest
in booking the fight. It was too
early to estimate how many theatres
will present it, but one major circuit
said it had the equipment in 17 theatres
and would probably put all of it
to use. There undoubtedly will be a
blackout in this area.
Levin and Mandell Form
New Production Company
HOLLYWOOD — Ii-ving H. Le\an and
Harry L. Mandell. who directed the shortlived
film production ventm-e of American
Broadcasting-Paramount Theatres, have
formed Atlas Pictures Corp.. a company
which will embark on a program of production,
supervision of distribution as well as
film financing and participation deals.
The main source of immediate activity
will stem, from its recent settlement and
purchase of the assets and properties of
AB-PT Pictures Corp. Levin, returning this
week from a Mexican location trip, announced
that after months of negotiations
between Sidney M. Markley. \'icepresident
and Jerome B. Golden, secretai-y
and general counsel for AB-PT. and David
B. Stillman. New York legal representative
for Levin and Mandell, all details have
been resolved. The takeover of the AB-PT
Pictm-es interests will be immedate.
Important acquisitions include "Beyond
the Call," by Gil Bond and Ted Sherdeman,
the story of Guy Gabaldon. Marine
hero who captured '2,000 Japanese on Saipan.
This will get top-name, top-budget
production. Levin and Mandell also acquired
"Bourbon Street." a melodrama with
music set against a New Orleans background,
and a suspense thriller. "The Daring
and the Damned."
UA 'Naked Maja' Card
Is Labeled Obscene
WASHINGTON — William Duvall, U. S.
Post Office Department hearing examiner,
ruled Tue.sday i5) that the United Artists
advertising postcards showing Goya's
painting "The Naked Maja" are obscene
and unmailable. He said tlie postcard "cannot
be considered a mastei-piece," and
that "in .sum, it is simply a color picture
of a nude woman."
In general. Duvall held, this is a clothed
civilization, so the average person would
consider a nude woman indecent,
Duvall's opinion can be appealed to
Charles Ablard, chief judicial officer of
the Post Office, and then, if necessai-y.
to the courts, UA did not immediately indicate
if it will press the matter further.
26 BOXOFFICE May 11, 1959

CALENDARaEEVENTS
S M T W T F S
1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
MAY
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
28 29 30
18, National Ass'n of Concessionaires midwest regional
concessions conference, Hotel Siierman, Chicago.
20, Alabama Theatres Ass'n and the Motion Picture
Theatre Operators of Georgia joint meeting.
JUNE
SEPTEMBER
16, 17, Independent Exhibitors, Inc., and Drive-ln
Theatre Ass'n of New England convention, Mayflower
Hotel, Plymouth, Moss.
23, 24, Allied Theotres of Michigan convention,
StQtIer-Hilton Hotel, Detroit.
NOVEMBER
8-12, Theatre Owners of America annual
and Notional Ass'n of Concessionaires joint
vention, Sherman Hotel, Chicago.
DECEMBER
6, 8, Allied Theatre Owners annuol convention.
WB to Hold Sales Meet
On Coast June 15-21
HOIjLYWOOD—Warner Bros, will hold
a "California cavalcade" sales convention
here June 15-21. Division managers and
branch managers from the company's 38
branches in the United States and Canada,
as well as representatives from foreign
countries, will convene to discuss sales
campaigns on forthcoming pictures and to
celebrate the recently concluded "Welcome
Back, Jack" sales drive in honor of Jack
L. Warner, president.
The celebration will be climaxed with
a dinner at the Ambassador Hotel, the
convention headquarters. Bernard R. Goodman,
drive captain of the sales drive, will
be conductor-in-chief of the "cavalcade."
The convention will be addressed by
Ben Kalmenson, executive vice-president;
Wolfe Cohen, president of Warner Bros.
International; Charles Boasberg, general
sales manager, Goodman and Warner.
Cole Products Strike Ends
CHICAGO—Cole Products Corp. announces
that the strike at its main factory
in Wisconsin has been completely settled.
During the strike production continued at
the Cole plant in Chicago. The manufacturers
of Cole-Spa and Hot Spa beverage
dispensers instigated an emergency
production and shipping program, but is
now back to normal shipping schedules.
Special Drive-In Prints
NEW YORK—^United Artists will provide
drive-in theatres with 25 special, high-key
prints of "Shake Hands With the Devil,"
according to James R. Velde, general sales
manager. They will be shipped to exchanges
to seiwice June dates. UA plans extended
use of such prints for drive-ins.
LETTERS be
Boosters for Golden Age Club
I was delighted to read about the sweeping
gain in popularity of the Golden Age
Movie Clubs, as described in the article
in your April 27 issue. I think the club Idea
is most commendable.
And, I became more than ever interested
in the plan this week when I received a
letter from my Aunt Maggie Murphy in
Cleveland who is going to join a club at
her first opportunity.
Aunt Maggie was especially interested
in the special events for Golden Agers that
are being planned in various cities and
asked me to pass along her idea for a
special event to the "proper persons." Here
is her letter, in part:
"Why not a 'When You and I Were
Young, Maggie Night?' They could show
us some of the stars I remember when I
was a girl, or at least a young woman.
What wouldn't I give to see again Rudolph
Valentino in 'The Sheik.' I still play 'The
Sheik of Araby' on my phonograph. And
I want to see those darlings, Milton Sills
and Conrad Nagel once again.
"And your uncle insists I add Colleen
Moore and Anna Q. Nilsson and Leatrice
Joy—and I haven't got enough space left
to put in all the girls he wants, the devil!"
I want to thank Boxoffice for its splendid
interest in these clubs for older persons
and will do my best to get Aunt Maggie
her wish.
GLORIA WOOD
1425 Beverwill Drive,
Los Angeles, Calif.
Need Better Material for Radio
A letter from Fred Souttar in a recent
issue of your very fine magazine interested
me and that is the reason for this letter.
First, may I say movies are my hobby,
while radio advertising is my business. It
signed. Nomes withheld
has been my pleasm-e also to sell a lot of
radio time to local theatres.
Many times I have taped scenes from
pictm-es for use on radio and have found
these to be "hot" announcements for pictures.
I have also taped the prevues and
found that these, too, could make good
radio ads.
Now, may I make this comment: I feel
that sometimes the canned material from
the pressbook and the recorded announcements
are poorly done. So much good
money is spent on promotional material
but, when it comes to the radio copy, it's
bad. The practice of using the faked voice
of a star doing a scene is just plain awfiil.
On the good side, I felt that the recorded
spot for "Inn of the Sixth Happiness" was
excellent. Use the real voices and real
scenes, if you want to get a lot of action
from your spots. In some cases, the announcer
on the disc is all talk with tired
old phrases such as, "Now blasting across
the screen . . . ." etc., etc.
Radio can do a selling job for the movies
but I think, also, the studios could give
us much better material.
Please pardon my intrusion, but I do
"LOVE" the movies and know that you do
have some problems and I would like to
help, if just a httle.
Manager,
Radio Station WCPA,
Clearfield, Pa.
JOEMILSOP
Reissues Advertised
NEW YORK—For the first time. Paramount
is advertising reissues in the fan
and teenage magazines. "Loving You" and
"King Creole." both starring Elvis Presley,
are being promoted in 13 publications.
Screen Producers Guild Elects New Officers for Year
HOLLYWOOD — Walter Mirisch was
named president of the Screen Producers
Guild in the organization's annual membership
and election meeting Monday
(4> at the Beverly Hills Hotel here. He succeeds
Carey Wilson.
The following new officers also were
elected by the Guild's 21-member board:
Julian Blaustein, first vice-president: David
Weisbart, second vice-president: Lou Edelman.
third vice-president: Aubrey Schenck,
secretary: Pandi-o S. Berman, treasurer;
Prank P. Rosenberg, first assistant treasurer,
and Milton Sperling, second assistant
treasurer.
In the photo, left to right, are Berman,
Weisbart, Mirisch, Blaustein, Schenck and
Rosenberg.
Berman, Samuel G. Engel, William Perlberg,
Jerry Wald and Lawrence Weingarten
were re-elected to three-year terms on
the board, with Ai'thur Freed and Schenck
replacing retiring members Hall Bartlett
and Prank McCarthy.
BOXOFFICE May 11, 1959
27

THIS EARTH IS MINE!
WITH A NATIONAL
EVEN BIGGER THAR
CAMPAIGN FOR U r>
RECORD-BREAKING Hli;
21 LEADING MAGAZINES AND
215 WEEK-END NEWSPAPER SUPPLEMENTS
with a readership in excess of 205,000,000!
J^--^ -rr«...„..^'«v„:.?'-^
e--^"" Motion Pfd
,y. -•* f I
MOREEN
^i^'f
STARS
rti
oviE MIRROR
^'
Jj^ii^
MOVIE WORL
acrn scree«^ Wmamm ^^Op^ silver scree
TV CLOSE-UP
AVAILABLE NOW FOR THOSE BIG JULY 4th WEEKEND GROSSES
following the fabulous San Francisco World Premiere, June 25th!

\flLL BE PRESOLD
lAGAZINE CAMPAIGN
HE EXTENSIVE
lURRENT ALL-TIME,
MUIMION OF LIFE'!
The story of a love
that defied the power
of the scandalous
Rambeau family,
whose twisted
hates and
shameful
secrets
destroyed
all they
touched? ^;
mnmoN
JJiNsmoiKs
cum RAWS !
jBaiith
Mine '
All geared to
saturate the entire
WOMAN APPEAL,
FAMILY APPEAL,
YOUNG ADULT and
flvEfiTM*iTFriT3
with enormous
^'CWUDfHetMAN

BOXOFFICE
BAROMETER
This chart records the performance of current attractions in the opening week of their first runs in
listed. the 20 key cities checked. Pictures with fewer than five engagements arc not As new runs
are reported, rotings are added and overages revised. Computation terms of percentage is in in
relation to normal grosses as determined by the theatre managers. With 100 per cent as "normal,"
the figures show the gross rating above or below that mark. (Asterisk * denotes combination bills.)
Al Capone (AA)

Governor Tawes Signs
Obscene Film Curb
Baltimore— Gov. J. Millard Tawes
signed the controversial movie censor
bill which provides a tighter curb on
obscene films. The measure carries a
$100 fine and 30 days in jail for anyone
showing an obscene film to
children under 18.
The bill arose during the recent legislative
session as the alternative to a
censorship proposal which would have
authorized the State Board of Motion
Picture Censors to veto questionable
movies for children.
Philadelphia — The Pennsylvania
state council of the Knights of Columbus
Tuesday (5) passed a resolution
urging passage of a bill in the legislature
to prevent the viewing of obscene
movies by minors. The resolution was
adopted by the 1,100 delegates to the
61st annual meeting at the Benjamin
Franklin
Hotel.
New Group to Fight
Pa. 'Blue Laws'
HARRISBURG, PA.—Exhibitors meeting
here at the Governor Hotel have formed
the Pennsylvania Motion Pictui-e Ass'n, a
group dedicated to alleviating the "discriminatory
effect" of the controversial
state Sunday Motion Picture Act.
On the basis of the experience of John
Broumas and the Transamerica Theatre
Chain in their unsuccessful appeal to the
U. S. Supreme Court, there is little chance
in the near future that the courts will
grant relief from the "inequitable" motion
picture act. The group unanimously decided
to band together and make a concerted
effort to have reasonable remedial
legislation introduced at this session of the
legislature.
Full cooperation in the effort is assured
by Theatre Owners of America, the
Motion Pictm-e Ass'n of America, Allied
Theatres of Western Pennsylvania and the
Council of Motion Picture Organizations.
Attorney John W. Keller, who was involved
in the Transamerica appeals case, has been
retained to coordinate the new association's
activities.
Prudential Insurance, Puritan Fund
Taking $15 Million in UA Notes
NEW YORK — Arrangements for the
private placement of $15,000,000 of six per
cent participating promissory notes due
June 1. 1974 has been concluded by United
Artists Corp. Robert Benjamin, board
chairman, said the Prudential Insurance
Co. of America had agreed to purchase the
greater portion of the notes, with the balance
being purchased by the Puritan Fund,
Inc., of Boston. P. Ebei-stadt & Co. arranged
for the placement.
A total of $10,000,000 of the notes will
be taken down initially and the balance
of $5,000,000 at the option of the company
at any time within the next two years. The
notes will have a fixed interest rate of six
per cent with an additional small interest
participation based on the net profits after
taxes in excess of $3,500,000.
The funds will be used for expansion
purposes, in the film division, television,
recording and music fields, Benjamin said.
In connection with the new financing,
Benjamin said that UA had called the balance
of its outstanding convertible six
per cent subordinated debentures due in
1969 which had not been converted. The
final date for such redemption is June
22 at a price of 107 per cent together with
accrued interest. On a $1,000 debentui-e,
the holder will receive $1,078.50. These
debentures are convertible into common
stock until the close of business June 12
at $21 a share.
F. Eberstadt & Co. has formed a standby
purchase group to assure substantial
conversions on the remaining debentures
by offering to purchase at a price of 108.4
per cent any debentures tendered through
the expiration of the conversion period
on June 12. The offer is equivalent to
$22.77 per share. The closing price on
Wednesday i6) was $27.75. The closing
price of the remaining $4,465,700 of the
original $10,000,000 debenture issue was
reported as $130.25.
UA on Wednesday, also, declared its regular
quarterly dividend of 40 cents per
share on the common stock, payable June
18 to shareholders of record on May 25.
Holders who convert their debentures on or
prior to May 25 will be entitled to receive
the dividend.
SEC Reports Stock Deals
By Company Executives
WASHINGTON—The Securities and Exchange
Commission has made public the
following acquisitions and sales of stock
by industry executives for the March 11-
April 10 period:
Loew's, Inc.—Acquisitions: Nathan Cummings.
5,050 shares; Graham-Newman &
Co., 900; Benjamin Melniker and Robert
H. O'Brien, each 685; Joseph A. Macchia,
200. and Jerome A. Newman, 500. Newman
also disposed of 500 shar-es.
Paramount^-Paul Raibourn acquired 900
shares.
National Theatres—Charles A. Barker jr.
acquired 500 shares.
Warner Bros.—William T. Oit acquii-ed
900 shares and Jack L. Warner Trust acquu-ed
13,800 shares.
Columbia—FICO Corp. acquired 20,000
shares.
Ti-ans-Lux Corp.—Harry Brandt acquired
1 000 shares. Brapick Corp. acquired
1.000 shares. Foundations acquii-ed 400
shares and disposed of 500 shares.
Skiatron Electronic & Television Corp.—
Marion Davies. director, disposed of 8,400
shares. Pi-esident Ai-thur Levey acquii-ed
20.000 shares. Kui't Widder, general counsel,
disposed of 2,500 shares.
Walt Disney Pi-oductions—Lawi-ence E.
Ti-yon disposed of 164 shares on his own
account and 20 shares as custodian.
New Acquisition for UA
NEW YORK — United Ai'tists will distribute
the screen version of "California
Street," a new novel by Niven Busch. Production
will be stai-ted late in the summer
in Hollywood by Ai-tys Pictvu-e Coi-p.,
headed by Plato, Charles and Spyi-os S.
Skouras.
Velde to MPAA Post
NEW YORK—James Velde, general sales
manager of United Artists, was elected
chaii-man of the sales managers committee
of the Motion Pictm-e Ass'n of America
at a meeting of the committee Wednesday
(6). Velde succeeds Alex Harrison, general
sales manager of 20th Century-Fox.
BOXOFFICE :: May 11, 1959
PLAN VIRGINIA MPTA CONVENTION—Board members and committee
chairmen of the Virginia Motion Picture Theatre Ass'n are shown assembled for a
meeting at the Chamberlin Hotel, Old Point Comfort, to make plans for the organization's
silver anniversary convention, scheduled July 6-8. Front row, left to right
Syd Gates VMPTA president, Norfolk: Leonard Gordon, Newport News; Carlton
Duffus, Richmond; Seymour Hoffman, Richmond; Julian Gordon, Newport News;
R. Dewanner Stallings, Newport News; Roy Richardson, Suffolk; John Broumas
Takoma Park, Md.; Herbert Morewitz, Newport News, and Jerome Gordon, New
port News. Back row; Charles Collins, Warwick; Paul Roth, Silver Spring, Md.
David Kamsky, Richmond; J, K. Crockett. Virginia Beach; W. E. Jasper. Newport
News; Sidney Bowden, Norfolk; D. H. Covington. Ashland, and Ben Somma,
Highland Springs.
E-1

.
—
. . . Wherever
.
— —
^
^
Warlock/ 'Mating Game Open Big
But Spring-Like Weather Hits Some
NEW YORK—Tho first spring weekend tinue for a 43rd week, through May 17, at
of the year sent many people out of town the Warner Theatre. No new pictures
Little Carnegie and Plaza Theatres, re- Linie Carnegie— Love is' My Profession
and affected many of the first-run Broad- opened on Broadway during the first week
way houses, especially those with long- of May.
running
tUl-es,
holdovers.
?,„
"Warlock
However,
. .. i i^
at the
two
„
Paramount
new pic-
J
and
. ,
Aitor Separate
i,
, i
^ J^u1'^'°?ma'? Tables (UA), on°fl 20rh wk nn IIU
and Juliet
of Romeo
"The Mating Game" at the Capitol, had
Ba,o^e,_The Ballet
(Brandon), revival, 2nd wk '35
Ktrnncr nnpnini? weeks Beekman—He Who Must Die (Kassler), 1 9tti wk. 120
Stiong Opemng WeeKS,
„
. .,, Capitcl—The Mating Gome (MGM) 135
Two new art house attractions, Bngltte Cntenon—sleeping Beauty (BV), nth wk 125
Bardofs newest, "Love Is My Profession," F^-^e
avI^^a a°rajitlf JHarns^r"' ^'^'^. '^.''.:
: 125
'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.
and the revival of Chaplin's "Modern 55^^ stree't^onliV" President)
'.'.A 70
the Times," had smash opening weeks at Guild— Embezzled Heaven (DeRochemont), 2nd
^^
"Room at (Kmgiiey) ,.;
,v
Loews Stare—Some Like u V iuA, 'rW V ?2?
It Hot (UA), 5th wk.lob
1 >
week at Moyfair— East Eden of (WB); Rebel Without o
spectively. These two, added to
r .. • ^-.c^. 1-
Top, m
. >
its fifth sensational the
the Pine Arts, and "Gigi," still very big in Cauie (WB), reissues, 3rd wk 105
its 51st week in New York, the last 26 at SSeon-4f;7 Shaggy olgrBvS'^ih wk :
130
the Sutton Theatre, give Manhattan four Poocc^The Diary of Anne Frank (20th-Fox),
^^^
i60
pictures with long waiting lines nightly.
pJo'rnou^it—Wari«k°^ (20rh-Fox')'. '.'/....'/.'.'.'
In the Times Square district, the two
'.
Pans—The Horse's Mouth (UA), 25th wk 115
•'°°
biggest are still "Some Like It Hot," in its
^',X"lTMl,rnan-cXn7' YJuTBlessings'
fifth big week at Loew's State, where the (mgm), plus stage show, 2nd wk 155
total gross was over $300,000, and "Al Ca-
^-^^^^T^^rJn'Tf 'Li?J'[C°o',' p'L' stge show,'"
pone," which had a bigger sixth week at 3rd wk 160
the Victoria than the previous seven-day
^^^'"".I^f |'2rf,'^i:The°'s'haggy Dog (^^v),
period. Also holding up well were: "Im- yfh wk 125
third strong week at
itation of Life," in its
^2nd^^J,'!!Arca''p"o''ne Mh^wk"''. :::.:;;::: 170
the ROXy, and "Count Your Blessings,"
'(a'a)°
vVarne°—cinerama—South' Seas Adventure
very good in its second week at the Radio
•M^^Ml^r^'^Jrt^k
^°'''''
City Music Hall, both of these houses hav- ^"^ '^' °*. """ **°"°"''7 """^
I20
ing accompanying stage shows.
Most of the other Broadway houses were "Jjfe' Is Strong, Though
down, including "Sleeping Beauty," in its
Buffalo Has Dim Week
nth week at the Criterion; "The Shaggy
Dog," in its seventh week at the Odeon
BUFFALO-"Imitation of Life" led the
^^5 j^^. .^^ g^^^,^^ ^^^^
and "Compulsion," in its fifth week at the
^^^fayette. "Compulsion" did slightly
Rivoli. "Separate Tables" -j^llPlaj through
I ^^ ^^^ ^^^^^,.^ ..g^^. Like It
a 21st week at the Astor on Broadway bu
^^^ .^ ^ ^.^^^ ^^^^ ^^ ^^^
will continue longer at the 57th Stieet
°-ThTD?ary of Anne Prank" was down in
^^^*,°[^D?t«ttte''l?orr(PorL^,^Come- Back
its seventh week of two-a-day at the RKO Little shcba (Para), reissues. ^80
Palace but is benefiting from theatre party
onema^—Gigi"('MGM'), return" engagement, 5th
groups. "Cinerama—South Seas Adven- „k ^- y 1 17^
ture, the only other two-a-day, will con-
• ^p°J,ZoJnr-^'^*:^bo"u:^ (WBj.^'io^n'Reekiess
(WB) '5
,
Teck— Some Like It Hot (UA), 6fh wk 125
ffejpeo
You Go .
CCliOO Produces
Bring m the Dough!
TlwUNE-UP...
* HERALDS
* WINDOW CARDS
* MOVIE CALENDARS
* PICTORIAL CUTS
* PROGRAMS
* PHOTO ENGRAVING
* MAT SERVICE
* BOX OFFICE RESULTS
* FAST SERVICE
* QUALITY
IHliATKh ADVERTISERS
BOX 795 OMAHA, NEBRASKA
E-2
Room at
Top' Town's Biggest
At Baltimore Playhouse
BALTIMORE—Grosses for the week were
scarcely up to what they should be. Two
new attractions opened fairly well— "Alias
Jesse James" and "Thunder in the Sun."
The latter, however, got only one week's
showing. "Room at the Top" is doing tremendous
business at an art theatre.
Century Some Like It Hot (UA), 7th wk 80
Cinema—The Eighth Doy of the Week (Cont'l) 140
Five West—The Law is the Law (Cont'l) 100
HiDpodrcmo— Worlock l20th.Fox), 2nd wk 110
Little—The Two-Heoded Spy (Col), 4th wk 85
Mayfair— Imitation of Life (U-l), 6th wk 90
New—The Shaggy Dog (BV), 3rd wk 120
Ployhouse—Room ot the Top (Cont'l) 200
Stanley Alios Jesse James (UA) 25
Town—Thunder in the Sun (Pora) 100
'Les Amants' to Zenith
NEW YORK— "Les Amants," the French
picture in Dyaliscope, black-and-white,
which won the "Silver Lion" award at the
Venice Film Festival, has been acquired for
U. S. release by Zenith International according
to Dan Frankle. president. "Les
Amants," which stars Jeanne Moreau and
Jean-Marc Boiy, is still playing in Paris,
where it opened in November 1958,
'^
Vogel Is Honored Twice
In New York Ceremonies
NEW YORK—Joseph R. Vogel, president
of Loew's, Inc., received the March of
Dimes award and a special City of New
Joseph R. Vogel, center, president
of Loew's, Inc. was honored with two
awards at ceremonies at Gracie Mansion
Tuesday (5). Claudette Colbert,
right, presented him with the Annual
March of Dimes Humanitarian Award
and Mayor Robert F. Wagner, left,
gave him a special city citation for his
civic and charitable efforts.
York citation in ceremonies Tuesday i5)
at Gracie Mansion, official home of the
mayor. Claudette Colbert presented the
March of Dimes award and Mayor Robert
P. Wagner gave him the city award. Many
industry leaders, headed by Eric Johnston,
president of the Motion Picture Ass'n of
America, attended.
Vogel accepted the award from Miss Colbert
in behalf of the industiy. He said
it had been "my privilege to be one of
an army of workers from coast to coast,
exhibitors, producers, distributors, whose
collective efforts have happily raised necessary
monies in humanity's fight against
the diseases that plague mankind."
He told the mayor of his love for the
city and appreciation of what it had done
for him.
"I never dreamed," he said, "that one
day the mayor of New York would bestow
on me the city citation. I am humbly grateful
and I accept this token as a representative
of my associates in Uie amusement
industry who are always at youicall,
Mr. Mayor, to help in all your very
worthy endeavors."
Russia Rents the Mayfair
NEW YORK— Soviet Russia will demonstrate
it^ three-projector Cine-Panorama
system at the Mayfair Theatre in late June
during the Russian Trade Fair at the CoUseum
The contract for the showing of
"Wide Is Mv World" was signed early in the
week with Burton Resnick, president of
Fair Enterprises, which now operates the
theatre. Selection of the Mayfair had been
forecast.
'Thousand Hills' in N.Y.
NEW YORK—Twentieth Century-Fox's
"These Thou.sand Hills" opened Wednesday
(61 in 100 theatres in this metropolitan
area. Among Uie circuits playing it
were RKO Theatres, Skouras. Randforce,
Centui-y, Brandt, Interboro, J. J. and Prudential.
BOXOFFICE ;: May 11, 1959

DOUBLE BOXOFFICE BLOCKBUSTER I N0.33
YOU CAN'T RESIST
^^ w v?H i 41^.
IT PUTS YOU IN THE PICTURE!
HORROIRS OF THE
Black m^m
CONTACT YOUR Jir?ianuiaru^^
iORGE WALDMAN
FILMS
•:ORGE J. WALDMAN
630 Ninth Avenue
lEW YORK 36, N. Y.
AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL
PICTURES OF PHILADELPHIA
JOE SOLOMON
248 No. Clarion Street
PHILADELPHIA 7, PENNSYLVANIA
LOcust 7-2242
AMERICAN
INTERNATIONAL
PICTURES EXCHANGE OF
WASHINGTON, D. C, INC.
713-3rd Street, N.W.
WASHINGTON 1 D. C.
SCREEN GUILD
PRODUCTIONS
MILTON BRAUMAN
415 Von Braom Street
PITTSBURGH 19, PENNSYLVANIA
GEORGE WALDMAN
FILMS
GEORGE J. WALDMAN
505 Pearl Street
BUFFALO, N. Y.

7 >
.
j
,
BROADWAy
JJAROLD MIRISCH, president of the
Miiisch organization, arrived from
Hollywood Tuesday i5i en route to Europe
for overseas openings of "Sonie Like It
Hot." He was joined by Jack Lommon,
star: Billy Wilder, director, and I. A. L.
Diamond, the screenwriter, who left with
him on the United States, which sailed
Friday i8>. The eight-week tour will include
London. Paris. Vienna. Rome. Munich.
Berlin. Copenhagen and Brussels.
The same liner arrived from Europe May 5
with Anna Magnani. Italian star who will
make "The Fugitive Kind" in New York
in June, and Jean Pierre Melville, French
film producer, aboard. * * * Pernandel,
the French comedian, and actress Jacqueline
Evans, sailed for Europe on the
Flandre Thursday i7).
1
Charles Simonelli. chairman of the advertising-publicity
committee of the Motion
Pictui-e Ass'n of America, welcomed
Charles Levj' and Harold Rand as new
members at the meeting Thursday
• * * Robert S. Ferguson. Columbia's national
director of advertising, publicity and
exploitation, will represent the company at
the world premiere of "It Happened to
Jane" at the Astor Theatre. Boston, Tuesday
112). Jonas Rosenfield jr.. Columbia
executive in charge of advertising and publicity,
and John Flinn. studio ad-publicity
director, returned Thursday i7> from Ishpeming.
Michigan, location site of Otto
Preminger's "Anatomy of a Murder." Flinn
is remaining in New York one week for
conferences with Paul N. Lazarus, Rosenfield
and Ferguson.
Steve Broidy, president of Allied Artists,
arrived from Hollywood Thursday (7i for
conferences with Morey R. Goldstein, vicepresident
and general sales head: Edward
Morey. vice-president, and Norton V.
Ritchey. ' - * Mon-is Lefko, vice-president
of the Michael Todd Co., went to Dallas
for meetings with United Ai-tists sales pei--
sonnel to outline summer bookings on
"Around the World in 80 Days." He will
then return to New York and head west
later. • • • Bruce Eells, executive vice-
As o screen game,
HOLLYWOOD takes fop
honors.
As o box-office attraction,
it is without equoL It has
been o favorite with theatre goers for
over 1.S years. Write today for complete details.
Be sure to give seating or cor capacity.
HOLLTWOOD AMUSIMINT CO.
'0 CiHiMi St. • Skokit lllinoi
CONTRACT FORMALIZED— Raoul
Levy, center, leading French producer,
is shown signing the formal contract
for a multi-picture deal with Columbia
Pictures. Looking on are A. Schneider,
left, president of Columbia Pictures,
and Leo Jaffe, Columbia vice-president
and treasurer. The deal will get under
way following the completion of the
currently filming Brigitte Bardot
starrer, "Babette Goes to War," which
concludes a previous multi-film contract.
Miss Bardot will star in a
number of the Levy productions under
the new arrangement.
pre.sident of United Artists Television, went
to Hollywood to resume discussions with
UA television producers. * * * Graham
Wahn of the Warner Bros, publicity department,
went to Washington to meet
with Navy Department officials on cooperative
promotion plans for "John Paul
Jones."
t"
Helen G. Scott, fomierly associated with
Continental Distributing and U. S. representative
for Jacques Tati. has been named
to handle press and information for the
French Film Office by Joseph Maternati.
director. * * * Dr. Milko Skofic. husband
of Gina Ijollobrigida. planed to Rome Fi-iday
i8i to supei-vise the editing of the
English version of Gina's "Anna of Brooklyn."
made by Vittorio De Sica. Skofic will
return to Hollywood, where Gina is filming
MGM's "Sacred and Pi'ofane." later
in May. * * • Fannie Hurst, author of
the novel "Imitation of Life." visited Newark
Tuesday f5) to promote the opening
of the film at the Adams Theatre.
William Holden. star of "The Horse
Soldiers" for Mirisch. got in from the coast
Sunday (3i for newspaper and radio-TV
appearances to promote the film. Mrs.
Holden accompanied him. Don Murray,
.starred in "Shake Hands With the Devil."
arrived Tursday

. . The
. .
. . "Auntie
. . After
. . Lester
.
.
. . While
. . Joe
. . John
. . Mrs.
BUFFALO
Pdward Miller, manager of the Paramount
Theatre, has been elected a vicepresident
of the Buffalo
area United Service
Organizations
(USO> in which he
long has been active.
The USO headquarters
is in the Century
Theatre Building.
George H. Mackenna
is another industryite
who has been active
in the local USO for
many years. Mackenna
is general man-
Edward MUIer ager of Basil's Lafayette
. Amherst
Theatre, a Dipson community house
at the Buffalo city line, was added to the
list of theatres admitting senior citizens
free on May 8. The Lafayette, Center.
Century. Teck and Buffalo previously had
announced such free admissions. The addition
of the Amherst to the list was announced
by Edward P. Jehle, supervisor of
activities for the Mayor's committee on
recreation for the elderly.
Dave Lustig, Columbia exploitation representative,
was in town last week, assisting
Manager Ed Miller at the Paramount
on promotion plans for "The Young Land"
and "Face of a Fugitive." Dave put over
a number of contests on local radio stations
as well as a tie-up with RCA-Victor
on that company's recording of the theme
song in "The Young Land," through which
RCA distributed record streamers to all
their dealers in western New York .
Danny Thomas gave a benefit performance
at 8:30 p.m. on May 10 in Kleinhans Music
Hall. He sponsored the non-secretarian
hospital now being built in Memphis. Tenn.,
for the care of children and research on
leukemia and related blood diseases.
Robert Barron, who hails from Lancaster.
a thriving town near Buffalo, and who is
one of the stars of "Tank Commandos." an
AIP production, helped the picture which
is now at the Center in downtown Buffalo.
Barron appeared on several radio stations.
TV telecasts and was interviewed by the
press. Bob is a graduate of Lancaster High
School. He has appeared in "The Littlest
Hobo." an Allied Artists production and
"Raiders of Old California," a Republic
filmplay. He has been associated in several
radio and TV stations
in various parts of
the country in a producing capacity.
The local United Artists exchange threw
a 40th anniversary party here Thursday
George E. Smith Dies;
Exhibitor in Syracuse
SYRACUSE—George E. Smith. 62. proprietor
of the local Civic and Riviera theatres
and the Waterloo Theatre, Waterloo,
died Sunday (3i at his home, the Skyline
Apartments, 753 James St., after a long
illness.
He was born in Schenectady but lived
here 39 years. A veteran of World War I.
he was a 1919 graduate of the New Jersey
College of Pharmacy.
Among survivors are his wife Dorothy:
his son Elliot J.. Syracuse; a daughter.
Mrs. Edward Bernstein, Hudson, and two
grandchildren.
SYRACUSE
fJarry Unterfort, zone manager of Schine
Theatres, and Mrs. Unterfort spent a
few days in New York ansl attended the
Eolshoi Ballet . a successful run
of "The Shaggy Dog." the DeWitt Shoppingtown
Theatre opened with "Imitation
of Life." The press agent for the picture
was U-I's Harry Hollander.
In town to promote "The Naked Maja"
was Bill Shirley of United Artists. Bill's
birthday is June 26 and if there's a Santa
Claus he will get a white Jaguar . . . The
new Loew's State on Times Square was recently
viewed by Gene Mielnicki. assistant
manager of Loew's State, and Lou Boyd,
chief projectionist.
Sol Sorkin, manager of RKO Keith's,
had a special showing of "Al Capone" for
the sheriff's department, the police, prominent
attorneys, press, radio and television.
The annual show of the Pompeian Players,
"The Pajama Game," took over the stage
of Keith's May 4-7 .. . Herb Brown, manager
of Schine's Eckel, is playing Oscar
nominated pictures, starting with "Gigi."
ROCHESTER
prank Bassett, Schine city manager, and
his wife Betty left Friday Ui for
Atlantic City, where they planned to enjoy
a three-week vacation Pollock.
.
Loew's manager, spent a fun-filled weekend
in Kentucky attending the Derby .
Congratulations to Seymour Nusbaum.
whose Fine Arts Theatre recently celebrated
its first anniversary.
Marvin Coon, manager of the Monroe
Theatre, reported that his first double bill
of pictures which took part in the Academy
Awards competition was a big success.
Sharing the bill were "The Defiant Ones"
and "I Want to Live."
(7) when some of the new season UA product
was screened in the Cinema Theatre,
followed by a cocktail party in the branch A faulty muffler caused the death of a
office at 505 Pearl St. The party was staged
by Manager Burt Topal and the members
of his sales staff. Among those attending
patron recently at the Starlight Drive-In.
Don Mastro. one of the theatre owners,
discovered the tragedy after the last screening
of the evening when he found the driver
the celebration were Arthur Krolick, district
companion unconscious
of a car dead and his
manager, AB-PT; Andy Gibson, Dipson
Mame" played to a
Theatres: V. Spencer Balser, Basil
.
packed house for four weeks at the Cinema,
Theatres: George H. Mackenna. general according to Gary Williams, assistant
manager, Lafayette Theatre: Myron Gross, manager.
Co-Operative Theatres: Mannie A. Brown,
Tip Top drive-in theatres and Edward F.
"
Columbia's "Suddenly, Last Summer is
Meade, general manager. Shea Theatres, an Elizabeth Taylor-Montgomery Clift
Buffalo and Niagara Falls.
produced by Sam Spiegel.
starrer,
ALBANY
J^rs. Rachel Lattimore, who has been operating
the upstairs Capitol in Ballston
Spa since February 6 on a four-day
schedule, is reported to be doing a nice
business. She conducts a pharmacy on the
ground floor. Managing the theatre for her
is Steve Ravena, who works the first three
days of the week for Howard Goldstein
at the Dix Drive-In, Hudson Falls. Ravena
is also a justice of the peace in Ballston.
Howard Smidt, Paramount sales representative,
planned a trip to Buffalo to
catch three top films the company was
previewing as part of its Summer Boxoffice
Festival . Mirasola, who operates
the 9-L Beach Drive-In, Lake
George Village, will take over and relight
the Starlight Drive-In, Pottersville, May
30, which has been dark for several years.
Mirasola also brought the Beach back into
operation after it had been unused for
some time.
The drive-in which a Greenville business
man is building in Green County will
be opened May 29, according to Filmrow
exchange folks . . . Freddie Piel. who reopened
the Rustic Drive-In near Wynantskill
May 1, is doubling as buyer-booker for
the Mayfair Drive-In operated by Mrs.
Lois Conhaim in suburban Slingerlands.
Piel made the rounds of the exchanges
Monday i4i.
Howard Goldstein reported the weather
and business had been pretty fair at his
Dix Drive-In, Hudson Falls. However, temperatures
were too low for good patronage
at the Fort Warren Drive-In, Castleton,
Vt., which Howard operates with his
brother Herbert .
Rossi, who operates
the Strand in Schroon Lake during
the summer, visited Filmrow .
Barbara
Miskewicz is a new biller at 20th Century-Fox.
Two days short of the 40th anniversary
of his industry start. Gene Lowe became
U-I sales representative in this district,
taking the place of Ernie Ziegler. Gene had
been with a Schenectady realty company
since U-I cut back its local staff to the
manager at the end of February 1958. Gene
began as a poster clerk with Fox Films in
Buffalo and advanced to assistant booker
before coming here for the opening of the
Fox exchange in 1920. He later went to
Denver as a Fox salesman, covering Colorado
and New Mexico, then worked in the
Fox home office briefly. He also served for
old PDC here and in Pittsburgh, under Bob
Mochrie. He worked locally for the late
Bernie Mills in First Graphic, before affiliating
with Universal in 1928 Ernie
. . .
Ziegler resigned from U-I to join the Donnelly
Corp. in the sale of telephone-book
advertising.
Nan and John Gagin have retired from
managing the Richmondville Drive-In for
Jules Perlmutter after seven years at the
airer. Gagin was a former vaudevillian and
Mrs. Gagin worked in the office of publisher
William Randolph Hearst, according
to a report sent in by their friend. Bill
West . the teachers were observing
Business Education Day Monday i4i,
Fabian's Palace provided a children's matinee
starting at 12:30 for the out-of-school
BOXOFFICE May 11, 1959 E-5
pupils.

. . . Bob-a-Loop,
. . . Active
Dennis,
Dennis,
. . Lois
. . Danny
. . Perry
. . . Mr.
. . John
. . Bob,
. . Pete
. . Two
PITTSBURGH
gishop John J. Wriffht, new head of the
Pittsburgh Roman Catholic diocese, is
tlip HOW Cathohc chaplain of Variety Tent
1. succeeding the Rev. Vincent Brennan,
who died six weeks ago Kaye
.
will be here May 24. 25 to exploit "The Five
Pennies" . Ash, Pilmrow gal formerly
with Buena Vista and now wth USF,
is engaged to Robert Heywood Metlika.
The campaign for 20th-Pox's "The Diary
of Anne Pi-ank" opening at the Nixon Theatre
May 20. under the auspices of the
United Nations Ass'n of Pittsburgh, is being
directed by the Feldman-Kahn ad agency,
operated by former Warner Bros, and Stanley
Warner ad and publicity executives
Joe Feldman and Jacques Kahn. Prices
for the run will range from $1.25 to $3.
.
Joe Zeny closed the Avenue Theatre, Erie
a game exploited on television,
was featured in several Stanley
Wai-ner neighborhood houses on recent
Saturday kiddies shows Tlieatre,
Peri-ysville avenue, northside, for a
number of years a leading neighborhood
house in this city district, was turning
lights off. The HaiTis circuit, which has
operated this theatre since it was constructed
has called it quits, the property
reverting to the Drew estate.
distributors, w^ho would be licensed at $5,-
000 per year. etc. Other new bills include:
H1264, requiring referendums on Sunday
I
sports E.shback, ScarceUi) : H1265,
providing for referendum regarding worldly
employment, business or sports on Sunday
Scarcellii; S575, regulating
I
activities of auto race tracks and creating
licenses for their operation (Van Sant>
is H1276. the Tompkins bill,
which would authorize tlie state to acquire
lands comprising the birthplace
of silent movie cowboy star Tom Mix on
Bennetts branch in Cameron County,
A bill in the Keystone State Legislature
IH1359) would exempt food and beverage
from Governor Lawrence's 3V2 per cent
sales tax 'effective in recent weeks 1 when
the pui-chase price is 50 cents or less. This
measui-e is sponsored by representatives
Shei-man. P. Perry and Gelfand. The new
.sales tax has caused much confusion and
is more a 4 per cent than a 3 '2 per cent
levy at concessions and is certainly not
helping bu.siness.
Newspapers and other mediums of communication
are campaigning to get rid
of the Commonwealth's old blue laws. The
1794 laws were amended in 1933 and 1935
to pei-mit only four legal activities—^baseball,
polo, movies and concei-ts, under licensed
conditions upon approval of voters.
The drive against the restrictions gained
new forces last week when the Pittsburgh
Convention Bureau offlccr.s and executives
committee voted unanimously to oppose
the blue laws because they are "closing
the door on Pittsburgh's weekend business
and keeping the city as lonely as a place
on the moon."
Ellis Dungan, film producer of Wheeling,
whose "The Big Hunt" wall be thrown into
release this summer, has completed plan.s
for an exotic new film starring Wid and
Claudia Watson of New York on a world
torn-. The honeymooners and producer confen-ed
in Wheeling. The world's far corners
wiU be "locations" for the new adventure,
Dave Brown, BV booker, was called to
New York by the death of his younger
brother Charlie. This leaves four brothers
and a sister in the family . Waynesburg
College students faced grand jui-y
action on charges they stole $30 from the
boxoffice of Larry Puglia's Opera House,
Waynesburg, apparently on an impulse.
Each was free on $500 bond. PoUce said
Green County witnesses at the theatre saw
the two youths walk past the open door
of the ticket booth, then turn, enter and
allegedly scoop up $30 in receipts.
William Gray, Monongahela theatre
owner, whose wife died several weeks ago,
was notified of the death of a brother in
, the east and Helen Cook, who
recently sold the outdoor theatre at
Grantsville, W, Va.. now known as the
Mount Zion Drive-In, are in a new business
as proprietors of beautiful Black
Waterfalls lodge in the Mountain State
New measures to license lotteries and coinoperated
gambling devices in Pennsylvania
were introduced in the General Assembly
at Han-isburg by Reps. John F.
Stank, John McDonald and Stanley Meholchick,
the Commonwealth to get 10 per Super 19 Drive-In at Kersage, was opened
Park at Davis, W. Va. . Camerlo's
cent monthly from the total received by for a possible two-month season before
the highway will be torn up and the ozoner
will then be out of business for the remainder
of this year at least.
Norman Fleishman has closed the Brighton
Theatre, northside, a family operation
for many years, and indications are that
it will not be reopened as a theatre , . .
Variety Tent 1 will present its annual
KDKA-TV telethon for the benefit of
Camp O'Connell the first weekend in June
and Mrs. Harry Rachiele, fonner
city area exhibitors who now reside in
Phoenix, Ai-iz,, wrote that they recently
enjoyed a few days at the Grand Canyon
and that they expect to return to Pittsburgh
in late May for the summer months.
Ken Winograd is closing the Family Theatre.
Rochester. Pa. . a son of the
Ligonier exhibitors, the Alvin Sellers, is a
junior in electrical engineering at Carnegie
Tech here, having switched from
Penn State University.
Projectionist 51 Years
CONNEAUT LAKE, PA.—Having completed
a half century of film projection
last year, Harry S. Spang plans to call it
quits after 1959. Spang started cranking a
hand-operated projection machine at
Baldolf's Theatre on Arlington avenue here
in 1908. He has been the projectionist at
Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Hasley's Lakeside
Drive-In here for ten years. After this outdoor
theatre .season, he hopes to retire in
Florida next winter.
Reade Manager Awards
To 3 in New Jersey
NEW YORK—Three Walter Reade managers
have received "manager-of-themonth"
awards from Walter Reade jr.,
president. Managers of more than 40
Reade theatres in New York and New
Jersey compete each month in this business-promotion
contest.
Sam Hofstetter of the Mayfair Theatre,
Asbury Park, won first prize in the December
1958 contest, with Mrs. Ann De Ragon
of the Strand Theatre, Plainfield, getting
second prize. Mrs. De Ragon won first
prize in the January 1959 contest, with
Hofstetter and Julian Stern of the Paramount
Theatre, Long Branch, tieing for
second place. In February, Mi's. De Ragon
won first prize and Hofstetter again won
second prize.
Jay Kimmel Opens Airer
Leased at Richmond, Va.
RICHMOND, VA.—Jay Kimmel, who recently
leased the Fairfield Drive-In from
the Glenlea -Benson Coi-p., staged a gala
two-night opening to mark the begirming
of fulltime operation of the airer on Williamsburg
road.
Formerly manager of the Airport Drive-
In, Kimmel has been associated with the
motion picture industry since 1928, operating
here, in Portsmouth and in Washington.
He has been a resident here for
the last eight years.
The Fail-field, which accommodates 700
cars, is presenting two shows each night,
with three or four changes of program per
week. Kimmel plans to cencentrate on features
which will attract family trade.
Stanley Warner Reopening
Wilkinsburg. Pa., House
WILKINSBURG, PA. — Closed seven
months, the Rowland Theatre of this borough
in suburban Pittsburgh will relight
Friday il5i. B. F. "Dinty" Moore, Stanley
Warner circuit district manager, said that
a new screen has been ordered and tliat
the marquee would be painted. The 45-
year-old theatre was being cleaned for the
opening. Moore said a manager will be
named this week.
Merchants are planning to welcome the
return of the Rowland to active duty by
cooperating with 2-for-l ticket deals and
other a.ssists.
Theatrewoman's Husband Dies
CLARKSBURG, W. VA.—Ralph Douds,
husband of Madge Stout, local theatre executive,
died last week. A veteran of World
War I, he had been an invalid more than
a quarter of a century. Mrs. Douds. known
in the theatre trade under her maiden
name, has managed the Robinson Grand
Theatre here for a decade. Mrs. Dorothy
Robinson Land, who had been president of
the circuit to which the Robinson Grand
belongs, died the week preceding Doud,
Theatre Closed at Warwood
WHEELING, W. VA —The Lincoln Theatre
at Warwood, operated for .years by
William Habeggcr, has closed, and it is
understood that its days as a theatre arc
in the past.
E-6 BOXOFFICE May 11, 1959

8
. . Harry
7 1 . Ontario;
. . Doris
. . Herman
. . Joe
. . . William
. . Baltimore
. .
. . The
. . The
. . Cesar
. . Harold
. . WDAS
. .
WASHINGTON
T^illie Perkins, star of "The Diary of Anne
Frank," was here to chat with the
critics and to be a guest on television . . .
Danny Kaye is due in to bally "Five Pennies"
for Paramount, with Herb Gillis to
host a reception at the Statler following
a private screening . Day is also
on the expected list and will make the
rounds in behalf of her latest for Columbia,
"It Happened to Jane" . Brecheen,
Buena Vista, held a screening May
5 of "Darby O'Gill and the Little People."
Harley Davidson's Independent Theatres
handling the booking and buying for the
is
Family Drive-In, Bassett. Va.. Friendly
Drive-In. Martinsville, Va., and the Keyser
Theatre, Keyser, W. Va. . Biersdorf,
AIP division manager, was in to visit
with Jerry Sandy . Valentine, Fox
salesman, is home for further recuperation
following hospitalization.
Ed Bigely, UA manager, and staff invited
the trade to join in a UA birthday party at
the exchange Friday ( 8 1 with cake and
fixings served after a screening of "Hole
in the Head" . . . Cecil Curtis, Galax, Va.,
was in for a booking session . . . Sal di
Gennaro. Citation Films, contacted accounts
in the area.
Harold Saltz, U-I manager, visited accounts
in Salisbury. Md.. then headed to
New York to attend a meeting in behalf
of the forthcoming Joe Rosen Playdate
Drive ... It was "Roll 'Em" week for Herb
Gillis. Paramount manager, with three
tradescreenings: "The Five Pennies."
Thursday evening ( "Last Train
Prom Gun Hill," 2:30 p.m. Friday (8), Apex,
and "Don't Give Up the Ship." 8:30 p.m.
Friday
1 1 at the Apex.
Mayor Dilworth Appointed
'Philadelphions' Chairman
PHILADELPHIA — Mayor Richardson
Dilworth has been named cochairman of
the Devon Horse show world premiere committee
which is sponsoring the premiere
of "The Young Philadelphians" at the
Stanley Theatre May 19 for the benefit of
Bryn Mawr Hospital.
Richard Powell, former local newsman
and advertising agency executive, who
wrote the best-selling novel. "The Philadelphian."
on which the film story is
based, will attend the premiere.
W. Va. Outdoorer Is Sold
MORGANTO'WN. W. Va. — Westover
Drive-In Theatre here has been sold by
Mountaineer Theatres to the Parkview
Amusement Co. Former owner-operating
outfit was the Laskey Brothers, cncuit exhibitors,
and the pmxhasing firm is headed
by P. John Comuntzis, general manager of
the Morgantown Amusement Co.. operating
the Metropolitan and the Morgan
theatres here. John Laskey. who managed
the Westover. now is managing the Comet
Drive-In Theatre, near Connellsville. Pa.,
a Laskey Bros, enterprise. Andy Benya.
foi-merly at the Connellsville post, now is
connected with a Memphis, Tenn., exhibition
organization.
Exhibitors Are Guests
Of Kaye at Screening
PHILADELPHIA—A number of circuit
operators, independent exhibitors, bookers
and film buyers were Danny Kaye's
personal guests Wednesday night 1 6 ) at the
Arcadia Theatre for a Paramount "Summer
Boxoffice Festival" showing of "The
Five Pennies."
A reception for Kaye at the Warwick
Hotel was sponsored by Dot Records following
the screening. The theatremen were
joined there by disc jockeys, newspaper
representatives and music dealers. Dot
soon will issue the film's soundtrack record
album starring Kaye and Louis Armstrong.
Theatremen at the "Festival" showing
included:
Ben Rosenberg, Leon Serin, Frank Damis, William
Yurosko, Henry Goldman, Sam Speraoza, A. R.
Boyd, Elmer Hirth, Byron Linn, Melvin Fox, Al Lidman,
William Goldman, George Beattie, Schuyler
Beattie, Wesley Wotson, George Schwartz.
Also, Sandy Gottleib, Roy Sullender, Guy Hunt,
E. Jay Emanuel, Emanuel, Roscoe Faunce, Merton
Shopiro, Bernard Shoptro, Jay Wren, Harry Sley,
isador E. Epstein, Al Davis, Harry Pennies, M. Ellis,
Lou Davidoff, Jack Greenberg, David Milgram, Nate
Milgram, Henry Milgrom, Isodore Segal, Mrs. Henrietta
Kravitz, Rox Palese, Harry Dembow, Dave
Sablosky, Neil Hellman, V. C. Smith, Horry Chertcoft,
Mike Garfinkie, Art Silber, Robert Abel, Mel
Kotf ond Norman Silverman.
George Weltner. Paramount Pictures
vice-president in charge of world sales,
personally conducted the "Festival" showings
of "The Five Pennies," "Last Train
From Gun Hill" and "Don't Give Up the
Ship," all summer releases. The theatremen
saw the latter two Thursday i7) at
the Stanley Theatre and the City Line
Centre Theatre respectively.
Other Paramount executives here for the
special showings were Jerry Pickman, advertising-publicity
vice-president; Hugh
Owen, vice-president of Paramount Film
Distributing; Joseph Friedman, national
exploitation manager, and John G. Moore,
mideastern division manager.
BALTIMORE
Oudley Davis has returned as manager
of the Little to replace Charles Sponseler
who resigned. Davis had been at the Mayfair
and his vacancy there is being filled
by a newcomer. Larry Watsworth .
George DaransoU. manager of the Crest,
was in Washington, visiting the exchanges
G. Myers, owner of the Pocomoke
Drive-In at Pocomoke City, was in
town. So was Edward P. Perotka, owner of
the Aero Theatre at Middle River.
PHILADELPHIA
gert Leighton, manager of Stanley Warner's
Grand Theatre, Lancaster, has
been transferred to the Warner Theatre in
Reading. He succeeded Helen M. Bortz, who
resigned . V. C. Smith drive-in
circuit took over Hamid theatres in Atlantic
City. N. J., with the exception of
the Warren and the Steel Pier, which
Hamid will continue to operate .
Gene Gantz is now with Melvin Fox Theatres
. . . The Milgram Buying and Booking
Service is handling the Roxy, Ashland,
and the Palace. McAdoo.
Two suspects confessed to breaking into
the safe of the Sinking Spring Drive-In.
Reading, and taking $600 and an undetermined
amount of merchandise from the
vending machines. State police recovered
over $500. The feature playing the drive-in
at the time was "Never Steal Anything
Small" . downtown State Theatre.
Harrisburg, showing a western thriller, got
a taste of the real thing when a robber
fled with an estimated $300 after holding
up the
cashier.
Twenty-five Stanley Warner managers
were present at a farewell dinner tendered
to veteran managers Jim McHugh and
Marty Aninsman. who had resigned. The
affair was held after hours at the Alpha
Club, 19th and Chestnut . disc
jockey Georgie Wood was emcee for a rock
and roll stage show, filling a ten-day engagement
at Stiefel's Uptown Theatre.
Ben Zimmerman, manager of Shapiro's
McDade Drive-In, Glenolden, Delaware
County, resigned to join forces with Abe
Sonberg of the Strand, who is planning a
circuit of all-night movie houses. Zimmerman
will be general manager, film buyer
and booker . Eskin's Queen Theatre,
Wilmington, Del., closed. The house
was subleased from the Stanley Warner
Co. Eskin's Arcadia in the same town has
been closed for some time.
H safe stolen from the Broadway Theatre Mrs. Sylvia Emanuel, wife of Edward
Emanuel, local indoor theatre and drive-in
was recovered in the outlying section
operator, died at the University Hospital.
by police. Approximately $250 was missing
. . . Hal Marshall of 20th Centm-y-Pox
She was a member of the Variety Tent 13
auxiliary . Romero made two appearances
as a fashion commentator at
brought Millie Perkins to town for press
and radio interviews in advance of "The
Snellenburg's Department store for a Forever
Young fashion show.
Diary of Anne Frank" coming to the New
Theatre.
Millie Perliins, the 21-year-old model
Fred Schmuff, of the Durkee Theatre
without any theatrical experience, who was
Enterprises, is serving on a committee for
picked by the 20th-Pox Film Co. to play
the Crusade Victory Dinner, a benefit for
the title role in "The Diary of Anne
the American Cancer Society, scheduled Frank," was in Philadelphia on the weekend
for Thursday evening at the Lord
Baltimore Hotel. George Jessel will be master
to work on newspaper and radio pro-
motion for the feature. Until she went into
.
of ceremonies Variety
pictures she lived in nearby Pairlawn, N. J.
Tent 19 held a big fun festival Saturday
night (9) with $2,500 in prizes and food
in Hawaiian style. Barker Herman Simon
Marilyn Monroe Awarded
Italian Film Honor
NEW YORK—Marilyn Monroe, who has
been selected for Italy's David di Donatello
Award as "best foreign actress of 1958."
will receive this Italian version of Hollywood's
"Oscar" from Manlio Brosio. Italian
Ambassador to the U. S. at the Italian Cultural
Institute Wednesday il3i. The
"David" award was founded in 1955 by
the Open Gate and International Cinema
Clubs and is Italy's highest international
BOXOFFICE May U, 1959 E-7
film
honor.

^(Mdm ^CfrMt
J^.\NY people said that the PUm Industi-y
Defense Organization would never
work. FIDO, set up nine months ago to
prevent old films being sold to tele\'ision.
has issued its report on the activities undertaken
by the organization, and on the
whole, it is a very optimistic one. The first
interesting fact is that exhibitors have
carried out the farthing-a-seat levy on
almost a 100 per cent basis to provide FIDO
wiUr the funds it needs. In the 32 weeks
from September 8 last to April 18. £291,590
was collected, an average of £9.112 per
week. Total expendituie on acquisition of
covenants, including formation and running
expenses was £27,321.
There were only seven exhibitors who refused
to cooperate throughout the country,
six have agreed to settle, one remains
adamant. Covenants covering 15 features
have been acquired to prevent these old
films from being shown on television;
while active negotiations are in progress
to acquire covenants for a further 31 films.
FIDO reports that 44 application forms
with questionnaires have been requested
by various producers who may decide to
sell their films to the organization, which
cer. He said. "FIDO can claim since its
beginning to have been responsible for
many thousands of featm-e films not being
offered to television." Speakman pointed
out that thanks to the undertakings of
major companies not to draw on FIDO's
re.sources in respect of their films and for
an American deal in which British rights
had been regained by the company, the
position of his organization was very
healthy indeed.
What is clear beyond doubt is that if
FIDO had not come into existence anything
up to 15 films a week might now be
showing on UK television. Nevertheless.
FIDO has its own critics among the exhibitors.
The other day Douglas Richards,
president of the CEA. declared at a meeting
in Leeds that producers should "play
the game and forget any idea that FIDO
is in any form an extension of the Production
Fund." He could not have said
anything more provocative. Immediately the
protests came rolling in. The first was from
Arthur Watkins, president of the British
Film Producers Ass'n, who said in reply:
"I don't know of any independent producer
who is seeking to cash in on this scheme,
designed for the industry's protection . . .
but it is being firmly established and agreed
by all members of FIDO that every producer
has the right to bring a film to
FIDO for the purchase of its TV rights.
and it is the duty of FIDO to negotiate
with that producer, and furthermore that
no stigma of any kind should touch the
producer who does so approach FIDO."
Be that as it may, when exhibitors meet
ut BiiRhlon next month there will be some
harsh talkmg on this subject. Still they
have some foiTn of consolation: owing to
By ANTHONY GRUNER
the high level of payments from cinema
owners throughout the country, FIDO has
decided to cut these payments from a
farthing-a-seat to 'a of a penny for the
next three months. It is a small concession,
but an important one. and a sign
of the real strength of this industrybacked
body.
The Board of the British Film Production
Fund met last week to wind up the
affairs of the organization which has been
administrating the old voluntary levy. This
will now be replaced by the statutory levy.
for which the government has formed a
new administration entitled the British
Film Fund Agency. The winding up of the
old fund ends an important chapter in
the life of the industry. Known as the
Eady fund, after Sir Wilfred Eady. the
man who inspired it. the voluntary levy
was. in the words of the Kine Weekly: "A
vital aid to British production when it
needed it most." In the future the government
will have a close say on the manner
in which the fund will be administered,
and even if indirectly orientate its operations.
There will be quite a few people who
criticized the old voluntary levy who may
regret that the trade could not agree to
continue in this form.
The new fund will be less flexible and
will not be able to change as fast as. or
even keep pace with, the developments
within the industry. An example noted last
week: there is little agreement between
producers and exhibitors on the amount
which will be provided annually by the
fund. These and other anomalies will have
to be handled by the BFFA. who cannot
be expected to carry out their activities
with the same voluntary give and take
spirit.
Associated British Picture Corp. has
come forward with a bright method of
utilizing television to publicize its own motion
pictures. Last week the corporation
announced that it was buying time on
commercial television in the Midland and
Northern area through ABC Television,
an ABPC subsidiary. This would consist
of the enthusiastic comments of patrons
leaving the theatre after the showing of
the film. "The Lady Is a Square," a Herbert
Wilcox production distributed by
ABPC and made at Elstree Studios. The
first reaction from this new method of TV
exploitation was a favorable one in provincial
cinemas. An ABC spokesman said:
"Takings went up a great deal. We intend
to use TV more in this manner for our
other big boxoffice films."
Twentieth Century -Fox is in the news
these days, although the amount of official
releases coming from that organization
have declined a little recently. After a
number of important cuts were made in
the interests of economy everyone imagined
that Fox would release some form of statement
about the personnel involved. This
was not forthcoming. Thus it was a shock
last week to hear the news personally that
Basil Litchfield had had his services terminated.
Litchfield has been with the company
since 1943, and on the resignation
of Ken Hargreaves (now appointed managing
du-ector of Columbia British Pictures
i, succeeded him as director and
secretary of Fox. In his dual capacity he
swiftly made for himself a formidable
reputation. Not only within the British
industry but among his colleagues in the
U.S. Litchfield was highly regarded particularly
by Spyros Skouras and Murray
Silverstone. Now that he is leaving the
question is what will he do.
Speaking for the trade as a whole last
week. Bernard Charman, editor of the
Daily Cinema, said: "I certainly hope that
the industry is not going to lose the benefit
of his keen legal brain and great executive
ability."
Bob Goldstein, head of 20th Centuiy-Fox
Productions, announced last week that
Kenneth More will star in Brabourne's
production of "Sink the Bismarck!" one
of the big naval stories of the war. More,
who served in the Navy, will be supported
by an international star cast and directed
by Lewis Gilbert, thus bringing together
again the star and director who first made
their impact in one of the most successful
British war films, "Reach for the Sky."
Location work on "Sink the Bismarck!"
begins almost at once in the North Atlantic
and studio production in July.
Johnston for Investment
In Overseas Theatres
NEW YORK — Major company investment
in foreign theatres, especially in the
far east and possibly Africa, is favored by
Eric Johnston, president of the Motion
Pictm-e Ass'n of America, he said Thui'Sday
(7>. Some blocked funds quite possibly
could be used and there would be only minority
Interests in the theatres, he said.
Johnston has appointed a study committee
consisting of Mun-ay Silvei-stone,
president of 20th Centui-y-Fox International;
George Weltner. worldwide distiibution
head of Paramount, and Lacy Kastner.
president of Columbia Pictm-es International.
London Opening Plans Set
For 'Some Like It Hot'
NEW YORK—United Artists has reported
completion of preparations for a gala opening
of "Some Like It Hot" Thui'sday (14)
at the Pavillion Theatre. London, England.
Invitations have gone out to 1.200 social,
political and entertainment celebrities.
Among those who will attend will be Harold
Mirisch. president of the Mu-isch Co.;
producer Billy Wilder and Jack Lemmon,
one of the stars. They will fly from New
York to be present.
German Film Festival
BERLIN, GERMANY—The ninth International
Film Festival, at which tlie German
"Golden arid Silver Bears" ai-e
awai-ded. will be held at the Waldbueline,
the biggest open-air cinema in Europe,
June 26 through July 7. Films from almost
every nation will be presented and an International
Festival ball will be the social
climax of the event. The awai-ds will be
presented at the closing ceremony July 7.
E-8
BOXOFHCE May U, 1959

I
theatre
5
NEWS AND VIEWS OF THE PRODUCTION CENTER
(Hollywood Office— Suite 219 at 6404 Hollywood Blvd.. Ivan Spear, Western Manager)
Sam Goldwyn Presents
Awards to Writers
HOLLYWOOE>—Samuel Goldwyn Tuesday
) presented the first prize award of
1
$1,000 in the fifth annual Samuel Goldwyn
creative writing competition at UCLA to
George P. Erengis, 28, for his novel, "The
Charmed Life of Private Eben Biggs." The
winner is a senior at the college's Theatre
Ai'ts Department.
Presentation of the awards was made in
the Humanities Building on the UCLA
campus, with the entii-e undergraduate
acting chairman of UCLA's Theatre Ai-ts
Department, Kenneth Macgowan, professor
emeritus, and acting-chancellor Dr. 'Vern
O. Knudsen.
Second prize in the competition went to
Mrs. Carolyn P. See, 25, a gi-aduate student
in English, for her novel, "A Waiting
Game," Honorable mention scrolls were
presented to Donald Cerveris, a graduate
student of English, for his screenplay,
"Didn't They Ramble"; Barry Oringer, a
graduate student of Theatre Arts for his
novel, "Shadows of the Fire"; and Harry
Tessel, a graduate journalism student, for
his short story, "Generations Since Abraham."
First place winner Erengis has plans
aimed toward writing for motion pictures
after he graduates.
Goldwyn created the contest in 1954 to
encourage creative writing among the college's
students. Many past winnei-s have
seen their work published on a national
scale.
Judges for this year's awards were
George Stevens, president of the Academy
of Motion Picture Ai-ts and Sciences:
Hartmann; William Wilder, producer-director;
Dr. Claude E. Jones, associate professor
of English at UCLA; and Dr. James
V. Hatch, visiting assistant professor of
arts. Di's. Jones and Hatch are cochairmen
of the event.
Congressional Support for Labeling
Of US. Pictures Produced Abroad
MGM International
Rentals Climbing
HOLL'TWOOD — Following his retm-n
from a 25,000 mile-thr-ee week trip for
"Ben-Hur" conferences in Madrid, Tokyo
Theatre Arts Department participating in and Mexico City, Morton Spring, president
the ceremonies. Guest speakers Included
of Loew's International, reported that film
Goldwyn, actor John Wayne, Edmund
Hartmann, national chairman of the Writers
Guild of America, Dr. William Melnitz,
ACE Awards Dance May 20
HOLLYWOOD—The American Cinema
Editors ninth annual awards cocktail dance
will be held May 20 in the Beverly Hills
Hotel Crystal room, according to George
Amy, president. The event honors film
editors who have been nominated for
awards by the Academy of Motion Picture
Arts and Sciences and the Academy of
Television Arts and Sciences.
business abroad is approaching its highest
level in several years, with rentals from
MGM pictui-es exhibited dui-ing the past
year showing a marked improvement over
revenue taken in during a comparable
period last year.
Spring disclosed that MGM executives
and salesmen in the international field
who attended the huddles declared that
without exception business on recent pictm-es
has been better than in many months.
At the meeting, plans for handling of
"Ben-Hui-," when it is released at the end
of the year, were outlined. Also discussed
were exploitation and sales plans for
North by Northwest, The World, the Flesh
and the Devil, Ask Any Girl, Tlie Mating
Game, Green Mansions, Count Your Blessings
and other important recently completed
MGM films.
HOLL-YWOOD — Pull support from
scores of Congressmen and a number of
United States senators has been pledged
for the Hollywood AFL Film Council drive
for enactment of a federal law requiring
television and motion picture product
made in foreign countries but exhibited in
the United States be clearly labeled in the
main screen title with the country of origin,
according to John W. Lehners, council
president.
The council, which has discussions now
proceeding both in Washington, D. C,
and Hollywood regarding the proposed law,
believes it will help to solve unemployment
problems caused by what they team "runaway
production," This term describes pictures
made in other countries for tax or
wage scale advantage that could have been
made in this counti-y.
Lehners pointed out particular Instances
where substantial taxes and wage differences
were involved in such productions.
He aimed liis chief attack at certain producers
of American westerns made in foreign
locales, but did not mention any
names.
Decision as whether to press for the
law in the present session of congi-ess or
to wait for state and national AFL-CIO
conventions to support a resolution is still
pending.

13 )
.
will
Drivers Tie Threat
Ends for Producers
HOLLYWOOD — With the announcement
by Ralph Clare, business representa-
When the pact comes up for renewel in
two years, it will be negotiated before the
LA'S or jointly with the lA. Clare said.
The end of the union's resistance appears
to signal the end of resistance by other
locals to the 21-cent-an-hom- package on
which the producers have stood pat. The
package includes a 15-cent wage rise.
The administration ticket of candidates
for officers and directors of the
Screen Extras Guild was led to victory by
President Jeffrey Sayre. Besides Sayre.
the following officers were on the victorious
ticket: Tex Brodus. second vice-president;
Kenner G. Kemp, treasui-er; Paul
Cristo. first vice-president; Paul Bradley,
third vice-president and Bess Flowers, recording
secretary.
Eleven three-year terms on the board of
directors were won by Paul Cristo. Billy J.
Williams, Frank Radcliffe. Thomas Anthony.
Evelen Ceder, Tina Menard. Leo
Abbey, Kenner G. Kemp, Gretchen Galling.
Dena Robert and Anna Mabry.
Installation of the newly elected officers
and directors will be held at the union's
annual membership meeting June 5.
Will Honor Alfred Hart
For Service to Cedars
HOLLYWOOD—Alfred Hart, member of
the board of directors of Columbia Pictures,
will receive a special award at the
annual meeting of Cedars of Lebanon Hos-
tive for Drivers Local 399. to members of pital, it was disclosed by Armand S.
the union that they would not have the Deutsch and Anson I. Dreisen, cochairman
support of lATSE. the threat of a strike of the event to be held Wednesday <
against the major producers of motion pictures
and television was averted. The driv-
of service on behalf of the hospital and
Hart will be honored for his many years
ers, after holding out for several weeks, its clinic.
approved the producers' proposals, but instructed
Clare in the future not to negotiate
their contract after the lATSE ne-
was elected president of the Jewish Federa-
Motion picture executive Steve Broidy
tion-Council of Greater Los Angeles at the
gotiations.
newly merged organization's first board
meeting at the Beverly Hills Hotel.
Abe Schneider Birthday
Inspires Record Drive
LOS ANGELES—An alltime high for
film billings dm-ing the Abe Schneider
Birthday Week Drive ending April 25 was
set by 15 territories of Columbia International,
according to the company.
Ai-eas posting new highs were Italy.
Egypt. Finland, Iraq, Lebanon, Portugal,
Spain, South Vietnam, Ai-gentina, Brazil.
Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela.
Columbia reported that record biUings
were registered without benefit of an outstanding
blockbuster on first runs in those
countries.
Title Changes
The Barbarian lAIP) to COLOSSUS
AND THE GOLDEN HORDE.
Never So Pew (MGM) to SACRED AND
PROPANE.
Last Days of Rome VA> to THE FUGITIVE
KIND.
The Wackiest Ship in the Navy 'CoD
to THE WACKIEST SHIP IN THE ARMY.
The Playmates (Ind.) to 211 GRAND
CANAL.
Magoos Arabian Nights lUPAi to
THOUSAND AND ONE ARABIAN
NIGHTS.
W-2
Pledges totaling $428,447 have been received
by the United Jewish Welfare Fund
from the amusement industry. The figure
represents better than half the goal set for
that branch.
52 Griffith Properties
Sold for TV Showings
HOLLYWOOD—Release rights to 36 D.
W. Griffith silent films and 16 screenplays,
in which the late producer's estate
held rights, was granted to Killiam Shows,
Inc., of New York, as superior Judge Kenneth
N. Chantry approved a $21,000 bid
made March 20. Sterling Television. Gotham
distribution firm, will release the
films over video, under a deal whereby Killiam
participates in the profits.
Included in the package are such Griffith
classics as "Birth of a Nation," "Broken
Blossoms," "Way Down East" and "Intolerance."
Physical possession of the
prints remains with the Museum of Modern
Art Film Library in New York, which holds
the noncommercial rights.
IN THEIR MERRY HUPMOBILE—
Jack Grossman, left, of the Magnolia
Theatre; Miss Phyllis Renner, and
George Crittenden arrive at the Magnolia
in a 1909 Hupmobile. similar to
the one used in filming "Gigi," MGM
musical now in its Gth week of an extended
run at the theatre. The car was
loaned for the exploitation gimmick by
John Dii'bler, member of North Hollywood's
Horseless Carriage Club.
Adm. Yamamolo Aide
In 'Gallanl Hours'
HOLLYWOOD—Robei-t Montgomei-y has
secured the services of James T. Gotto, a
commander on the staff of Adm. Isoroku
Yamamoto dm-ing World War II. to portray
Yamamoto in "The Gallant Hours,"
in which James Cagney stars as Admiral
Halsey.
Gotto. a Japanese exchange student of
aerodynamics at California Institute of
Technology, will double in brass as technical
advisor on all Japanese naval details
in the production, which Montgomery
is producing for UA release.
MGM has signed Edmond O'Brien to costar
with George Sanders. Robert Stack
and Dorothy Malone in "The Last Voyage,"
Andrew and VUginia Stone Production.
Maureen Stapleton has been signed for
her second motion picture as costar 'with
Marlon Brando, Anna Magnani and Joanne
Woodward in Jurow-Shepherd Productions'
"The Fugitive Kind." Sidney Lumet
will direct the film, which is slated
to roll June 22 in New York for United
Ai-tists.
"Lonelyhearts," for which she won an
Academy Award nomination, was Miss
Stapleton's first film.
Lumsden Hare has bowed out of a featui-ed
role in Benedict Bogeaus' "Jet Over
the Atlantic" and has been replaced by
Pi-ederic Warlock.
In another casting move, Bogeaus signed
Ai-gentina Brunetti for one of the major
featured roles in the pictm-e.
Fitzgerald and Como Win
Top Recording Awards
HOLLYWOOD — Grammies — miniature
gold-finished replicas of an old-fashioned
phonograph—were awarded in 28 categories
by Uie National Academy of Recordmg
Arts and Sciences at their firet award event
at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.
In the categories in which Grammy
nominations were made. Fi-ank Sinatra led
the competitors with 11 nominations. Peggy
Lee, Stan Pi-eeberg. Jonah Jones and David
Seville had five each.
Some of the top awards, voted by ws
near-700 NARAS members, went to "N*
"
Blu Dipinto De Blu as the best record of
the year; Ella Fitzgerald as top femme
vocalist: Perry Como as top male vocalist,
and "Peter Gunn' recorded by H. Mancim.
best album of the year.
Five hundred guests attended the event
and saw a show written, produced and directed
by Ray Brenner and Larry Ornstein
especially for the evening's festivities.
Start Two AIP Features
HOLLYWOOD—Two new features are
slated to begin at American International
Pictures' Amco Studios this week. Roger
Corman is to produce and direct "The Living
Dead' with Dick Miller signed as star
"
while "Drag Race be produced by
Lou Rusoff and directed by William Hole
with Jody Fair in the top role.
BOXOFFICE ;: May 11, 1959

—
Operation Goodwill
To U.S. Slate Dept.
HOLLYWOOD — "Operation Goodwill,"
a program in which film stars would personally
extended Christmas greetings from
America to people all over the world as
"goodwill ambassadors" appointed by
R-esident Eisenhower, has been tm-ned over
to the State Department for study.
To be set in motion during December,
the event caUs for special planes to carry
stars around the globe as official diplomatic
representatives of the U. S., visiting
homes, hospitals, social centers, fai-m communities,
schools and factories.
Publicist Charles A. Moses, originator of
the idea, has received a letter from Senator
Clair Engle (Dem., CaUf.) "that our
country could use to a much greater extent
the propaganda media of motion pictm-es
and film stars to reach people abroad as
personal representatives of our government."
Philip A. Waxman plans a remake of
the silent picture, "The Pagan," this summer,
with Sal Mineo starred. The film will
be shot in Tahiti where Leonard Claremont
has gone to scout locations.
Joseph Kaufman has added "The Yoxmg
Life," a novel by Leo Townsend with
screenplay by Pat Alexander, to his projected
production slate.
American International Pictures' second
color production featui-ing Hypnovista,
"The Haunted House of Usher," is slated
to roll May 22, with Roger Corman producing
and directing. Richard Mathison
wrote the screenplay based on Edgar Allan
Poe's "Fall of the House of Usher."
DeMille Voice Dedicates
New DeMille Grade School
HOLLYWOOD—To an audience of film
figures, educators and pupils of the new
DeMille Elementai-y School, Cecil B. De-
Mille 's own prerecorded voice dedicated
the school named in his honor at suburban
Westminster,
DeMille's daughter, CeciUa DeMille
Harper, presented the school a famous
Karsh portrait of her father. Charlton Heston
made the principal speech.
The DeMille voice track was recorded
at the Long Beach school dedication in
1956.
Role for Brett Halsey
HOLLYWOOD—Producer Benedict Bogeaus
has signed Brett Halsey for a role
in "Jet Over the Atlantic," which Byrwon
Haskin is dii-ecting in Mexico and
Spain for Inter-Continent Releasing Organization.
He will portray a physician
who is one of a number of would-be victims
of a psychopathic murderer. Halsey
joins a cast headed by Guy Madison, Virginia
Mayo and George Raft.
George Murphy on Committee
HOLLYWOOD—George Mm-phy, DesUu
vice-president in charge of public affairs,
has been appointed by Pi-esident Eisenhower
to sei-ve on the advisory committee
of the National Cultm-al Center.
MT'S
HERE a lot earlier than usual—that
time of the year when the magi of distribution
and exhibition can do with a
bit of exhortation anent the obvious opportunities
to take advantage of the doldrums
into which television is descending,
and into which that competitive medium
will sink even lower when the summer replacement
and repeat programs start making
their appearances within a few short
weeks.
No one will deny that an objective survey
of video reveals that during recent
weeks it has been falling apart at the
seams as concerns the quality of its programs,
both the old. established stanzas
popularity.
Be that as it may, now is the time for
those who are peddling or exhibiting theatrical
screen fare to cement and enlarge
the tendency on the part of the public to
return to the theatre-going habit, which at
one time in the not-too-distant past caused
an average of 90,000,000 admissions per
week to find their way into the collective
cash drawers of movie houses. That figure,
according to various estimates, has
shrunk to 60,000,000. Dm-ing recent weeks,
however, there has been a noteworthy increase
in theatre attendance and receipts,
an upswing that has generated renewed
optimism in the motion picture industry.
An exceptionally praiseworthy lineup of
product has been fabricated by Hollywood
and will be available to theatremen during
the summer months. Smart showmanship,
more intensive selling of pictures—both
within the trade and to the public—can
mean that still more of the so-called lost
audience can be weaned away from their
room squawk boxes to the turnstiles
living
of theatres.
If everyone in every branch of the trade
takes full cognizance of the fact that here,
again—and there may not be too many
more of such openings—is a great chance
to hit the enemy in its soft underbelly.
that 60,000,000 figure can continue to grow
and work its way toward the 90,000,000
mark that dm-ing more promising days
spelled rich profits, a bright future and
coveted security for everyone in the business.
But, again, it will mean the utmost effort
and activity in showmanship and
selling.
Perhaps it was due to the above-mentioned
doldrums or video's apparently unquenchable
propensity toward opportunism
and imitation, but observers of the entertainment
scene could not help raising
their eyebrows in disgust when the Desilu-
Westinghouse TV show, an hour program.
iced — to the accompaniment of
much drum-beating—that one of its outstanding,
most impressively cast offerings
of the season was to be "The Untouchables,"
based on the life and crimes of the
late Alphonse Capone.
Still in circulation, and enjoying the
substantial patronage its many merits so
richly deserve, is a feature yclept "Al Capone,"
made and distributed under the Allied
Artists banner and starring competent
Rod Steiger. Here is a picture that was
widely acclaimed by the critics of both the
trade and lay press. That the public agreed
with the film appraiser's evaluation is
irrefutably proven by the fact that the
photoplay broke all opening week records
at Gotham's Victoria Theatre where it
chalked up a stunning $54,000.
And currently being widely read and
discussed is a book titled "Brotherhood of
as well as the occasional ventures into
something new. The reasons? They are
both many and theoretical and would in
themselves demand more space than is allotted
to this department. And. parenthetically,
they might be the answer to why the Evil," written by Frederic Sondern, jr. and
TV westerns which are dominating an devoted to the Mafia and the part it has
ever-increasing amount of choice telecasting
hours continue to grow in numbers and
played in the history of crime, both in this
country and abroad. Much of that tome is
devoted to Capone's activities, his associates
and his ultimate undoing.
Certainly, it is something more than a
coincidence that the masterminds of Desilu-Westinghouse
should decide that right
now should be a good time to send out over
the airwaves a telecast about the same people—and
in two parts, yet.
TV, verily, thy name is not originality!
And the above mei-ely touches upon the
indications that are manifesting themselves
on all sides that television has
reached its lowest estate in many years
and before the seasonal slackening of effort,
sponsorship and expenditures set in.
Here, then, is the competitor that has
had the once all-powerful motion picture
industry quaking in its mighty boots: here,
then, is the competitor that was given a
strong toe hold in the entertainment world,
when, gripped by panic and/or the need for
quick kopeks, the sachems of the screen
sold it their respective backlogs of priceless
product: here. then, is the competitor
that many Hollywoodians—from the top
brass to the lowliest of wage earners—look
to as the Moses ordained to lead them out
of the wilderness via coin-in-the-slot video,
which, fortunately, is a long distance and a
lot of legislation away from becoming an
actuality.
True, in business as in war and politics,
there is much to be said in favor of
the if-you-can't-lick-'em-join-em strategy.
But current trends denote that there is
still a good chance of licking 'em, and the
coming summer season is the time for a
good or college try.
"KANGAROO HAS TROUBLE WITH AN
ITCHY BACK"
—Joe Reddy-Walt Disney Headline.
Those kangaroos should be trained to
stay away from the publicity department
where they might pick up things that cause
80XOFFICE May 11. 1959 W-3
itches.

'
^
. . . Eddie
. . Invin
. . Marshall
.
.
.
.
Xompulsion' Leads
LA in Second Week
I,OS ANGELES — Generally, the local
picture remained pretty much the same
last week, with only one newcomer, "Thunder
in the Sun." showing reasonable
strength with 180 per cent. "Compulsion"
stayed in the top band with 250 and arty
"Father Panchali" held a stout 195.
(Averoge Is TOO)
Beverly Conyon—The Doctor's Dilemma (MOM),
2nd wk '35
Corfhoy Circle— Around fhe World in 80 Doys
•
(UA), 124tti wk 175
Chinese—Some Like It Hot (UA), 4th wk
Downtown Paromount—Naked Venus (SR);
170
Time
Lock (Hal Rooc+i), 2nd wk
Egyptian—The Diory of Anne Frank (20th-Foico SINCE 1924
The LINE-UP...
HERALDS
WINDOW CARDS
MOVIE CALENDARS
PICTORIAL CUTS
PROGRAMS
PHOTO ENGRAVING
MAT SERVICE
BOX OFFICE RESULTS
FAST SERVICE
OUALITY
THEATRE ADVERTISERS
OMAHA, NEBRASKA
BOX 795
SPECIAL
TRAILERS
SERVICE and QUALITY
SERVICE CO.
"The Naked Maja" was very disappointing
at the St. Francis.
Fo< Warlock (20t+v-Fox),
Golden Gate— Al Copone (AA),
Por(;mount—Guns, Girls and
Lonelyhearts
Speed Crazy
Gangsters
(UA)..130
(AA) 210
(UA);
in Riot Juvenile Prison (UA) 8C
St. Froncis—The Noked Mojo (UA)
Stoge Door—Gigi iMGM), 43rd wk
8C
30C
United Artists— Some Like It Hot (UA)
Warfield—The Mating Gome (MGM), 2nd
35C
9C
wk.
Sole Denver Bright Spot
Is "Imitation of Life'
DENVER—"Imitation of Life" was about
the only sign of life among local downtowners
which sweat out a miserable week here.
Aioddin—^1 Want to Livel (UA); Separate Tables
(UA), rcvivols 100
Centre— Imitotion of Life (U-l) 135
Denhom—Compulsion (20th-Fox), 2nd wk 80
Denver—The Young Land (Col); Senior Prom
(CcJ) *0
'
Esquire—Rice (SR) _„ ^^
Lokeshore—At War With the Army (Paro); Off...
Limits (Pora), reissues 120
Orpheum—Count Your Blessmgs (MGM); Time
Lock (Hoi Roach) 50
Paromount-Warlock (20th-Fox); Breok in the
Circle (20th-Fox) '00
'Life' Continues 150 Clip
At Portland Broadway
PORTLAND — "Imitation of Life" proved
to be the boxoffice leader for its run at
the Broadway, with 150 per cent.
Broadway— Imitation of Life (U-l), 2nd wk 150
Fox—The Shaggy Dog (BV); Looking for Donger
(AA) 3rd wk '25
Orpheum—The Young Land (Col); The Bandit of
Zhobe (Col) .,''
:
Poramount—The Naked Mojo (UA); Lost Missile
(UA) "0
Ed Zabel Shifts Several
In F&M Theatres at LA
LA Urban League Award
Goes to 'Defiant Ones'
HOLLYWOOD—The Los Angeles Urban
League presented an award to Stanley
Kramer for his "sincere production" of
"The Defiant Ones," UA release starring
Tony Curtis and Sidney Poitier. Tlie award
was accepted by Samuel Zagon, attorney
and vice-pre.sident of the Kramer film company,
at the local Urban League's 38th
annual awards program.
Further honors were reaped by "The Defiant
Ones" in Madrid, Spain, where the
film won first prize and dual awards at
the International Religious Cinema Week
meeting from the Screen Writere of Spain
and the Cineclubs. United Artists' George
Ornstein accepted all awards on Ki'amer's
behalf.
LOS ANGELES
pred Stein emceed a stag dinner at
Chasen's restaurant for Al Taylor, former
Paramount manager now transferred
to the Chicago office as midwestern district
manager. Al was given a stereo hi-fi
music system for his new home in the
Windy City and 100 of Al's friends turned
out for the dinner. This affair followed a
luncheon for him at the Nik-a-Bob restaurant
at which some 300 filmites and
friends bade him farewell. Abe Swerdlow.
Universal manager, emceed the luncheon
and guest speakers were George Smith. Neal
East. Herb Steinberg and Marty Davis.
The Paramount exchange had a private
party for Al. giving him a dispatch case
and a pair of long red flannels.
Eddie Grossman, Panorama Theatre.
Van Nuys. returned from an extended
world cruise. Instead of making it "Around
the World in 80 Days." Eddie made it in
100 days . Yablans is the new
booker at Warner Bros, exchange . . . Jules
Gerelick, Lopert Films representative,
planed to Denver on company business
Michelove. 20th-Fox salesman,
went to Arizona on business . . . Mike
Levinson will sell his Tivoli Theatre in
West L.A. to Jack Flack, who anticipates
operating on a seven-day basis.
Ruth Sutton, secretary to Judy Poynter,
Film Booking Service of California, is taking
an extended leave of absence .
Chuck Teitel. Teitel Film Co. of Chicago,
and also owner of the World Playhouse
there, visited on the Row with Dan Sonney,
LOS ANGELES—In the first of a series
of transfers and promotions made by Edwin
F. Zabel, president of ElectroVision
Sonney Amusement Co. Katz.
.
Corp., which recently acquired the Fanchon
Paramount salesman, resigned to take a
& Marco local circuit, John Gageby was post vyith Jerry Lew-is Productions.
moved from the Southside Theatre to house Gene Beuerman, Paramount exchange,
manager of the Hollywood Paramount Theatre,
where Joe Kennedy is supervising Louis replaces Beuerman as salesman, hav-
has been promoted to special duties. John
manager.
ing been transferred from Minneapolis .
John Snee was shifted from the Rio to Morris Smith. Playhouse Theatre, has sold
succeed Gageby at the Southside, and Dave out to Arnold Haber. Exhibitors Service
Draper, assistant at the Baldwin Theatre, will book and buy for the theatre on an
to assistant manager of the Southside. Roland
Marchand becomes manager of the Pink has taken over the Family Drive-In
anticipated seven -day operation ... Sid
Rio. Barney Brermer steps up from doorman
to assistant manager of the Baldwin, Associates. Pink also owns and operates a
in Brawley. Calif., from Leroy Bowen &
under Don Gibbons.
drive-in in Las Vegas and other southern
California theatres.
Columbia Pictures' music head, Morris
Stoloff, will conduct the Philharmonic
Orchestra for "A Magic Flame" for the
scoring .sessions.
The office of Roy Dickson, Theatre
Service Co., was broken into and robbed
Another robbery took place at the
New Fox Theatre on Hollywood boulevard.
Incidentally, the marquee read; "Never
Steal Anything Small" at the time of the
break-in Fire gutted the Major Theatre.
Burbank. operated by Fred Stein
. . .
Enterprises.
MGM's "The Mysterians," science-fiction
feature, will open a saturation world premiere
engagement here May 27 in 50 theatres
and drive-ins. The hard-selling shock
campaign will be keyed to catchlines building
the film as "the greatest science-fiction
picture man's imagination ever conceived."
Similar campaigns and saturation
openings are planned tliroughout the countiT
with the film slated to open day-anddate
in some 150 theatres in the New York
area around July 1.
Martita Hunt, character actress, will join
the company of Columbia's "A Magic
Flame," when filming begins In Munich.
BOXOFFICE :: May 11. 1959

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SAN FRANCISCO 2, CALIFORNIA
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SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH

Montana Ass'n Claims Independents
Create Disorderly Product Flow
BILLINGS—The hea\T flow of independent
production was blamed by the Montana
Tlieatre Ass'n, in convention here this
week, for the "disorderly" release schedules.
Exhibitors here felt that the large
number of independents releasing through
the major film companies makes control
of schedules by distributors difficult, as
the filmmakers seek dates in the holiday
seasons for their pictures.
The convention Tuesday and Wednesday
15. 6 •
was attended by 50 of the associations
80 members.
Pinus Lewis of Livingston was elected
president to succeed Clarence Golder of
Great Falls. Also elected were Chris Gorder.
Poplar, vice-president, and Bob Suckstorff.
Sidney, son of the late Jack Suckstorff.
secretary.
The convention voted to hold its fall
meeting in Superior, the date to be selected
by the board.
Vu-gil O'Dell of Nampa. Ida., addi-essing
the exhibitors on advertising and promotion,
said that advertising in the daily or
weekly newspaper was still the fundamental
tool of the industry. The principal
problem of the theatreman was not selling
the picture but rather that of letting tlie
public know it is playing the local theatre.
The old art of ballyhoo is still just as
effective as it ever was. O'Dell declared,
but exhibitors need to adapt it to modernday
needs.
George Rosco€. representative of Theatre
Owners of America, repoi-ted that reports
to TOA from the field indicate that business
generally is on the upgrade. The reason
theatremen have given him for the
improvement is simply that better product
is available and the public is willing to go
out to see the better pictm-es.
Barrie Chase Stays on Pay
HOLL'TWOOD — Actress-dancer Barrie
Chase has had her option picked up by
20th-Fox for another six months. She is
prepping for a stan-ing role in "Can Can,"
Jack Cummings' production for 20th-Fox,
As a screen game,
HOLLYWOOD takes top
honors. As a box-office attraction,
it is without equal
a favorite with theatre goers for
over ]5 years. Write today for complete details.
Be sure to give seating or cor capacity.
HOLLYWOOD AMUSIMINT CO.
3.00 Oaklon SI. • Skokk lllinol
Jens M. Hansen Sr.;
Exhibitor 51 Years
DEER LOEKxE. MONT.^ens M. Han
sen sr., 76, who observed his golden anni
versary as motion pictui-e exhibitor last
year, died ecently at his home, following
an illness of several months.
He was born in Slasvig, Denmark, now
a part of Germany, but w^orked his way to
this country as a blacksmith at the age
of 15. After practicing the trades of carriage-making
and blacksmithing in the
middle west, Hansen reached Deer Lodge
in 1908. He opened his first theatre the
following year, operating in the building
next to the present Elks Club. Later he
moved into the building now the Toggery.
The Orpheum, where Arnold's is located,
provided another theatre location for Hansen.
For a time he and a partner, George
Boedecker, operated two theatres here. The
present Rialto Theatre was opened in 1920.
Hansen was a past president of the Independent
Theatre Owners of Montana
and held various other offices in the association.
He served as mayor 12 years.
1945-1957, and several council terms. He
belonged to Rotary, Deer Lodge No. 14,
AF&AM, and Elks Lodge No. 533.
Survivors include two sons, four daughters.
16 grandchildren and two greatgrandchildren.
Daniel Fuchs Litigation
Settled Out of Court
HOLLYWOOD—The two-year
litigation
of screen writer Daniel Fuchs against producer
Harold Hecht regarding the Hecht-
Hill-Lancaster film. "Trapeze." has been
settled out of court. Although the amount
of settlement was not disclosed, it is believed
to be among the largest in motion
picture history for this type of case. Fuchs
had demanded one-sixth of the film's
profit, which was estimated in the complaint
prepared by his attorney. Gordon
Levoy. to be $8,000,000.
Fuchs contended that the basis of
"Trapeze" was on his Collier's story of 1940
and said that Hecht was aware of this
since he had acted as the writer's agent
during the period, besides representing his
current partner. Burt Lancaster, at the
same time.
Pick Four Piloting Jobs
HOLLYWOOD—Four pictui-es have been
selected by the Screen Directors' Guild for
best directorial achievement in the first
quarter of 1959. They will compete for the
Guild's annual direction award. Films are
"The Shaggy Dog." Walt Disney-Buena
Vista. Charles Barton, director. Arthur J.
Vitarelli. assistant; "Rally Round the
Flag, Boys!" 20th -Fox, Leo McCarey, director.
Jack Gertsman, assistant: "Imitation
of Life," U-I, Douglas Sirk, director,
Frank Shaw, assistant: "Rio Bravo," Warner
Bros., Howard Hawks, director. Paul
Helmick. assistant.
52 Writers Working
0»±i?JT^^
HOLLYWOOD — Only into its sixth
month of organization, Twentieth-Fox
Television already has 52 writers working
fulltime on eight series for Martin Manulis
Productions, reportedly a record for a firstyear
video producing company.
Manulis revealed that it will be the basis
for a stable of contract writers to be established
as a component part of the company's
future plans. Many of the 52 writers
have been inked to a multiple-teleplay
deal, with others working from one assignment
to the next.
Now available to independent television
producers, networks and agencies on a
is rental basis first the commercial mobile
video-tape unit in the nation.
Mobile Video Tapes, formed by three
former ABC-TV technicians, perfected a
self-contained mobile unit, including an
Ampex tape-recorder, two camera chains
with outputs for two more, and its own
power somxe. thus enabling the unit to
tape anywhere even while in motion.
Goldwyn and CBS executives indicated
they have been unable to agree on terms,
necessitating calling off the deal to film
five telefilm series at the Goldwyn studios.
New rental facilities are now being
arranged by the network.
CBS still says they will begin filming
the shows on schedule, with the first to go
to be "The Lineup" May 18. to be followed
by "Gunsmoke" and "Have Gun, Will
Travel" May 25. While the two western
shows may be filmed at California Studios,
they will not be under Filmaster Productions,
as was previously announced.
"December Bride" and "Twilight Zone"
are the other shows affected by the deal.
"Bride." however, lost its sponsor and no
decisions have been made on its continuance.
The other two shows have not yet
found space.
Fleet Chief Stamps His
^
Okay on 'John P. Jones'
HOLLYWOOD—Producer Samuel Bronston
screened his Warner Bros.' release.
"John Paul Jones." for Fleet Admiral
Chester W. Nimitz in San Francisco recentlv.
Following the screening, the admiral
cabled Bronston and director John Farrow
in London. "Heartiest congratulations on
a splendid picture which will thrill Americans
everywhere and revive for them a
very important part of our country's
history."
Bronston gave Nimitz a main credit title
in the film reading: "This production is
dedicated to Fleet Admiral Chester W.
Nimitz, U.S.A., able inheritor of the John
Paul Jones tradition. To him we owe much
gratitude for his unflagging encouragement
and inspiration."
The title role in the Technirama film
is enacted by Robert Stack.
Collier's CivU War Story Bought
HOLLYWOOD—Frank Harvey's Colliers
magazine story, "Terror at Webb's Landing,"
has been acquired by director Robert
Webb for possible feature production.
The story is backgrounded on the Civil
War.
BOXOmCE 11. 19

. . The
—
. . "South
— '
'New' Wadsworth Open
To Denver Public
DENVER—The newly remodeled and refurbished
Wadsworth Di-ive-In Theatre has
opened its gates to the public. Mrs. Vera
Cocki-Ul, president of Empire Theatres
owners of the Wadsworth and Denham
theatres—announced that the entire theatre
has been remodeled, making it one of
the finest drive-in theatres in the nation.
The outdoor theatre, built some five
years ago, has been done over from top
to bottom and the result is "the new Wadsworth
Family Di-ive-In Theatre," representing
an investment of over one-quarter
of a million dollars. A new process motion
pictui-e screen, Manco-Vision, has been
constructed, enabling the theatre to show
any type of motion picture now in production.
Manco-Vision is said to increase the
brilliance of the screen by 30 per cent.
A new playground facility has been added
at the Wadsworth and a new, fully equipped
snack shop has been installed to provide
patrons with food of all varieties. The
Wadsworth also features an indoor theatre
on the grounds, giving patrons a choice
of indoor or outdoor viewing. The indoor
theatre has been remodeled also and new
seats have been installed. A new car speaker
system has been installed and the entu'e
ground area is being resurfaced.
According to Manager Bill VanDeventer,
Wadsworth Drive-In Theatre will program
only pictui-es which will have appeal
for the entire family. "We want to
become a vital part of the community, and
we want the community to become a part
of us," he said.
DENVER
n B. HiUiard has taken over the management
of the Nuggett Theatre at Telluride
from Reuben Stroh who has moved
to California. Hilliard will operate the
Nuggett along with the Chipeta Theatre
at Ouray completely remodeled
.
and rebuilt Wadsworth Drive-In Theatre,
which is headed by Charles Reagan and
Mrs. Vera Cockrill of the Denham Theatre,
has opened here this past week.
Tom Robinson, office manager for Columbia
Pictures, sports a beautiful new
wrist watch commemorating 25 years of
service with his company. The local Columbia
exchange now has five employes who
have had 25 or more years with the company.
Other 25-year veterans are Bob Hill,
manager; salesmen Sam Dare and Barney
Shooker and Betty Morr, booker.
Sam Feinstein was on the Row setting
dates for his Kar Vu Drive-In at Brighton.
Bob Smith, for many years a partner with
Joe Ashby in operating the theatres in
Steamboat Springs and Oak Creek, was
visiting old friends on Filmrow. Others
the Row were George MacCormick
visiting
of the Skyline Theatre at Canon City,
Larry Starsmore, Westland Theatres, Colorado
Springs; Vern Hudson, Greeley Drive-
In Theatre at Greeley; A. Beezley, Midway
Theatre at Burlington; C, MacLaughlin,
Ritz Theatre at Las Animas and Joe
Machetta of the Emerson Theatre at Brush.
BoxorncE May 11, 1959
$250,000 WORTH OF FAITH—A Citation
of Achievement from the Downtown
Ass'n of San Francisco was presented
to Sherrill 0. Corwin (left), president
of the North Coast Theatres Corp.,
by Albert E. Schlesinger, association
president. The citation commended
Corwin for "his faith in the future of
downtown San Francisco and in the
motion picture industry," as demonstrated
by the current $250,000 face-
Hfting reconstruction and redecoration
work now in progress at the United
Artists Theatre. In reply Corwin said:
"The United Artists Theatre will continue
in the same fine tradition established
by the original owners, Sid
Grauman and his father J. D. Grauman."
After the ceremony, Corwin
conducted Schlesinger and Mayor
George Christopher on a tour of the
theatre.
Still Some Mileage Left
In Hollywood Blacklist
SAN FRANCISCO—A lively exchange of
articles and "letters to the editor" over
the "Hollywood Blacklist" have been appearing
in the San Francisco Chronicle in
which Irving N. Levin, director of the
San Francisco Film Festival and theatre
circuit owner, has answered back for the
film industry.
Starting from an editorial column written
by Royce Brier which applauded the
use of Howard Fast's "Spartacus" for a
film script and the lifting of the atmosphere
of the "witch hunt," the controversy
came when writer Alvah Bessie made rebuttal
to Brier. Bessie wrote: "It seems
to me the $6,000,000 production of Howard
Fast's 'Spartacus' represents an extension
of the blacklist, in an important sense:
Fast, like Edward Dmytryk of the Hollywood
Ten, renounced his former view and
denounced his friends and immediately
became acceptable."
Levin fired back a retort to Bessie: "To
smear subtly both Mr. Howard Fast and
Edward Dmytryk as turncoats is certainly
carrying on the much-despised mood of
blacklists and puerile name-calling. As
always, it's the work of art which they
produce which carries significance ."
. .
Jack Lament in From Paris
LOS ANGELES—Here for conferences on
upcoming releases of Inter-Continent Releasing
Organization is Jack Lamont,
European sales chief at Paris, who will
huddle with Inter-Continent heads J. R.
Grainger and Benedict E. Bogeaus.
SAN FRANCISCO
JJomer I. Tegtmeier, vice-president and
manager of the B. F. Shearer Co. here,
has let it be known that effective June 30
he will retire from active management of
the San Francisco office. However, he will
remain a director and continue his interest
in the operation of the company. After an
extended vacation dm-ing June and July,
Tegtmeier will be back on Filmrow with
offices at 291 Golden Gate Ave., to supervise
the operation of his theatres.
A high point of the current Italian Festival
was the Tuesday showing of a
new Italian film which has been acclaimed
by critics on both sides of the Atlantic
"Dreams in the Drawer"

. . Warren
. . Al
.
.
SEATTLE
Toe Walsh, of Exhibitor Service, Washing-
'
ton. D. C, was a recent visitor at the
Warner Bros, office here Mushkin,
.
Theatre Drapery Supply, has leased the
Grand Theatre here in town . . .
Mercedes
Cleveland has joined the B. P. Shearer office
staff. Her vacated cashier's spot at
Allied Artists has been taicen over by Verna
Estabrook, and Carol Clausen has been
hired as secretary Bliss Stansbery.
. . .
cashier at Favorite Films of California, was
enjoying a vacation trip to Michigan .
Art Greenfield has been covering the Montana
territory for Screen Gems.
A Filmrow visitor was Allen Winter, who
manages the Olympic Theatre in Olympia
for W. B. McDonald, who is still in Florida
Eddie K. Shimomura. Seattle pharmacist,
has been appointed to the Board of
Theatre Supervisors by Mayor Gordon S.
Clinton, replacing Keith Douglas, who resigned.
Shimomura has served on the board
of First Hill Lions Club and Japanese-
American Citizen's league.
Ed Cruea, Allied Artists manager, returned
from a business trip to Oregon,
and AA salesman Bob Parnell covered the
eastern Oregon territory . . . "Al Capone"
lAA) is booked to open May 20th at the
Coliseum, Seattle; May 21st at the Orpheum,
Portland; and May 27 at the Fox,
Spokane. Exceedingly good business is anticipated.
Opening day gross (April 22nd)
at the Golden Gate in San Francisco was
approximately 20 per cent above "House
on Haunted Hill" which did very well in
the northwest territory.
A. G. Peechia and his wife returned from
a three-month trip to Italy. He operates
the Roxy Theatre at Morton, the Roxy at
Eatonville and the Narrows Theatre in Tacoma
... A new project of Northwest Releasing
will be a Roller Derby, starting in
June for 13 weeks, to be held in Seattle,
Tacoma. Spokane, and Vancouver, B. C.
Slee, formerly promotion man
in charge of Seattle Cinerama, is now in
Chicago, handling publicity for Loew's,
Inc. in Chicago.
Richardson Makes 'Bush'
Pay Off Couple of Ways
HOLLYWOOD—Actor Jack Richardson
makes his business pay all the way around.
A boat broker who tui-ned actor for "A
Summer Place" at WB, he returned to his
original business to supply the studio with
a cabin cruiser, a Monterey and a fishing
trawler for "The Bramble Bush."
Use of the three boats was arranged by
Richardson for "Bramble Bush" scenes at
Balboa. The Milton Sperhng production,
filming in Technicolor, stars Richard
Burton, Barbara Rush and Angle Dickinson,
with Daniel Petrie directing. The
shooting schedule at Warners has been
rearranged by Petrie while William Hansen
recovers from hospitalization. The actor
plays a priest in the film.
New Effects by Geo. Pal
For 'Time Machine' Opus
HOLLYWOOD—Academy Award-winner
George Pal expects to create spectacular
new effects in "Time Machine," H. G.
Wells' novel, which he plans to film at
MGM this summer.
Pal, who won an Oscar with another
Wells story, "War of the Worlds," is to
produce and direct the new picture for his
Galaxy Films. Recently he won his fourth
Academy award for effects in "tom thumb,"
also for MGM.
The screenplay on "Time Machine" is
by Philip Yordan and David Duncan.
Otto Kruger in 'McCall'
HOLLYWOOD—Otto
Kruger returns to
Warner Bros., where he recently finished
a role in "The Young Phlladelphians," to
essay the role of Will Atherson, a bank
president, in "Cash McCall." Setting has
Kruger again in Philadelphia.
PORTLAND
pox-Ever&reen scheduled a gala opening
for the first Oregon showing of Louis
"
de Rochemont's "Windjammer in the
Cinemiracle process at the Hollywood Theatre.
The invitational opening Pi-iday

•
—
— —
—
Loop Attractions All
Have Holding Power
CHICAGO—Spring vacation for school
children proved a boon to most movie house
business in the Loop. Good business was
reflected in either increased or stabilized
grosses in the case of holdovers generally.
"Room at the Top" was a tremendous
opener at the Esquire. It played to capacity
houses throughout the first week. "The
Diary of Anne Frank" also got off to a big
start at the McVickers Theatre.
—
oge 100)
Cornegie The Devil Strike
2nd wk
Chicago Rio Bravo (WB), 3rd wk..
Esquire Room at the Top (Cont'l).
Gorrick The Shaggy Dog (BV), 6th
Loop-—Gigi (MGM). 9th wk
McVickers The Diary o
Monroe Good Day for
(Col)
i35
CHICAGO
Roosevelt ^Imitotion of Lire (U
Stote Lake Sleeping Beauty
Todd's Cinestagc Ten Commandments
(Pora), 3rd wk
United Artists Some Lilce It Hot (UA)
Woods Compulsion (20th-Fo>), 2nd
World Playhouse The Horse's Mouth (
8th
•Haunted ffiU' to 2nd Week
In 4 Kansas City Theatres
KANSAS CITY—The biggest first-run
news of the week here was that "House on
Haunted Hill" and its companion feature
were holding for a second week in the four
Dickinson first-run units—the first time
both indoor and
any program has held in
outdoor theatres since the day-and-date
policy started more than a year ago. "The
Mating Game" earned a second week at the
Midland, and "Compulsion" was holding
at the Uptown.
Brookside Sleeping Beauty (BV), 6th wk 280
Crest and Riverside drive-ins The Young Lond
(Col) The Man Inside (Col); Juke Box Rhythm
(Col)
Glen, Dickinson and Shownee and Leowood
drive-ins House on Haunted Hill (AA); The
Accursed (AA)
Fairway and Isis Peyton Place (20th-Fox); The
Long, Hot Summer (20th-Fox), rereleases
Gronoda Imitation of Life (U-l), 2nd wk
Kimo My Uncle (Cont'l), 5th wk
Midland The Mating Game (MGM); Gideon of
Scotland Yard (Col)
Missouri South Seas Adventure (Cineramo), 21st
Paromount Giant (WB); Mister Roberts (WB),
rereleases
Roxy Imitation of Life (U-l), 3rd wk
Uptown Compulsion (20th-Fox)
Speedway Season Siphons
Indianapolis Patronage
INDIANAPOLIS—It's spring here, and
outdoor competition has resulted in a seasonal
boxoffice lull. Activity at the Speedway,
now beginning, will be a factor on
weekends till after the May 30 500-mile
classic.
Cinema— Flesh and Desire (Ellis); Three Forbidden
Stories (SR) 1 00
Circle Warlock (20th-Fox); Islond of Lost
Women (WB) 110
Esquire—The Horse's Mouth (UA) 1 25
Indiana—The Shaggy Dog (BV), 2nd wk 200
Keith's Imitotion of Life (U-l), 3rd wk 150
Loews The Mating Gome (MGM); High Flight
(Col) 115
Lyric—Sleeping Beauty (BV), 6tih wk 110
EXPERT
FRANK
2nd & Vi
If

Cook
. . Mrs.
—
KANSAS CITY
,
Texas gentleman, long identified with
picture distribution, had the pleasure
renewing Filmrow acquaintances here
last week. He is Herman
Beiersdorf of
Dallas, southwest
division manager for
American International
Pictures, and
was here to work with
Earl Dyson, local AIP
manager, on the com-
upcoming
pany's
"Horrors of the Black
Museum," the most
ambitious production
„ .
J t to be released by AIP
Herman Be.ersdorf
J^ ^^^^ ^^^ ^^^^ ^.^^
was screened for the trade Tuesday afternoon
i5i in the Fox screening room. Beiersdorf
was one of the founders of Eagle-Lion
Pictures and served as southern division
manager for that company, headquartering
in Dallas. He also served as 20th-Fox
district manager in Dallas. With "Horrors
of the Black Museum," AIP is departing
from its hitherto hard-and-fast policy of
releasing program films as a combination,
although this practice still will be followed
from time to time, alternating with the
single release of larger budget films.
Big plans are afoot at Columbia Pictures
exchanges in fom- territories—Kansas City.
Minneapolis, Des Moines-Omaha and Oklahoma
City—for a four-week key and subkey
saturation of "It Happened to Jane,"
the new Doris Day, Jack Lemmon and Ernie
Kovacs comedy. Bill Jeffries, office manager
for Columbia here, says this will be
^H.
T/ou^ £&UMce SUux. 1S99
STEBBINS Theatre Equipment Co.
1804 Wyondone
GRond 1-0134
Kansas City 8, Mo.
Night DRexel 1-2791
MISSOURI THEATRE
SUPPLY COMPANY
115 Wejt ISth
Konsos City 8, Missouri BAItimore 1-3070
C-2
When Ordering Other Supplies
Why Not Order Westinghouse Lamps?
20% Discount on SS Orders
257. Discount on $15 Orders
SHREVE THEATRE SUPPLY
217 W«st 18th St. HA 1-7849 Ko City, Mo.
nrivB-Iri
^aarams
rHEATRICAlADVERTISINOCI
niO CftS5 AVE. • DETROIT I MICH
WRITE roR snwPiES-Wo i iins
the most intensive campaign ever staged in
this part of the country for a Colimibia
picture and that plans call for heavy radio
and TV plugging in addition to ballyhoo
and publicity gimmicks of many types.
Not to be outdone in the "big saturation"
sweepstakes. Warner Bros.^whose
"Hanging Tree" campaign early this year
is regarded as a trail-blazer—has a couple
more programs on the fh'e. The first,
scheduled for June, is an exploitation duo
"Gigantis the Fire Monster" and "Teenagers
Prom Outer Space"—and then in
early August similar treatment will be
given "Hercules," which is expected to
make an overnight star out of American
actor Steve Reeves who has appeared in
European-made films only up to now.
Frank J. Havlicek, heard and enjoyed by
many Filmrowers and exhibitors at the
Coffee Royal breakfast during the UTO
Show-a-Rama convention here in March,
has just received a substantial promotion.
Havlicek, who has headed the film ad sales
division of A. V. Cauger Service of Independence
and Reid H. Ray Film Industries
of St. Paul, has been appointed vicepresident
in charge of eastern sales for
these organizations and will take up his
duties immediately, headquartering in
Washington, D. C. Ted Cauger, president
of the Independence firm, attended the
Reid H. Ray spring sales clinic held at the
firm's St. Paul studios recently.
Good news from the convalescent circuit:
Joe Manfre of Warner Bros, is com-
.
ing along better each day and is able to
be out of bed a good part of the time now,
though he still must get plenty of rest.
Also, Mrs. Harley Fryer is back home in
Lamar and making rapid improvement
from her recent surgery Gladys
Melson of Motion Picture Booking Agency
entered Memorial Hospital in North Kansas
City Sunday HO) for surgery and expects
to be there about ten days—a less
than ideal way to spend a vacation. Meanwhile
the Ed Hartman office will be run
as a "family concern" during Gladys' absence
with Ed. Mary Jane and Elaine Hartman
all on duty. Elaine, who has spent
the past several summers here, arrived in
town Sunday i3i saying she was all ready
to sharpen her pencil and go to work.
L. J. Klmbriel of Missouri Theatre Supply
reports that his firm has contracted
to furnish 1,000 Heywood - Wakefield
TC-700 fully upholstered theatre chairs for
the new auditorium being constructed at
the Fort Riley army installation . . . Paying
Filmrow calls in recent days have been
Gene Beavers, McKenna circuit manager
in Osawatomie: Mr. and Mrs. Ray Boyd
of the Plattsburg, Mo., Lyric: Glenn Jones
of the Gravois Mills Drive-In: O. C. Alexander
of the Kansas Theatre at Kiowa:
"
C. E. "Doc of the Dude Ranch
Drive-In at Maryville, Mo., and Darrell
Manes, Commonwealth manager at Garden
City.
At Chanute, Kas., Ray Walsh—who has
had the Mainstreet Theatre for some time
—has acquired the Peoples Theatre from
the Fox Midwest circuit and will operate it
m place of the Mainstreet, which will be
cosed. Walsh and several associates also
own the Neocha Drive-In at Chanute. Ed
Hartman's Motion Picture Booking Agency
will buy and book for the Peoples Theatre
as well as the Neocha.
The Fox and Orpheum theatres in Atchison,
Kas., and the Frontier Drive-In Theatre
in Winthrop. Mo., across the Missouri
River from Atchison, have been leased by
a new corporation formed by Harry
Hixon in conjunction with Commonwealth
Amusement Corp. The new firm, known as
Commonwealth Atchison Theatres, has
named Hixon as its Atchison manager.
Hixon said the Orpheum, formerly owned
by him, is being closed for the summer
months.
Grassroots Aided Repeal
Of Tenn. Admissions Tax
KNOXVILLE — Grassroots
cooperation
made possible the passage by the Tennessee
Legislature of the bill eliminating the state
two per cent tax on admissions, which had
been yielding about $250,000 annually, according
to Walter L. Morris, Knoxville theatre
owner and a member of the tax committee
of the Council of Motion Picture
Organizations.
The bill becomes effective July 1. It contains
a clause ending the authority of municipalities
not now levying such a tax to
impose one in the futui-e.
"
"The elimination of this levy, Morris
said, "is another instance of the grassroots
working to secure relief, and primary credit
goes to the little man who worked and
followed a good organization plan."
To Convert Empty Theatre
LAWRENCE, KAS. — The Jayhawker
Theatre building here has been purchased
by two local men, Emory Scott of Scott
Temperature Co. and George Noland of
the Noland Insm-ance Agency. They are
buying the building from the H. J. Griffith
Realty Co. of Dallas. The purchasers said
they would operate the office rental space
as it is now being used. The theatre section
of the building, which has been dark since
December, 1957, will be converted to other
commercial use, Scott and Noland said.
The score for Columbia's "Here Come the
Brides" was written by the songwriting
team, Sammy Cahn and James Van Heusen.
HERrSYOURCHANCI
to got In Ih*
BIG MONEY
a screen game,
HOLLYWOOD takes fop
honors. As a box-office atwithout
equal. It hos
been a favorite with theatre goers for
over 15 years. Write todoy for complete details.
Be sure to give seating or ear capacity.
HOILYWOOD AMUCIMINT CO.
3750 Oakton St. e Skoklt, lllinol
BOXOFFICE :: May 11, 1959

DOUBLE BOXOFFICE BLOCKBUSTER I N0.33
YOU CAN'T RESIST
VMV\*Ovista
~i-iORROi?S OF The
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IT PUTS YOU IN THE PICTURE!
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EXCHANGE
CAPITOL FILM CO.
MAX ROTH
1301 So. Wabash Avenue
CHICAGO 5, ILLINOIS
REALART
PICTURES
HELEN f. BOHN
441 Na Illinois Street
INDIANAPOLIS 4, INDIANA
AMERICAN INT'L PICTURES
OF KANSAS CITY
EARL DYSON
215 West 18th Street
KANSAS CITY 8, MISSOURI
HArrison 1-7085
REALART PIQURES
GEORGE PHILLIPS—HERMAN GORELICK
3216 Olive Street
ST, LOUIS 3, MISSOURI

. . and
. . Mr.
2 1 . The
. . Mrs.
'
ST.
LOUIS
f'harles G. Guggenheim, head of Charles
Guggenheim & Associates, documentary
film director and producer, was interviewed
on channel 9 Tuesday evening i5i
on the relation of the motion picture to
St. Louis life. Guggenheim, who has headquarters
at 3330 Olive St.. is the producer
of "The Great St. Louis Bank Robbery"
and also operates the Art Theatre, which
does most of the tradescreening for distributors
here.
••Home of the Brave" was shown at 8 p.m.
Thursday i7i at the Heman Park Community
Center, University City, under the
sponsorship of the adult education department
of the YMHA and Bnai B'rith. The
film deals with the war in the Pacific and
the internal conflicts of a soldier.
Hall Walsh, Warner Bros, manager,
called on the Frisina Amusement Co.,
111., . . .
Springfield. on circuit deals Outof-town
exhibitors along Pilmrow were
rather scarce. Those present included Forrest
Pirtle. Jerseyville, 111.; Clark Smith,
La Center, Ky.; Bernard Temborius, Lebanon,
111., and, of course, some of the regulars
from nearby Illinois.
^ei9eo
. . . Wherever You Go...
iSSKO Products
Bring in ihe Dough!
.
that the Beacon, southwest of town on Parents of the new son are Mr. and Mrs.
State 67, wiU open late this month or Selig Smiler of Philadelphia.
early in June.
To Fight Censor Ruling
CHICAGO—Attorney Abner Mikva has
\
been retained by Gene Gutowski. owner
of the Polish film, "Eighth Day of the
"
Week, to seek a court test of the Chicago
Censor Board's refusal to grant permit for
showing here. Mikva has been successful
in securing reversal of censor board rulings
by the courts in several cases within the
past three years.
THEWTRE EQUIPMENT
421 N, ILLINOIS ST., INDIANAPOLIS, l»
"Even/thing for the Theatre"
MAXIMUM LIGHT
in llllnoll—Koyline Compony, Chkogo—W«b«f«r 9-4643
Poromcl Electronics, Chicogo—Aveni 3-4422
In MliMurl—Miisouri Th«o»r« Supply Company, Konsoi
more 1-3070
City—
Natloiul Thootrt Supply, St. Louis—JofUnon l-63$o
C-4
BOXOFFICE

—
JACKSONVILLE Florida Exhibitor Group Honors
IJarold TurbyfiU, Paramount booker, re-
John Crovo With Life Membership
cently left here for a six-month tornof
duty with the U. S. Army. He has been
temporarily replaced by Howard Bunch,
formerly Al Hildreth's assistant at the
Arcade Theatre . . . Louis Pauza. United
Artists booker, left here for a leisurely
vacation tour of New England states . . .
Lee Knight, new to the industry, is now
booking for United Artists . . . Glenda
Palmer, formerly of the MGM staff, is the
new assistant cashier at Allied Artists, replacing
Barbara Kaufman, who resigned
when her husband was transferred to another
city.
A front-line contingent of FST executives
and motion picture exploiteers. led
by President Louis J. Pinske, left here by
plane to attend an AB-PT conclave in
Dallas, where Interstate circuit officials
and Sidney Markley, AB-PT vice-president
of New York, were to be hosts to four- other
Paramount circuits at a planning session.
Judge May, editor of the Florida Times-
Union's entertainment pages, told his 150,-
000 readers in his Sunday

, and
.
Showmanship Bests Seasonal Slump Theatre Concessions
In
Successful Consolidated Drives
Hit by S. C. Taxes
JCONSOLID/VTED THEATRES """ exhibitors will
Groundwork for Consolidated Theatres'
annual Showmanship Drive was
prepared in April when home office
personnel and the circuit's indoor and
drive-in managers met at Hotel Charlotte,
Charlotte. Standing, left to right,
in the photo above, are Leonard Register,
Cameo Theatre, Rocky Mount;
J. W. Carroll. Forest Drive- In, Raleigh:
Allen Morgan, Augusta Road Drive-In,
Greenville, S.C.: A. B. Craver, Plaza,
Charlotte; L. C. Fitzgerald, Ulmer S.
Eaddy jr. and F. H. Beddingfield, home
office; Philip Nance, Village, Raleigh;
James Carver, Wake, Raleigh; Ralph
Hoskins, Lee Hi Drive- In, Roanoke,
Va.; Charles Utley, Fox Drive-In,
Aiken, S. C; Roy Ferguson, Skyview
Drive-In, Augusta; Bill Staton, Magnolia
Drive-In, Charleston, S. C;
Ernest Sewell, Diane 29 Drive-In, Gastonia,
and Alex White, home office.
Sitting, left to right, are Dick Stone,
Sunset Theatre, Asheboro; Rufus Neas,
State, Mooresville; Bascom Lassiter,
Piedmont Drive-In, Greensboro; Cecil
Winstead, Uptown, Durham; Grover
Baker, Criterion, Durham; Jackie
Pearce, Belmont Drive-In, Belmont;
Jack Malphurs, Midway Drive-In.
Thomasville: Ed Pettett, Fox, Greenville,
S. C; Julia and Buster Schnibben,
operating the Carolina, Colonial
and Circle Drive-In, Florence, S. C;
Pete Staton, North 52 Drive-In, Char-
this area and the first two weeks after
youngsters have started their vacations."
Circuit managers accumulate points with
boxoffice results, concessions sales, showmanship
endeavors and overall operation.
A ".t-eKly boxoffice quota is assigned each
theaiio. The manager gets one point for
r f,
f
leston; Robert Bedenbaugh, Flamingo
Drive-In, Charleston; Mack Herman,
Crescent Drive-In, Danville, Va.;
Frank Montgomery, East 70 Drive-In,
Burlington; Norris Wilson, Starlite
Drive-In, Spartanburg, S. C; Bill
Cook, Tower Drive-In, Gastonia, and
Roger Mitchell, Paris, Greenville, S. C.
In the lower photo are pictured past
first place winners of Consolidated
Theatres Spring Showmanship Drives.
Standing, left to right, are Pete Staton,
North 52 Drive-In, Charleston; Mack
Herman, Crescent Drive-In, Danville.
Va.. and Roy Ferguson. Skyview Drive-
In. Augusta. Ga. Seated, left to right,
are Jack Malphurs. Midway Drive-In.
Thomasville; F. H. Beddingfield. president.
Consolidated Theatres; and Phillip
Nance. Village, Raleigh.
CHARLOTTE — Consolidated Theatres each one per cent his exceeds 80 per cent
managers are competing for $850 in cash of the week's quota. Each manager also
prizes in the circuit's fifth annual Showmanship
is assigned a concessions quota, based on
Drive, a six-week campaign which a percentage of concessions sold per ad-
Ulmer S. Eaddy jr., circuit film buyer, mission tickets. For each one cent increased
credits with having the same effect as
over the quota, the manager gets
adding "an extra month of good business" four points.
One to 50 points are awarded weekly on
to the circuit's calendar. This year's drive
started May 3 and will continue through showmanship activities. Tear sheets, heralds,
June 13.
photographs of lobby displays and
"The purpose of this drive is to overcome
other evidence of promotions are mailed
the traditional slump in the indoor weekly to the circuit office. One to 50
houses during May." said Eaddy. "and points also are earned by a manager on
attempt, as far as the drivo-ins are concerned,
his overall operation, these points being
to get the people back into the based on manner, dress, cleanliness and
habit of attending the drive-ins during the attitude of personnel: concessions operations,
summer. For that reason, we run the drive
boxoffice procedure, projection, gen-
through the final four weeks of school in
SE-2
eral appearance of the restrooms. lawn,
cleanliness of the ramp area, spirit and
enthusiasm of the staff.
First prize in each of the two divisions
for indoor and drive-in managers is $200.
Second prize is $100: third, $50. and two.
$25 prizes are to be awarded in each
division.
COLUMBIA, S. C.—Theatre concession
stands will feel the pinch of new taxes
levied by the legislature this session, but
not be hit by the provisions
of the new admissions tax.
The tax on soft drink syrups went up
one-fourth to a dollar per gallon. Bottled
drinks were unaffected. Drive-in theatres
selling cigarets and beer found new taxes
on these items, too. Tobacco products got
additional levies, including an added two
cents per pack on cigarets 'to five cents).
An extra penny of tax was added to beer,
a total of six cents on a bottle or can.
South Carolina motion picture houses
pay an annual seat tax, and are not affected
by the 10 per cent admissions tax.
This tax was broadened this year to catch
every fonn of amusement and sports event
except high school and grade school (if
i
the students are performing chui'Ch
dinners or the equivalent. It means that
community-sponsored events such as little
theatre plays and cultui-al events locallysponsored
though produced in New York
now would be subject to the levy.
Theatremen asked and received consideration
on the taxes because of the poor
business of late. They pointed to the number
of closings, plus the fact that they also
pay property taxes in their communities,
plus the income taxes which their employes
must pay the state. State income
taxes were also increased by the last legislature.
$187,000 Mikadow Lawsuit
Settled Prior to Trial
MANITOWOC. WIS. — A lawsuit for
$187,000 damages, filed as an outgrowth
of the 1956 fire which destroyed the Mikadow
Theatre, has been settled without
going to trial, according to F. H. Schlichting
circuit judge. The amount of the settlement
was not disclosed.
The defendant was Edwin W. Braunel
Co., local plumbing firm, whose employes
were allegedly working in the theatre
when the fire broke out. Plaintiffs were
the Kadow Realty Co., owner of the building;
Pi-ancis M. Kadow and Robert S.
Guiterman. copartners, doing business as
the Manitowoc Theatres Co., and eight insurance
companies which carried fire and
extended coverage insurance on the theatre
building and contents.
Ramon Ruenes Is Winner
In Air Conditioning Suit
BROWNSVILLE. TEX.—Ramon Ruenes.
owner of the McAllen Rex Theatre and
theatres here, was awarded $3,067.66 in a
suit against the Valley Weathermakers of
McAllen. The case was tried before Judge
William Scanlan in 103rd District Court.
Ruenes charged that an acid descaler.
used by an employe of Valley Weathermakers,
was left Inside the pipes for too
long, causing the acid to eat through tlie
pipes and render the air conditioning
equipment unusable for two months.
Ruenes was awarded $1,900 for repairs and
replacements of damaged equipment, and
$1,167.66 for loss of profits from May 22,
1955. to July 17. 1955.

.ma^m.
DOUBLE BOXOFFICE BLOCKBUSTER I N0.33
YOU CAN'T RESIST
IT PUTS YOU IN THE PICTURE!
VISTA
'HORROIRS OF The
Black umm
T YOUR yimanlaaru A ^nXannatlonaL exchange
IL RELEASING CORP.
M. RICHARDSON
AMERICAN ASTOR PICTURES
R. F. PINSON
COLONIAL PICTURES
R. V. REAGAN
CAPITOL RELEASING CORP.
R. C. PRICE
MASTERPIECE PiaURE, INC.
MAMIE DUREAU
Wolton Street, N.W.
.ANTA 3, GEORGIA
215 West 4th Street
CHARLOTTE 1, NORTH CAROLINA
492 So. Second Street
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE
137 Forsythe Street
JACKSONVILLE 2, FLORIDA
221 South Liberty St.
NEW ORLEANS 12, LOUISIANA

. . J.
. . . W.
. . Kentucky
. . United
. . . Charles
. . Ernest
. .
MEMPHIS
n windstorm blew down the screen tower
and caused the temporary closing of
Motorvue Drivc-In at Piggott. Ark. Repairs
are being made Theatres opened
.
Ark Ail- Dnve-In at Clarksville, Ark., and
Rivervue Drive-In at Morrilton, Ark., for
the summer Lake Drive-In
.
at Benton. Ky.. has been closed.
Guy B. Amis, owner, has opened the
Laco Drive-In at Lexington for the season
H. Carothers of Rockwood Amusements
Co.. Nashville, has opened the Skyway
Drive-In at Humboldt and the Carroll
Drive-In at Huntingdon for the summer
F. Ruffin jr.. Ruffin Amusements
Co.. Covington, and N. B. Pair. Pair.
Behind the
8-Ball?
We're both in the same boat. That's why
it's easier for us to tell you that both
of us will hove to hit harder this year
for More Business! And, because we've
helped so many other exhibitors, we feel
it's a natural for us to get together. We've
a seating rehabilitation service that'll
amoze you for its speed, efficiency and
economy. Why not call us now?
WRITE, WIRE or PHONE ALPINE 5-8459
Monufocturers
Foam Rubber
Spring CusMo
Somerville. were in town from We.st
Tennessee.
From Arkansas came Gene Boggs, Mox.
Blythe\inc; H. S. Epsey. Victory. Weiner;
Alvin Tipton. Tipton theatres at Caraway.
Manila and Monette: Tom Pemberton.
Capitol. Marvel, and Gordon Hutchins. 64
Drive-In. Russellville . . . D. P. Blissard,
Okolona, Okolona: C. J. Collier. B. P. Jackson,
and Vince Donna, Collier-Jackson
circuit, Cleveland, were in town from
Mississippi.
J. L. Protas, who operated the Dixie at
Mansfield. Ark., and another theatre at
Spiro. Okla.. died at his home in Fort
Smith. Ark.. April 12. Burial was in Fort
Smith. His son A. J. was associated with
him in the theatre business.
.
John Ray, Palace, Kennett, Mo., and
Whyte Bedford, Ford Drive-In and Marion
Theatre at Hamilton, Ala., were Memphis
visitors . . The Rocket Drive-In at Magnolia,
Ark.; Wheatley Drive-In at Hot
Springs, Ark., and Colimibus Air Force
Base Theatre at Columbus, Miss., have
opened. The Malvern Drive-In, Malvern,
Ark., will open Thursday (14).
E, K. Stevens, owner-operator of the
Ritz and Skyline Drive-In, Livingston,
Tenn., is now doing his own buying and
booking. The account was formerly handled
by the Marguerite Stith Agency .
James C. Drake has taken over the Ski-Hi
Drive-In, Moulton, Ala., from Otis Jones.
Drake visited the Row with Jones to get
acquainted with his salesmen and bookers
S. Wurtz has taken over the
theatre at Hampton from E. P. Clay, Mc-
Donough . A. Austin, former Arkansas
exhibitor, has taken over and reopened
the Motmtain, Stone Mountain.
Screen Gems Signs Talent
To Five-Year Contract
HOIjLYWOOD — A new talent department
is being set up at Screen Gems under
the direction of Solly Biano, former Warner
Bros, talent head. All talent will be
signed to a five-year term contract to apply
specifically to single television series,
with the idea of finding a new face and
tying him up for the potential life of the
series. Biano's department will operate independently
of the regular Screen Gems
casting department.
The Screen Gems operation differs from
that instituted at Revue, which is signing
unknowns to general term pacts, spotting
them in various shows and developing them
to star in their own series after a couple
of years.
Fred Gebhardt Makes
His Bow as Producer
HOLLYWOOD—Shooting has got under
way on Luna Productions' "12 to the Moon"
which stars Ken Clark. Robert Montgomery
jr. and Anthony Dexter. David Bradley
directs DeWitt Bodeen's screenplay. The
film marks the debut of Fred Gebhardt as
a producer after 16 years with Fox West
Coast Theatres. Until the formation of
Luna, he was manager of the Pine Arts
Theatres in Beverly Hills.
Academy Award winners, composer
Sammy Pain and lyricist Paul Francis
Webster, were once again signed as a team
when Producer Irwin Allen pacted them to
write the title song for "The Big Circus."
The score of the film, which is being released
through Allied Artists, is being written
by Paul Sawtell and Bert Shefter.
Robert Arthur- has been signed by U-I
topper Edward MuW to produce "The
Great Impostor," adapted from Robert
Crichton's book recently purchased by the
studio. At the same time. Alec Coppel was
inked to write the screenplay on the story
of Ferdinand Demara, whose hoaxes included
posing as a surgeon, sheriff, prison
official, college professor and Trappist
monk.
"Leif the Lucky," a featm-e comedydrama
based on the adventures of Leif
Ericson, will be scripted by Ken Englund.
The picture will be filmed in Em-ope by
Fred Feldkamp, with locations possibly set
for Norway. Englund is waiting for simimons
to England for a meeting with Feldkamp,
however, both might meet in New
York. Alain Bernheim was Englund's original
representative with Feldkamp.
Portland, Conn., Airer Opens
H A R T P O R D—Brandt Theatres, New
York, reopened the Portland Drive-In,
Portland. Conn., reducing admission to $1
per car. regardless of number of passengers,
on a nightly basis. Policy has previously
been used only on one or two nights
per week basis by regional outdoor facilities.
Normal drive-in theatre admission in
this area ranges between 70 and 90 cents.
SE-4
Upholstery fabric
and general bcoT
ing
supplies.
THEATRE SEAT SERVICE CO.
A Oiviston of
SEATING CO.
1^0 Hermitage Avenue
Nathvitie, Tenneuee
Loses His Tombstone
WICHITA FALLS—Fred McHam, manager
of the Trans-Texas Strand, was a
man without a tombstone for the engagement
of "House on Haunted Hill"—not his
personal marker, but a promotional tombstone
which stated: "Here Lies the Body
of Frisby Quill, He Went to Sec 'House on
Haunted Hill." " McHam reported the tombstone
was taken from the lobby on the
weekend prior to his opening of the picture.
He offered ten free passes for its
lelurn. No one claimed the passes, but the
tombstone turned up two weeks later in
one of the city's coin-operated laundries.
screen game,
HOUYWOOD fakes top
honors. As a box-office oftradion.
If is wiffioot equal. It has
been a fo««rUe with theatre goers for
over 15 years. Write today for complete detoili.
Be sure to give sealing or ear capacity.
HOLLYWOOD AMUSIMINJ CO.
3750 Oakton St. • Skolle, IIMnrt
May 11, 1959

i
I
!
19121/2
. . George
. . Dan
.
.
. . Stopping
. . Adelaide
Redstone Father, Son
Head UJA Fund Dinner
BOSTON—The annual motion pictui-e
industry luncheon for the Combined Jewish
Appeal April 21 was chainnaned by a
father and son. Michael and Edward Redstone,
owners of Northeast Drive-In Theatres.
Inc. Edward first introduced Joe
Linsey, the general chairman, who warned
that more funds were needed.
"Our quota for this area is $6,900,000 for
this year," he said. "After careful analysis
you will discover that this is not a frivolous
figure but a necessary one. It is needed to
talce care of oui- own local problems as
well as those of our brothers and sisters
overseas."
Gedalia Zakiff of Israel was introduced
as a public servant, statesman, patriot,
political commentator and journalist who
speaks 12 languages fluently, and an expert
on the immigration problems now
NEW ORLEANS
UA Theatre at Frisco
Reopened With 'Hot'
SAN FRANCISCO—Actors Tony Cur-
The Tiger, Pittmans de luxe neighborhood
showcase was packed for the
viewing of Warner Bros, invitational
tis and Jack Lemmon; Billy Wilder, producer
and directm-; Harold Mirisch, president
of the
screening of "The Nun's Story." Guests included
exhibitors from both in and out of
Mirisch Co.: Sherrill Corwin.
town, press, radio and television representatives,
North Coast Theatres, and
of president
many state officials, foreign consuls, members
of the judiciary and civic, business
Rlmrow staffers and other
opinion-makers from cross sections of the
metropolitan area. It was unanimously given
the nod as one of the year's outstand-
and society leaders of San Pi-ancisco filled
the United Ai'tists Theatre for the gala
ing and most enjoyable productions.
recent reopening of the bright, refurbished
"Some Like
theatre and the premiere of Sophie Garcia, Columbia staffer, has
Hot.'
taken an eoi-ly vacation to help with plans
It
Approximately $225,000 was spent by
Corwin and North Coast TheaU-es in renovation
for her
soon
daughter's wedding day, coming up
Pabst, attended the UA
.
of the downtown showplace. managers and home office executives
In keeping with the "Roaring Twenties"
southeastern conference in Atlanta.
theme, a mounted color guard on palomino
horses headed a parade, which included Earl Perry, general manager of Pittman
vintage cars from the Horseless Carriage Theatres, visited with Manager Joe Carlock
and staff at the Pitt. Lake Charles .
of the era of the fUm.
Robert Dessommes. former sales
Club, with drivers and riders in costumes
RKO
. . .
staffer, was a visitor on Filmrow Mrs.
Robert Blumofe. UA vice-president, will
attend the film festival at Cannes following
i
visit to Israel.
FOR QUALITY,«^*«^^««^*«^
SERVICE AND SATISFACTION
Send Your Orders to
THE QUEEN FEATURE SERVICE, INC
"Theotre, Orive-ln, Concession, Equipment
I; ond Supplies"
I
Morrb Avaiiue Phone: A.L|> 1-

. George
. . Sheriff
. . Christiane
MIAMI
J^itchell Wolfson, president of Wometco
Enterprises and WTVJ, was opening
luncheon speaker at
the 85th semiannual
convention of the
Society of Motion
Picture and Television
Engineers May
3-8. at the Fontainebleau
Hotel, Miami
Beach. More
than 700 delegates
from the United
States and nine foreign
countries, including
Mitchell Wolfson
Russia, at-
tended. At one of the
laboratory practices held, John C. Stormont,
student at the University of Miami, made a
report designed to inform members of the
Society of the capabilities of college students
in designing and building practical
#ejpeo
..Wherever You Go...
fyaXO Producis
Bring in ihe Dough!
THEATRE ADVERTISERS
OMAHA, NEBRASKA
BOX 795
flohda's mST Supply House
NEW ADDRESS . . .
206 MEMORIAL HIGHWAY
TAMPA, FLORIDA
NEW PHONE ... 8-5189
NEW CONVENIENT PARKING
Max Rosenfield of the Roosevelt Theatre.
Miami Beach, has announced his new low
summer price of 75 cents for all seats at all
new sum-
.
mer policy. Children and student prices
will prevail and double bills are to be
theUME-UP... featured Thomas J. Kelly of
* HERALDS
Dade County is cooperating and "will appear"
in a series which the Glenn Shaw
* WINDOW CARDS
* MOVIE CALENDARS
* PICTORIAL CUTS
* PROGRAMS
Agency of
under the
Hollywood
title of
is packaging
"Dade
for
County."
TV
The
* PHOTO ENGRAVING
series is being prepared by John S. Voyda
* MAT SERVICE
OFFICE * BOX RESULTS from actual cases in Sheriff Kelly's files.
* FAST SERVICE
Exteriors will be filmed here in Dade
* QUAUTY
County and interiors in California.
for Our CustOMcri
Vtttt vt at our naw building
UNITED THEATRE SUPPLY CORP.
motion picture processing equipment. The
unique features and functions of a black
and white 16mm processor built by University
of Miami motion picture students
were described. The machine operates at
speeds up to 100 frames a second and
utilizes fiber, glass polyester resins and
plastics throughout. The machine is now
in use for all University of Miami positive
and soundtrack processing.
Wometco's neighborhood theatres—Miracle.
Essex. Sunset. Surf and Tower—have
started sales for the children's summer
movie club which runs from June 9 through
September 1. Books may be purchased for
$1.50 for the weekly Tuesday shows to be
held from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Miriam Hopkins, whose first picture in
the early thirties was "The Smiling Lieutenant,"
and who has made more than 50
films since, is here to appear in "Look
Homeward Angel" at the Coconut Grove
Playhouse. She is staying at a villa at Key
Biscayne so that she can get plenty of
sun between performances. One of her
favorite ways to spend her leisure is sunbathing.
times for adults as a part of its
"Hands Around the Clock," a film of
Florida hospitals, was shown by Hialeah
Hospital Administrator Donald W. 'Welch
to the South Florida chapter of Cystic
Fibrosis recently at the Hialeah-Miami
Springs Chamber of Commerce . . . Miss
Lee 'Waller, head of programing at
Wometco's 'WTVJ, left recently for a seven
weeks trip to Europe .
Martel,
Mexican movie star, was a guest at the
Montmartre Hotel. Miami Beach, recently
en route to the Cannes Film Festival.
It's a second daughter for Frankie and
Jack 'Waxenberg of Park View Island, and
she's been named Jacquelyn. She arrived
April 27 at Mt. Sinai Hospital and has
.joined her two-year-old sister. Jeri Louise,
at home. Mrs. 'Waxenberg is the daughter
of Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell 'Wolfson.
"Some Like It Hot" is breaking all records
at Loew's 170th Street and Riviera
theatres and has brought patrons back
to the movies who haven't been in 15 yeai'S.
One elderly lady was shocked at the prices
of today's movies. The last time she had
been to a movie the price had been 35 cents
Jessel will emcee and be principal
speaker at the Hotel Algiers dinner
June 3 by Temple Beth Sholom Congregation
for the benefit of Mt. Sinai Hospital.
John Serbin is chairman of the event.
Mrs. Helen Porter, secretary to former
co-owner of Wometco and 'WTVJ. Sidney
Meyer, was honored at a luncheon recently
by the girls at Wometco. Mrs. Porter, who
has been with Wometco for 28 years, will
continue as secretary to Meyer in his new
offices in the First National Bank building.
The luncheon was held at El Centro of
the McAllister Hotel and Miss Dale
Thomas, secretary to Mitchell Wolfson,
president of Wometco, arranged the luncheon.
Mrs. Porter was presented a gold
charm bracelet with four gold charms: a
miniature gold typewriter, a miniature harp
with a pearl decoration, a tiny water jug
with a pearl stopper signifying the many
thousands of times she's filled the water
jug for her boss, and a little calendar inscribed,
"by Wometco friends. May. 1959."
She also was presented a scrapbook with
pictures of all the girls in it with pert captions
underneath. Frank Myers of 'Wometco's
purchasing department, made a
huge farewell card with a sketch of Mrs.
Porter on the front and inscribed with
personal notes from each employe.
Joe St. Thomas is the newly named
president of the Old Guard, a group made
up of Wometco employes who have been
with the company for more than seven
years. The board of governors includes
Van Myers. Frank Boscia, Tim Tyler. Lynn
Lucas, and Mark Chartrand. retiring president.
Installation will be held later in the
month at the group's annual banquet.
Mrs. Alice Brown, clerk of the credit union.
was named honorary member, and Mrs.
Helen Porter, who is leaving the company
after 28 years, was named honorary life
member.
Ernest Hemingway entertained the cast
of "Our Man in Havana," which is being
filmed in Cuba, at a recent cocktail party.
Maureen O'Hara. the feminine star, is
making quite a hit in Havana with her
fluency in speaking Spanish Luau,
. . .
fancy eating spot on the 79th Street Causeway,
has turned over more than $2,000 this
past year to Variety Children's Hospital
from its "Wishing Well."
WCKT-TV, Channel 7. was glutted with
old movies the other day as a technicians
strike in New York disrupted NBC netjwork
programing, Instead of an interview
by„ Dave Garroway with Brigitte Bardot.
fans watched Wallace Beery and at 1
another movie. Lana Turner in "Marriage
Is a Private Affair. at 1 p.m. still another
"
movie and at 5 p.m.. a fourth movie. iThe
latter two are regularly scheduled.'
Alfred Crown, coproducer with John
Huston of "Moulin Rouge" and other films,
also a former vice-president of Sam Goldwyn.
Inc., vacationed at Miami Beach with
his wife and daughter Patricia. Crown's
latest film projects are John Ferris' new
fiction best seller. "Harrison High" and
"The Big X" by Hank Searls, to be published
in June by Harper Bros. Popular
. . .
reruns proving to be of renewed interest to
Miamians was Florida State's double bill
of "A Place in the Sun" and "Stalag 17
at the Paramount, Coral and Colony.
SPROCKETSGOV. SURPLUS, LIKE HEW
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LOU WAITERS PROIECTOR REPAIR SERVICE
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May 11. 195
1

. . Olin
. . Severine
. . Al
. . Hal
. . Jim
. .
. . The
Jacksonville Local A T L A N T A
Signs Booth Pact
JACKSONVILLE — Douglas D. Tidwell,
business agent for the lATSE film exchange
employes of the Jacksonville trade
area, announced the signing of a new contract
between the union and all major
film distributors which maintain branch
offices and film depots here.
He added that the union membership, at
a special meeting in the Studio Theatre on
April 29, with Bob Baugh, head of the
20th-Fox shipping room, presiding, approved
the new contract's provisions, which
provides a weekly pay boost for all members,
plus increases in vacation allowances
and severance payments, as well as increases
in numerous fringe benefits.
More New Orleans Items
I other items on page SE-5)
Maj. J. B. Isbell closed the Skyview
Drive-In. Leesville, as a result of serious
discussions in Congress in regard to closing
of nearby Camp Polk . Evans has
closed the Starlight Drive-In, Florala, Ala.
Conferring with their buying and booking
representatives were H, M. Jordan, who
recently acquired the operation of the
Lucedale, Lucedale, Miss., from Charles
Waterall sr., calling on Ralph Reid: George
Baillio, head of Southern Amusement Co.,
Lake Charles, with J. Roger Lamantia,
manager, and Andy Bevelo, booker, Exhibitors
Cooperative Service, and Sam
Daigre, Osage, Plaquemine, with Page
Baker of Theatres Service Co.
Ethel Neal, secretary to Lucas Conner,
took an early vacation . Nunez
Harris, foi-mer Filmrower at the now-defunct
Republic, died . Fisher of UA
was in to help promote "Anna Lucasta,"
due at the first-run, all-colored patronage
Clabon. Fisher and Addie Addison also
worked on "Pork Chop Hill" and "The
Naked Maja."
Lew Langlois shuttered the Star at New
Roads. This spells another exit of a veteran
in exhibition in the Deep South. Langlois
for many years had operated the town's
Alamo, too, which he disposed of some eight
or ten years ago to John Elzy, who sold it
for use by another business. However, Lew
istill owns the St. Francisville, La., theatre,
but it is operated by his son.
t ICE
f MAKERS I 1
I^B^Et from 1^1
Q.OV. John Patterson of Alabama visited
briefly with state representative
Kenneth Ingram and his wife in Ashland,
Ala., while en route to Heflin's Broiler
Festival. Representative Ingi-am is the son
of Ernest Ingram, operator of theatres at
Ashland and Lineville. Ala. . . . Mrs. Laui-a
Kenny, former secretary to Byron Adams,
UA manager here and in Jacksonville, is
now with the state's Jekyll Island Authority,
Brunswick.
Cesar Romero, personable
and versatile
stage, screen and television star, was a visitor
here in connection with two fashion
shows at a local department store. Romero
is known as a talented dancer, a distinguished
dramatic actor and those who
know him best say he can slide into comedy
at the sound of the first ad lib. His arrival
at the Atlanta airport caused more excitement
than the incoming opera stars. The
Fabulous Pox was the "Opera House" for
the last half of the week.
Claude Johnson has assumed operation
of the Wilkes, 'Washington, a former Martin
cuxuit operation .
Hudgens, Columbia
office manager, and his wife, motored
to Jacksonville over the long Memorial
Day weekend, to visit with theu- son
Gene and his family. Gene is UA office
manager in Jacksonville . . . L. J. Duncan
and Sid Laird, Al-Dun Amusement Co.,
•West Point, returned to theu- desks following
a business trip to Washington.
J. E. Howard and Walker Harrill closed
their Ritz, Maryville, Tenn., after the last
show April 25 C. L. Patrick and
Johnnie Harrell, Martin circuit executives,
held a meeting here. In attendance
with them were Ronnie Otwell of the
Columbus office, bookers Mildred Castleberry
and George Rosser, and managers
Jim Zimmerman of the Strand, Marietta,
and Gene Patterson of the Wink, Dalton.
Hank Farris has changed the name of
his theatre at Hartselle, Ala., from Strand
to Rodoe. Buying and booking for this
situation is handled by Exhibitors Service
Co. Macon jr., Statesboro, has
.
entered Bullock County Hospital for treatment.
The Macons operate the Georgia
and Drive-In theatres, Statesboro .
Sidney Cooper. UA central and southern
division manager; W. C. Hames, southern
district manager, and Morris Lefko, national
representative for Magna's "Around
the World in 80 Days," conducted a meeting
here. In attendance were Atlanta manager
Eugene Goodman; Byron Adams, UA
manager in Jacksonville; Harold Keeter,
Charlotte, and George Pabst, New Orleans.
Filmrow visitors included Stanley Rosenbaum.
Muscle Shoals Theatres, Florence,
Ala.; W. C. Patterson, Crescent Amusement
Co. booker, Nashville; J. Kimbrell,
Dixie, Unadilla; Mrs. J. M. Lakeman, Dixie
and Havala Drive-In, Haleyville, Ala.;
R. H. Brannon, Brannon Theatres, Roswell
and Dahlonega; Jack Rigg, Rigg
Booking Agency, Jacksonville, who books
for the Bel-Air, Colonial and Warner Park
drive-ins, Nashville; Nat Hancock, Roosevelt,
Jefferson, and Lane Hobson, Strand,
Alexander City, Ala.
WOMPI News: Officers for 1959-60 were
elected at the luncheon-meeting April 29
in the 'Variety Rooms. The new officers
are: Mrs. Jean Mullis, president. Theatres
Service Co.; Hilda Knight, first vice-president.
Allied Artists; Opal Tate, second
vice-president, Wil-Kin Theatre Supply;
Mrs. Frankie English, recording secretary.
Paramount; Miss Marg?.ret Stover, corresponding
secretary, Benton Bros.; Mrs.
Bernice Hinton, treasurer, Kay Films. New
board members elected to serve with
Edythe Bryant, National Screen; Lois
Cone, Martin; Juanita Elwell, Bailey, and
Helene Spears, Georgia Theatres, are:
Carcelle Davis, United Artists; Mrs. Polly
Puckett, Capitol Releasing, and Mrs. Irma
Marshall. National Theatre Supply. New
members welcomed into WOMPI were Mrs.
Mary Dale, Allied Artists cashier; Mrs.
Dorothy Lee. Theatres Candies billing
clerk; Mrs. Elizabeth Miller, Allied Artists
billing clerk; Mrs. Shirley Smith, National
Screen booking clerk; Joan Hunt, United
World Films office manager; Mrs. Martha
Youngblood, Blevins Popcorn bookkeeper;
Mrs. Thelma Johnson, Allied Artists secretary;
Mrs. 'Virginia Clifton, National Screen
booker; Mrs. Ruby Garner, National Screen
clerk; Mrs. Marjorie Hutcheson, Kay Film
secretary, and as a sustaining member.
Mrs. Ernestine Carter, former Paramount
booker and now employed with General
Electric Co.
The WOMPI installation dinner has been
set for Friday, June 12, at the 'Variety
Club . monthly bingo party for the
old folks at Battle Hill Haven was held
Monday i27) with Pat Brown, WOMPI
service chairman, in charge. Home baked
cakes for the last party were donated by
Nell Middleton, Juanita Elwell, Edythe
Bryant and Jean Mullis ... In the Community
Club awards contest sponsored by
WGST, Atlanta WOMPIs won second place
in first first the entry; place in the second
entry; first place in the third entry and
second place in the fourth entry. There is
one more award and naturally first place
is the goal. Mrs. Jean Mullis is the CCA
chairman.
'Shaggy' Display in Empty Store
HARTFORD—John Hebert. Loew's Palace,
used an empty store window in the
Palace building for a display on "The
Shaggy Dog."
BALLANTYNE IN-CAR SPEAKERS
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PROJJCTOR^REBUILDING_SE^VICE_ ^
Prompt, Courteout Sentice 'Round the Clock
DIXIE THEATRE SERVICE & SUPPLY CO
1010 North Sloppey Drive
P.O. Box 771 Albony, Georgia
Phone: HEmlock 2-2846
BOOKINC SERVICES
135 Brevard Court, Charlotte, N. C.
FRANK LOWRY—JOHN WOOO
PHONE FR. 5-7787
May 11. 1959 SE-7

THE U.S. TREASURY SALUTES
THE PEOPLE IN THE STEEL INDUSTRY
—who buy Savings Bonds and strengthen America's Peace Power
Men and women who earn their Uving in ihe steel industry
can take great pride in knowing tliat their crafts and skills
contriliute, through raw material supplies, to nearly every
other great industry in the United States. They can also
be proud of the help thousands upon thousands of them
are giving to America's Peace Power through the purchase
of U.S. Savings Bonds.
Through regular purchase of Shares in America, these
thrift-conscious people are reinforcing their own security
after retirement, and establishing current reserves for such
worthwhile family projects as new homes, education and
travel.
If your company has not put in a Payroll Savings Plan
thus far, you can start immediately. Just telephone your
State Savings Honds Director and accept the help he wants
to give you. Or write to Savings Bonds Division, U.S.
Treasury Department, Washington, D.C.
J. K. Thomson is shown here at his work in one of the great s
mills of this country. Like thousands of his fellow craftsmen, M
Thomson is making regular use of his compony Payroll Savings Plo
to contribute to the Peace Power of his
country.
BOXOFFICE
THE U. S. GOVERNMENT DOES NOT PAY FOR THIS ADVERTISEMENT. THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT THANKS. FOR THEIR PATRIOTISM. THE AOVERTISINS COUNCIL AND THE DONOR ABOVL
SE-8 BOXOFFICE ;: May 11, 196B

. . . Houston
. . NO
HOUSTON
The Bellaire Theatre celebrated its tenth
anniversary last month. Gen. Victor
A. Barraco, who has been in show business
here for 40 years—with time out to serve
in the Marines during two world wars
owns the theatre. Millie G. Vann, the manager,
has been with the theatre almost
—
since its opening. One of the specials of
the independent theatre throughout the
years has been its Saturday children's matinee,
called the Sportsters Club. Meeting at
11 a.m. for screening of pictures chosen
particularly for children, the theatre reserves
the balcony for bii-thday parties.
Complimentary passes are given to the
birthday child and his name is announced
from the stage. All others then join in
singing "Happy Birthday."
he claimed was a toy.
^
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Paramount Closing Office
In Oklahoma May 15
OKXuWiOMA CITY — The booking and
accounting departments of the Paramount
exchange here will be moved to Dallas,
effective Friday il5i.
C. H. "Buck" Weaver, manager, and
Tom McKean and Paul Rice, salesmen, will
continue to operate out of here and the
Paramount shipping will be done locally.
Cinemiracle to
Bow
In Houston May 15
HOUSTON — Cinemiracle wUl become
part of the entertainment pictui'e here
Friday (15 1 when the the remodeled Uptown
Theatre opens with newly installed
equipment that permits the showing of
•Windjammer," the only feature maxXe
Susan Kohner flitted through town the
other day for advance publicity on "Imitation
of Life" at the Majestic. However, she thus far in the widescreen process and
was not here long enough to make stage appearances.
released by National Theatres.
Instead, she had a press break-
The Uptown was remodeled last year
and made radio and TV appearances at a cost of $100,000 to permit the showing
fast
had a strange paradox during
of "South Pacific" in the Todd-AO proc-
the past few weeks. Someone noted that ess. Rowley-United Theatres at that time
evei-ywhere "The Shaggy Dog" and "Some leased the former Hoi-witz ace theatre for
Like It Hot" were showing simultaneously, five years.
"Some" was outdrawing "Shaggy." But in The theatre has been closed for the
Houston, which has plenty of beautiful changeover from the curved Todd-AO
women. "Shaggy" outdrew bouncing Marilyn.
screen to the waU-to-wall Cinemiracle
Both pictures, however, had extended screen, plus other necessary changes, which
are expected to cost around $20,000. The
runs.
48-foot Cinemiracle screen is four feet
longer than the Todd-AO screen.
The heavy Todd-AO projectors have been
dismantled and stored backstage, being replaced
by the Cinemiracle projectors
Sentenced in Theatre Holdup
BEAUMOI^, TEX. — Mai-y Nell Holcombe,
38, of Port Arthui-, received a twoyear
suspended penitentiary sentence after
this switch being a difficult feat at the
pleading guilty here before District Judge
Uptown, where the booth is reached by a
Melvin Combs to taking part in the July
narrow fUght of iron steel stairs.
20, 1958, holdup of the VUlage Theatre in
Port Ai-thur. She had admitted driving the
car for Marion W. Babb. also of Port Arthur,
who was sentenced to eight years imprisonment
after he pleaded guilty to taking
$690 from the theatre, using a gun
\^onn^aiC
WOMPI Club of Dallas
Elects New Officials
DALJoAS—The local Women of the Motion
Pictui-e Industry club at its most recent
meeting elected these officers to serve
for the coming organization year: Thelma
Jo Bailey. Allied Ai-tists, president; Mrs.
Esther Lee Covington, MGM, first vicepresident;
Mrs. Florence Lowi-y, Paramount,
second vice-president; Mrs. Jo Ann
Parris, Central Shipping and Inspection
Bureau, recording secretaiy; Shii'ley Templin,
Fi'ontier, corresponding secretai-y; Mrs.
Mai-ie Russey, 20th-Fox, treasui-er.
Directors elected were Marie Powers,
Heywood Simmons Booking Office: Mrs.
Lon-ee Butler. Interstate Theatres: Mrs.
Juanita White, Index Booking Service and
Mrs. Bette Horn. National Screen Service.
Verlin Osborn, Paramount, outgoing president,
also will serve on the board of directors
for the coming year. The new officers
and directors will be installed at the
luncheon in June.
—
R.L.Woodall Named
Arlington Manager
ARLINGTON, TEX.—R. L. WoodaU, assistant
manager of the Worth Theatres in
Fort Worth for the past eight years, has
been appointed manager of the Interstate
Theatres' Arlington Theatre.
Woodall succeeds C. W. "Shorty" Moss,
who resigned after two years at the helm
of the Arlington to accept a position with
the Mutual Building and Loan Ass'n in
Weatherford.
Woodall has been with Interstate Theatres
for 15 years. He is a native of Port
Worth and will continue to reside there,
although he expressed the hope he would
soon be able to move here. He is a graduate
of Poly High School in Fort Worth and
has served in the Navy.
Reopened at Rogers. Ark.
ROGERS, ARK.—J. T. Hitt, theatre operator
of Springdale and Bentonville, Ark.,
has leased and reopened the Rogers Theatre,
closed for two years.
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Dallas,
May 11. 1959

. . . Word
. . Columbia
. . Children
. . Following
. .
Columbia
DALLAS
aifred N. Sack, of Sack Amusement
Enterprises and owner and operator
ol the Cornet in Dallas was reported to
be in serious condition and under an oxygen
tent, at Baylor Hospital after a heart
attack last week. He is in room 613 Baylor
Hospital. Dallas. Tex., and can have no
visitors but will appreciate hearing from
his friends from coast to coast.
.\t a luncheaon meeting of the Women
of Motion Picture Industry Thursday, April
30. Mrs. Roderick B. Thomas, chairman of
the Motion Picture Board of Re\'iew of
Dallas, was presented a silver engraved
membersliip card and honorary membership
in the WOMPI club of Dallas. Honorary
membership in the organization is
gained by invitation only to those women
the club desires to give special distinction
in recognition of local, state or national
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meritorious achievement in the realm of
health, welfare, education, religion, the
arts, or any other field of endeavor. Mrs.
Thomas encourages the members on her
board to talk movies, attend movies and
to "select the best, forget the rest." It is
her contention that the least said about
undesirable movies the better, instead of
keeping these before the minds and ears
of the public.
R. N. Smith again has assumed operation
of his Texas Border Theatres located in
Raymondville, Falfurrias. Mission and Fremont.
He had retired several years ago,
but decided to get back into the swing
again. Debs Reynolds of Dallas is at this
time doing the booking and buying for him
has been received on the Row
of the death by a heart attack of C. C.
Hamm, of the Queen at Quitaque and Gem
and Midway. Turkey.
Fred Hansen and Wallace Walthall
armed with baskets of fruit, paid most welcome
visits to shut-in members of the Variety
Club. Receiving visits were C. W. A.
Mccormick, 4614 Eastside, Dallas; V. W.
Crisp (former Boxoffice reporter). Silent
Night Home, Lancaster; Louie Charninsky,
Golden Acres, Dallas, and Roy Thrash, 420
W. Eighth. Dallas. These men certainly enjoy
being brought up to date on the latest
Piimrow news items.
Jake Watkins reported for duty Friday
111 as Dallas manager of National Theatre
Supply replacing Fred Hansen who is
HOT?
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Air-Washers
Blowers
Motors
Pumps
V-Belts
Filters
AND MANY OTHER ITEMS
Aspen Mats
Copper Tubing, etc.
BERBER THEATRE EQUIPMENT CO.
"Fair Treatment and Adequate Service for 37 Years"
408 South Harwood Street RI 7-G568 Dallas, Texas
retiring on May 15. Watkins is not new
to Dallas film folk as he was with National
Theatre Supply here five years before going
to Oklahoma City where he has served
with NTS for the past 20 years . . . S. G.
MacGilliviay of Interstate Theatres has
been installed as governor of Dallas Moose
Lodge 1818.
Harold S. Robb, a longtime showman.
bought the Texan Drive-In, Nevasota, rerecently.
Robb is familiar with all phases of
show business, having worked with Altec
for 16 years and operated theatres in the
Carolinas for several years. He was here
Monday

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LOIS SCOTT
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OKLAHOMA CITY
p B. Phillips is renovating and remodeling
his Palace Theatre. Boise City. Mrs.
Phillips moved her dress shop from a small
room off the lobby to another location and
Phillips will utilize this space for new restrooms.
The entire theatre is being repainted
and the front redecorated . .
.
Long and wife have got the traveling
Bill
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fever again. Last fall they closed their
Long theatre in Keyes and took a five-week
trip, accompanied by their 13-year old
daughter, into w-estern Canada. This time
they probably will land in Florida. They
plan to take off September 1. Long also operates
a large wheat and cattle farm, and
now is in his busy season there, what with
the irrigating.
Everett Mahaney had hard luck on his
new bowling alley. Part of the building
blew down twice while under construction,
but now the walls and roof are in place,
and work will start soon on the interior.
Mahaney operates the 54 Drive-In at Guymon
.
B. Johnston and wife of
Hooker, newcomers to the theatre business,
have purchased the Mission Theatre from
A. D. Brawner, who retired after 50 years
with the Rock Island railroad. The Johnstons
have renamed the theatre the Stardust.
D. Vance Terry, back from a fishing trip
in eastern Oklahoma, said the fish were
still in the lake. He got there either a day
early or a day late! Terry and his brother
Ben operate the Woodward and Terry
theatres and Terrytime Drive-In in Woodward.
Don Grierson of Empire Pictures, Dallas,
conferred with bookers on the Row and
with Video officials . . . Glen Thompson.
Thompson Theatres here, who seldom visits
Pilmrow, was seen recently talking to local
film salesmen and bookers . . . Bob Barton
reported Barton Theatres had taken
over the Lakeair Drive-In from Bob Mc-
Parland. who built it several years ago.
The Bartons now have every drive-in in
and around Oklahoma City except the
Twilight Gardens, which is operated by
Video, and the Skyview, operated by Sam
Caporal and sons Pete, Chris and George.
A farewell party was given to Jake Watkins
in the Variety clubrooms by some of
his buddies who have been in the industry
with Jake since he came up as manager
some 20 years ago. He left May 1 to take
over as manager of National Theatre Supply
at Dallas.
E. T. Boruin operates the Earth and
Sunset Drive-In. Earth, Tex., and also owns
and operates a cafe in connection with the
indoor theatre. His drive-in is open fulltime.
As there aie many Mexicans in and
around Earth. Borum uses a Spanishlanguage
film each Wednesday night at
the drive-in and one in the downtown theatre
Sunday night. He runs a double feature
at the Earth and moves it over to
the Sunset the same night. He runs a
single feature at the Earth Sunday afternoon,
then holds it and plays it in tlie
drive-in Tuesday night. The downtown theatre
is closed Monday through Pi-iday but
will probably reopen fulltime in June when
more Mexicans trek back to town. Thursday
and Pi-iday nights are buck nights at
the drive-in and are proving to be good
nights when the weather cooperates. However,
Borum says: "Just let television and
nothing happens. If possible, something
should be done about it."
radio put out tornado alerts and people
sUiy away in droves. The weather is our
worst competitor during the tornado see-
.son and many alerts are put out when
J. G. Millirons, Framoy Theatre, Snyder,
has all of his businesses in full swing. In
addition to the operation of the theatre,
which makes three or four changes each
week, he also has a dairy bar, filling station
and cafe. Business is very good at
all of these spots. The cafe has done so
well, Snyder is building an addition to
hoiise his refrigeration and kitchen units.
Seating capacity also will be enlarged.
Exhibitors on Filmrow recently were Mel
Danner. Circle, Waynoka; Earl Rains, Rialto,
Foi-t Cobb; Mr. and Mrs. T. V. Mc-
Dowell. Bison. Buffalo; Mrs. and Mrs. Alvin
Hatcher. Elk Drive-In, Stratford; Levi
Metcalf, Canadian and Skyvue Drive-In,
PuiceU; O. A. Womble, Rex, Caddo; George
Jennings. 81 Di-ive-In, Comanche; L. E.
Brewer. Royal, and Brewer Di-ive-In. Pauls
Valley, and Volney Hamm, Mount Scott
and Hankins Drive-In theatres, Lawton.
A scouting trip for Columbia's "The
Image Makers" includes France, Spain and
North Africa.
€eji»eo
//fir/
. . . Wherever You Go...
CdlOO Products
Bring in the Dough!
Hmune-up...
* HERALDS
* WINDOW CARDS
* MOVIE CALENDARS
* PICTORIAL CUTS
* PROGRAMS
* PHOTO ENGRAVING
* MAT SERVICE
* BOX OFFICE RESULTS
* FAST SERVICE
* QUALITY
THEATRE ADVERTISERS
OMAHA. NEBRASKA
BOX 795
^
As a screen gome,
HOLLYWOOD takes top
honors. As a box-office ottroction,
it is without equal, it has
„„.i o favorite with theatre goers for
over 15 years. Write today for complete details.
Be sore to give seating or ear capacity.
NOLLTWOOO AMUSIMINT CO.
SW-4
May 11, 1969

,
atre
I
nounced
Hnno'« R;)r1l1i;in Farrp Harold Petsinger Reopens
nope S Daaman r arce
Mlnnewaukan, N.D., Leeds
Hlfc in Ml1lX7P1ll?PP
MINNEWAUKAN, N.D.—The Leeds Theniid
Ili lUllWaUIVCC
jjt,.g j^jjg been reopened on a trial basis by
MILWAUKEE — "Alias Jesse James" Harold Petsinger. The theatre had been
which opened at the Palace scored 200 per closed in mid-February due to a lack of
cent to lead the street. "Imitation of Life" patronage. A large-scale cleaning, repairwas
holding up well in a second week; ing and painting program preceded the re-
otherwise, business was nothing to brag opening.
about. Petsinger has booked features for three
(Average Is 100) months, during which a decision OH contln-
Alhombra— Frankenstein's Doughter (Astor);
yg^j operation Will be made.
Missile to the Moon (Astor) 90
a
Polace—Alios
Boot (Hoi Roach) 200
River5id1V1M
W scons r^Worlock (20rtvFox) 100
J^GCUie UO 1 116311113
Minneapolis First Runs ST. PAUL — The Minnesota Supreme
Have Prosperous Week Court was scheduled to hear oral argu-
„ „ , ments Wednesday i6i on a petition to
MINNEAPOLIS-TOP grosser here was
^^^ ^^^ on daylight saving time in
•Gig." in Its third week at the Academy
Hennepin, Anoka and Ramsey counties
with 225 per cent. The thn-d week of The
,,„ T^ir, pit-iac,
Shaggy Dog," although down from its pre-
''^^IJ'^^';,^, Dell issued the time ban
vious ratings, still stacked up a big 200
^^ .^ ^^ ^ ^^.^,^^ ^^
per cent. All other offerings were above
^,^^^J^^ Amusement Co.. Minneapolis,
^^^'^^®-
. and the Minnesota branch, lATSE. The
theatre group contended that only the
^"1fth-'F7xT''"2nrwt .."''' 150
Century—Windjammer (NT), 21st wk 140 governor had the authority to establish
^r^c-l^Le\?kr?t' Ho7 ('u A) :.'.':'.".''.: ;:;;;::?8S fast time under a 1957 Minnesota law
Orpheum— Imitation of Life (u-i) 175 and that DST would bring about a con-
2nd wk Pon—Alios Jesse Jomes (UA), 125 _. , , , ^^ ^f. v„,^;„„-.
,
siderable loss of business.
Store—woriock (20th-Fox).
wk World—Gigi (MGM), 3rd
110
225 hearing, the
high court was responding to a petition
May In agreeing to the 6
Omaha UA Exchange Hosts fiom Attorney General Miles Lord, who
'C'»U;U;«,^«^ T;1w. nii^rAi.o ^sked for an earlier hearing on the writ
tiXniDltOrS, turn. Buyers than the May is date ongmally set by
OMAHA—Exhibitors and film buyers in Justice Dell,
this territory were guests at the United In the meantime, the boards of the three
Artists 40th birthday party and special counties Involved, who ignored Justice
screening hosted by Donald V. Lucas. UA Dell's order, apparently will suffer no remanager,
and UA sales representatives at taliation from the court, an action which
the exchange here Tuesday ( 5 ) . The high- was hinted by Justice Dell earlier. The Twin
light of the screening was the showing of Cities and some other areas in the state
UA's 40th Anniversary product trailers and have been operating under daylight time
previews of coming releases. A giant birth- since April 26.
day cake contributed to the festive atmosphere.
Legislators in Minnesota
Among the guests were Walt Jancke, Press for DST Solution
Varsity Theatre; Irwin Dubinsky, g.p PAUI^The state daylight saving
Orpheum: W. R. Kemp, Grand; Don ^-^^ situation is still up in the air.
Shane, manager. Orpheum; Carl Hoffman.
^^^ ^ j-, wozniak of St. Paul has inmanager,
Omaha; Ralph Blank, Admiralt,.oduced
a house bill which he hopes will
Chief-Skyview Drive-In; William Barker,
Co-op Booking Service; Jack Renfro. The-
^^
.^^^^^i^j
^^ acceptable
^jj^^ j^st time
compromise.
for 21 counties
The bill
and
the the state on
Booking Service; Dan-ell Shelton,
rest of
Strand; George Gaughan, Cooper Poundastandard
and Keough.
time
..freezing" of
^^e plan would embrace the Twin Cities
tion Theatres, Austin city
manager, Cooper Foundation Theatres.
metropolitan area, the Iron Range and
counties bordering Wisconsin. Under its
Sioux City Girl Signed terms 21 counties could adopt DST from
NEW YORK^. Robert Manby, presit^e
'ast Sunday in April to the last Sunday
I
dent of Show Corp. of America, has anthe
sigmng of Sharon Forsmo,
'^^^he """:
P'"'^^
re was described as a com-
'''r~ , „
between rural and , „„f,.„„„,ito„
meti opolitan
of Sioux City, Iowa, to play with stars 18,
representatives of the Libera s
Elaine Stritch and Steve Hill in Eldorado
Jt
Productions' "Kiss Her Goodbye." She has
does not have the approval of the bireported
for work in Havana. She has been
1
Partisan rural caucus that met and apin
New York than a year and has been Pointed an executive committee to work
elected Miss Manhattan, Miss Brooklyn
less
out a bill acceptable to farm area memand
was national winner of the Miss Marilyn
Monroe contest.
''^'"s.
Two daylight saving time measures were
introduced in the Senate. One calls for
\xr- LJ D J statewide daylight time from the fourth
Wisconsin rlOUSeneOpenea Sunday in May through Labor Day in
MINOCQUA, WIS.—The Aqua Theatre, 1959 and 1960. The other simply calls for a
which was closed in December, has re- referendum on the question in the 1960
sumed operations. Mr. and Mrs. Ray Quady. general election, asking if the legislature
owners of the theatre, reopened it after a shall set fast time for the state "for the
vacation in the South.
summer months" in Minnesota.
T6nl 14 Op6ns Driv6
For Epikpsy Funds
MILWAUKEE—One of the largest fundraising
campaigns in the history of Variety
Tent 14, got off to a rousing start here
Monday, April 27. On hand to lend his
moral and vocal support was George C.
Hoover, Miami, International executive
director of Variety, who in addition to a
stirring talk on his experience throughout
the world in connection with the humanitarian
efforts of the various clubs, also
handled the induction of new members.
Chief Barker Sam Kaufman said Milwaukee
can be mighty proud of the Epilepsy
Clinic sponsored by Variety but that
already the center was understaffed and
was sadly in need of much more equipment.
FURNISHED A CLINIC
"Mount Sinai Hospital provided a wing,"
he said, "and we furnished and equipped
complete with all those costly machines
and instruments, a clinic which is merely
beginning to demonstrate its possibilities.
In addition to the original cost, we are
committed to advancing the center at least
$25 000 a year. But we find now, we will
need far more."
Kaufman said one of the forthcoming
events was a premiere at the Fox Strand
Theatre, with tickets to be sold at $100 or
more.
"Indications point to an overflow house."
said Kaufman. "This will be one of our
greatest opportunities to increase our contributions
to our Epilepsy Clinic. Of course,
we have our annual theatre collections,
but if we are to accomplish our objectives,
we are going to find it necessary to redouble
our efforts.
"Harold Fitzgerald has come up with a
program which will be difficult to dupUcate,
and we are going to ask each and
every one of you to help. What we need in
this organization is more Fitzgeralds. Those
kids are so deserving, I
trust you can find
it within your hearts to enter into this
campaign with all the time, spirit and effort
you are able to provide."
EACH NEW MEMBER GIVES $1,000
Gerry Franzen. Cinema, Inc.. gave a
resume of successful fund-raising campaigns
elsewhere. "Here are only a few of
the approaches used: One city has what is
called a 'Committee of 1,000.' They get a
new member to contribute $1,000 and present
him with a plaque—and they have a
waiting list.
"In Toronto, they tie in with the baseball
club. So far they have raised over $40.-
000. One club raised funds through the
mail. Another raises money with $100 plate
dinners and gives away a Cadillac. Still
another sells tickets in terminals, railroad
stations, ticket booths, etc. Then
there is the city that gets prominent officials
to stand on street corners selling
newspapers at 'special prices.' Of com-se
Hollywood is well known for its stars which
are always ready to appear for practically
any benefit cause. These are only a few of
the many ways others are raising money
for their objectives."
Kaufman called attention to a reprint
from Reader's Digest entitled "My Illness
Makes Me 'Untouchable' " and asked that
every one read it. as he had a number of
copies available. The article is replete with
the experience of an epileptic from birth.
BOXOFFICE :: May 11, 1959
NC-1

.
.
. . MGM
. .
Dahlstrom
. .
lola
.
.
.
.
.
.
. .
.
D E S
MOINES
Tim Ricketts, office manager and booker at manship of Ivah Levy. Molly Sandler is
* Columbia for the past several years, in charge of decorations West,
.
has taken over the booking duties at Tn- chairman of the women's committee, has
States Theatres. Replacing Jim at Columbia
is Dick KoUing from Minneapolis be back at top speed soon.
been recuperating from surgery but should
.
Emploves at Columbia and Universal had
Mable Magnusson, Universal, was named
ringside seats for a fire across the street
president of WOMPI at its recent election
and Lou Levy got radio and television men
The Clinton Drive-In has new projection
equipment to begin its new season .
on the job with his early phone calls.
A. J. Thornton, doorman at the Hollywood
Theatre in Sioux City, was the victim of
a heart attack at the theatre April 26.
With the Charity Ball over. Variety is
making plans for its annual Golf Stag at
Hyperion Country Club May 19. Gary
Sandler is chairman of the golf committee
The Variety women's committee will
hold a spring style show at Hyperion May
21. The 11 a.m. brunch is under the chair-
SAVE NOW
ON ALL
REPAIRS!
years of continuous
service to Iowa theatres
Sove money! Save time.
Tell us your troubles. Then see
how fast—how reasonably—we'll
get your equipment back in
tip-top
shape.
And help you keep irksome maintenance
costs from eating up your
profits later on . . . besides!
Stondard and Super Simplex, Century
and Motiograph Projectors. Modern
repair shop with John McCallum
in charge. Sales department
under direction of Dick Sutton.
Our itaft of experts and all
our facilities are at your
service Call us artytime!
A. E. THIELE, Owner
Des Moines
THEATRE SUPPLY CO.
The city council gave final approval to a
measure calling for rezoning of the Pioneer
Raceways, race track in southeast Des
Moines to permit construction of a drivein
.. "Some Like It Hot" was in its third
.
week at the RKO Orpheum Theatre .
The Metropolitan Opera company will present
"La Boheme" at KRNT Theatre
Thursday il4i.
MINNEAPOLIS
Triangle Theatres has sold its Kato Outdoor
Theatre at Mankato, Minn., to A.
R. Pfau and associates, who also operate
the Towne Theatre. Mankato. it was announced
by Reno Wilk. Triangle Theatres
general manager. Triangle Theatres will
continue to operate its outdoor theatres at
St. Cloud. Minn., and Minot, N. D.
Bob Favaro, formerly of Los Angeles, will
join 20th Centui-y-Pox here as exploiteer
Monday OH. He was publicity man for
MGM here for some time before moving
to California . . . Gertrude Guimont, head
booker at Warners, is recuperating from a
heart attack at Abbott Hospital, where she
will be confined for several weeks .
Dick KoUing. Columbia office manager and
booker in Des Moines, vacationed in and
around Minneapolis.
The Gala Theatre at Kennebec, S. D..
was destroyed by fire recently. The house
was reopened by Gilbert J.
recently
Shold staffers Helen Aga. manager's
secretary, and Ema Fenske. cashier,
.
spent a weekend in Valley City. N. D..
where they visited Charles R. Stoflet. MGM
salesman, and family ... Ben Marcus,
Columbia midwest district manager, was
in . . . The Paramount exchange won second
place in the company Forward
March Drive, which ended December 31.
.
Out-of-town exhibitors on the Row were
Joe Prill. Madi.son. S. D.: Louis Voight.
Gaylord. Minn.: Al Smith. Winona and
Rochester: S. Holman. Buffalo, and Leo
Ross, Faribault & Weinberger
theatre decorators, are redecorating
the Capitol Theatre at Burlington,
Iowa, operated by the Central States circuit
. . . Oliver Broughton. MGM auditor,
was in.
Ema Fenske, MGM cashier who is retiring
after 37 years with the company.
will be honored by the exchange at a dinner
Monday aH at Michael's Cafe in
suburban Golden Valley. Donna Larson,
assistant
mother
cashier,
parly
will
at the Larson home May
entertain for her at
12 . . . Ann Potvin. manager's secretary at
Buena Vista, has resigned.
M. A. Levy, 20th-Fox manager, and other
managers in the midwest, attended a meeting
in Dallas at which distribution plans,
sales policies and advertising for "South
Pacific" were discussed. The 35mm version
will open in Minneapolis suburban houses
around July 1. Levy said, with a first run
in St. Paul probably before that. The picture
played 40 weeks in its widescreen version
at the Academy Theatre. Minneapolis.
Funeral services were held here AprU
30 for Criss Branton. wife of Fox salesman
Warren Branton. who died April 28
after being hospitalized from a stroke .
Jack Greenberg. formerly office sales manager
for National Screen in New York, has
returned here as an NSS salesman. He was
an NSS salesman here until January 1957,
before going to New York. Greenberg replaces
Gil Braaten, who resigned.
The auxiliary of the Variety Club of the
Northwest had a tea at the Variety Heart
Hospital on the University of Minnesota
campus. A check for $14,531.04 was presented
to the hospital by Mrs. Harold Field.
The auxiliary raised the money by sponsoring
a performance of the Beryozka ballet
this winter. Mrs. Field is chairman of the
auxiliary's ways and means committee.
Downtown theatres and restaurants will
join in sponsoring another Downtown
Working Women's Night Tuesday (12).
Seven downtown theatres will participate
in the promotion. Discount coupons will
be distributed to all working women, entitling
them to a special dinner or a reduced
price at the restam-ants and a 50-
cent admission price at the theatres. Ev
Seibel, advertising and publicity director
of Minnesota Amusement Co., and James
Henry of The Downtown council are working
on plans for the event.
Besides starring in Columbia's "Paris
Blues," Sidney Poitier was honored for
his performance in "The Defiant Ones."
^ji9ep
Wherever You Go .
Bring in fhe Dough!
flitUME-UP...
* HERALDS
* WINDOW CARDS
* MOVIE CALENDARS
* PICTORIAL CUTS
* PROGRAMS
* PHOTO ENGRAVING
* MAT SERVICE
* BOX OFHCE RESULTS
* FAST SERVICE
*QUAUTY
THEATRE ADVERTISERS
OMAHA. NEBRASKA
BOX 795
NC-2

DOUBLE BOXOFFICE BLOCKBUSTER I N0.33
YOU CAN'T RESIST
IT PUTS YOU IN THE PICTURE!
VMV\»Ovista
'HORPOIRS OF THE
Black umm
CONTACT YOUR .j^/7Z£/zlaa/2^ Ml ^nXwznjjtlonaL EXCHANGE
IICAN INTERNATIONAL PICTURES OF MILWAUKEE HOLLYWOOD PICTURES, INC AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL PICTURES OF MINNEAPOLIS
MR. ED GAVIN MEYER L. STERN MR. BERNARD McCARTHY
212 W. Wisconsin Ave. 1508 Davenport Street 74 Glenwood Ave.
MILWAUKEE 3, WISCONSIN OMAHA, NEBRASKA MINNEAPOLIS 3, MINNESOTA

The
Raid H Ray Sales Manager Crowned Milwaukee Showmen
Eddie F. Burke (wearing crown) is being congratulated by Frank HavUcek,
sales manager of Reid H. Ray Film Industries and A V^
his predecessor as
Suger Service. Havlicek has been appointed vice-pres.dentm charge of eastern
sales Others in the picture are, from left in first row: R. V Jeffrey, Frank
Sin MaHe AUen and Ted Cauger. From left, center row: James CornweU,
SiL Orrock MerFe Folstad, Dave BoUenbeck, Lou Siebert, Lon Eichten, Ted Hermann
Rav' Hoover and Walter Ris. From left, back row: I. Feuhrer, Bernard
Swanion William Anderson. Reid H. Ray and Robert Bruce. Ray is president of
the ^m" which bears his name and Cauger is president of A. V. Cauger Service
of Independence, Mo.
ST. PAUL—At a spring sales clinic held the film ad division to assume the position
here, Reid H. Ray, president of Reid H. of sales manager is Edward F. Bui-ke, who
Ray Film Industries, announced new assignments
and a realignment of sales per-
in a Minnesota sales territory. The sales
has been with Reid H. Ray for nine years
sonnel. Frank J. Havlicek. who has headed clinic, attended by the entire sales organization,
was presided over by Ray V. Jef-
the film ad sales division of the Ray company
and A. V. Cauger Service of Independence,
Mo., has been appointed vice-
A dinner was held on the sound stage of
frey, vice-president in charge of sales.
president in charge of eastern sales and the film company's studio here, following
will take up his duties immediately, headquartering
at the Washington, D. C. office. covering his 22,000-mile safari in Africa
which Ray presented an illustrated talk
Moving up from the sales department of when he filmed scenes of natives.
Allied Convention
InMillCilyJuly?
MINNEAPOLIS — North Central Allied
will hold its annual convention Tuesday,
July 7, at the Nicollet hotel here, it was
announced by Prank Mantzke, NCA president.
convention had been set tenta-
I
tively for June 9 > . Exhibitors from throughout
North Dakota, South Dakota and
(Crean gam*,
HOLLYWOOD fakei top
honori. Ai a box-offico a\-
traclion, it i> without
been a favorite with ttieatre goeri for
over 15 yeort Write today for complete detail*.
Bo jure to gWe leoting or cor capacity.
HOLLYWOOD AMUSIMINT CO.
3750 OaHin St • Skoklt. Illinois
western Wisconsin as well as Minnesota
will be invited to attend.
Although the convention agenda is still
in the planning stage, an effort will be
made to have a film company executive
speak and to let him hear the problems of
exhibitors, Mantzke said. Hollywood personalities
also will be invited.
Mantzke also will seek the adoption of
a new setup for NCA. He believes the organization
should have two leaders—one
to concentrate on the Twin Cities area and
one to be in charge of the rm-al area. He
will introduce such a plan to the convention.
Working with Mantzke on the meeting
are Ted Mann and Henry Green, both of
Minneapolis.
MILWAUKEE
n crowd of 3,0000, mostly teenage girls,
created bedlam while waiting a performance
by singer Prankie Avalon and other
recording stars at the Riverside Theatre.
It took 40 policemen to handle the situation,
although no arrests were made. The
line began forming at 3:00 a.m., although
the boxoffice did not open until 10:30.
Four 15-year-old girls reported that they
slept on the floor of the outer lobby of the
theatre for several hours.
Lucille Fowler has added new American
Bodifoam chairs at her Cosmo Theatre..
Merrill, Wis.
Salute Newspapers
MILWAUKEE — Theatre managers in
this area agree they owe much to the newspaper
folk for their cooperation in promotions.
Gratefulness is felt particularly
by the downtown managers—John Mc-
Kay of the Riverside, Al Meskis at the
Warner, Joe Reynolds of the Towne, Jack
Kois of the Telenews, Bob Gorenert at
the Alhambra, EsteUe Steinbach of the
Strand. Harry Boesel of the Wisconsin,
and Milt Hannan, Palace.
For example the Milwaukee Sentinel, in
honoring some of its caiTiers, threw in
some nice plugs for "The Shaggy Dog."
appearing at the Riverside. The top producing
newsboys in each division were
taken on a tour of the Coast Guard base
here, lunched with Guard officials, and
then attended the Riverside where "Shaggy
Dog" and "Cruise of the Eagle" were
appearing. In addition, each lad was given
a replica of the USS Eagle, the official
training ship for Coast Guard recruits.
SPONSOR THEATRE PARTIES
Theatre parties sponsored by the newspapers
are routine business around here.
For example. Milt Harman of the Palace
was dreaming up a host of approaches in
promoting "The Big Counti-y." A fast phone
call to Claude NuedUng, circulation promotion
manager, brought results. More
than 100 carrier boys were guests of the
theatre management in recognition of their
sales efforts, with a $50 U.S. savings bond
to the youngster placing first.
In retmn for past and futm-e favors,
Al Meskis, Warner, tui-ns over the house
to the Sentinel's carriers at least once ea«h
year. This promotion on the pai't of the
Sentinel is usually handled by Andy Hertel,
promotion manager and Tom Johnson,
in charge of special events.
Then there's Joe Reynolds. 'While in the
throes of dealing out the stuff on "The
Hawk," he contacted Paul Gustafson, religious
editor on the Sentinel, who nicely
came through with an ai-ticle.
BUCK HERZOG AN ALLY
Then there's Buck Herzog, the amusement
editor, who has great knowledge of
the movies and stars. Each year he goes
to Hollywood and brings back scads ol
stuff to tie in with the pictui-es to be seen
here. He's out there now.
Comes the need for a feature article, Al
Elewitz. feature editor can usually be
counted upon in the clinches. Anything
in the nature of commerce and business,
it's Eddie Johnson, business editor they call
on. Should a film be sprinkled with tours
and travel, the word is "see Collins."
Miss Steinbach, with her "South Pacific"
now in its 45th consecutive week, appears
to have secui-ed the cooperation of pi-actically
every department on the paper. Occasionally,
the Sentinel thi-ew a tiein. but
for the most part, it was the othei- way
around.
Ted DiLorenzo Elected
HARTFORD—Theodore DiLorenzo, son
of the late Anthony DiLorenzo, Hartford
industry pioneer, has been elected president
of the Hartford County Young Republican
Club.
BOXOFFICE May 11, 1959

I
L_C!2J
—
She
'
. .
.
Cincinnati Is Loyal
To Five Big Films
CINCINNATI — The excellent business
being recorded by local houses is indicated
by the numerous holdovers in the first-run
downtown houses. Runs range from two to
five weeks with the perennially popular
"South Seas Adventure" in its 26th week
at the Capitol.
(Average Is 100)
Albee—Some Like It Hot (UA), 3rd wk 175
Copitol—South Seas Adventure (Cinerama),
150
26th wk
Grand— Imitation of Life (U-l), 2nd wk
Keith—The Shaggy Dog (BV), 2nd wk
MO
175
Poloc^-Thc Noked Mojo (UA)
Volley—Sleeping Beauty (BV,) 5th wk
90
100
Adorns—Green Mansions (MGM), 2nd wk 65
Broodwoy-Capitol—Hey Boy! Hey Girl! (Col);
Forbidden Island (Col) 90
Fox—Warlock (20th-Fox); No Ploce to Lond
(Rep) 100
Madison— Imitotion of Life (U-l)
Michigan—Some Like It Hot (UA);
140
No Name on the Bullet (U-l), 5th wk
Palms—Tempest (Para); The Hot Angel
115
(Poro),
2nd wk
Trons-Lux Krim—Gigi (MGM), return engagement,
105
3rd wk 70
William Szypulski, 49;
Hamtramck Exhibitor
DETROIT—William Szypulski, 49, died
April 27 after a long illness. He was coowner
of the Conant Theatre in Hamtramck
and the Park Theatre Building in
Detroit with his brother Thaddeus iTedi
Szypulski and two sisters, Mrs. Marian
Kazmer and Mrs. Alice Czarnecki. He was
a second-generation member of a family
in the Detroit motion picture business for
a third of a century. The business was
founded by their father, William Szypulski
who was married to a daughter of the late
Max Manteuffel, who operated the Martha
Washington Theatre in Hamtramck. Mrs.
Szypulski died a few years ago. He was the
father of two children, Martha Ann and
Christine Ann.
Family-Type Drive-Ins Draw Praise
At Detroit Motion Picture Council
DETROIT—Alden W. Smith, in his first
public appearance in his new post as first
vice-president of Cooperative Theatres,
strongly upheld the sense of social responsibility
maintained by drive-in operators in
a speech to the Motion Picture Council.
Smith is manager of the third Americanbuilt
drive-in, the East Side, which went
into operation in 1937.
Speaking to an informed, friendly and
critical audience. Smith said, "We are very
proud of the operation we have. We have
strict policing. We have a rule that there
New Belafonte Picture
must be two heads showing in every car
Clicks in Cleveland
for instance."
CLEVELAND — "The World, the Flesh He cited Cooperative's policy that keeps
its 16 Detroit drive-ins from playing "adult
and the Devil" was the top downtown picture
of the week, rolling up a high 140 per
pictui-es" and invited council members to
visit the circuit's drive-ins and inspect the
cent take at the State Theatre. Its nearest
standards of family attendance maintained.
competitor was the comedy hit "Some Like
It Hot" with an average of 130 per cent WANTS "MORE MELLOW" ADS
in its fifth week.
Mrs. Harry T. Jarvis, president, said,
Allen—The Sound and the Fury (20th-Fox) 80 "Ninety per cent of all movies are good. If
Heights Art—He Who Must Die (Kassler) 90
Hippodrome— Imitation of Life (U-l), 6th wk 85 we go to the good ones and don't go to
Ohio—Some Like It Hot (UA), 5th wk 130 the bad, you won't have any bad ones. Only
State—The World, the Flesh and the Devil (MGM). 140
Stillman—The Ten Commandments (Para),
four states have censorship. Are they bet-
return engagement 1 00
ter than the others? The motion picture
industry has established standards of decency
and observance of this should be
'Liie' Gets Good Start
In Detroit; 'Hot' Held
"
adequate. called for "more mellow"
DETROIT— "Imitation of Life" was off screen advertising.
to a good start at the Madison, and "Some Smith said, "We do not intentionally
Like It Hot" enjoyed such a nice spurt that make any advertising obnoxious, but we
the run was extended to a sixth week have only so much choice of mats available,"
citing specific mortising of artwork
even after display advertising for the opening
of "The Shaggy Dog" had already run to meet local taste.
in the papers.
Milton H. London, president of Allied
Theatres of Michigan, cited brassiere, girdle
and vacation advertising and news pictures
of scantily clad girls, charging "Motion
picture advertising is not as offensive
as many other things in the newspapers."
The council meeting proved an educational
session in consumer relations for the
film people attending.
URGES REGULAR ATTENDANCE
Mrs. Jarvis noted that the members of
the council always carry back reports on
the pictm-es they can recommend—about
90 per cent—to the many large organizations
they represent. She urged the members
to carry out the message, "Go to your
neighborhood theatres as well as downtown.
There are many good movies on the
screens today."
Smith gave some significant figm-es on
drive-ins, noting the East Side originally
cost $75,000, and $200,000 had been spent
since on modernization. The average drivein,
he said, represents an investment of
$350,000-$500,000 in the metropolitan area
today.
Speaking for Cooperative Theatres 16
local drive-ins, he gave some figures:
$5,500,000 present investment, with amiual
attendance of 15,000,000 people. He impressed
the members of the council by
noting that a screen tower is equivalent to
an eight-story building. He added if the
roadway in the drive-ins were straightened
out, it would run to seven miles.
Noting the sale of 5,000,000 hot dogs a
year in these theatres, he said, "That is
where the money is made," adding parenthetically,
"That's for the benefit of our
distributor friends here."
He added another touch of humor, after
giving relative grosses of drive-ins and indoor
theatres: "We are not the poor stepchild
of the industry any more, we are the
head of the family!"
Questioned about what drive-ins do on
stormy days, Smith told his audience,
"Those are the days I invite the distributor
out to buy pictures."
Other industry guests at the luncheon
included: Woodrow R. Fraught, president.
United Detroit Theatres: Fi-ed Sweet,
manager, Telenews Theatre: Eric H. Rose,
manager, Trans-Lux Krim: Arthur Herzog,
screen publicist: Arnold Hirsch, Detroit
Times; Milton H. London, president,
Allied Theatres of Michigan; Eleanor
Breitmeyer, Detroit News; H. F. Reves,
Boxoffice; William Wetsman, W&W Theatres;
Lou Marks, manager, MGM; Robert
Bothwell, manager, Fox Theatre: Helen
Bower, Detroit Free Press; Mrs. Max Williams,
former president. Federation of Motion
Picture Councils; Marie Meyer and
Adeline Werner, United Detroit Theatres,
and Bill Cornell, Cornell and Prass Agency.
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BOX 795
2831-33 N. Clark St.,
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MAXIMUM LIGHT
fEven/y D/V"^—
In MIeliifloi.—"Ernie" Forbes Theotro Supply, Detroit—Woodwartl 1
Notionol Th«ltre Supply, Oetrott—Woodword 1-2-
May 11, 1959
ME-1

—
Jack Smukler, Detroit's Helping Hand/
Dies Suddenly of Heart Attack at 67
died sud-
DETROIT—Jack Smukler. 67.
denly from a heart attack April 28. He was
a member of lATSE Local 199, a Detroit
projectionist since 1914. and was employed
at the Jolly Roger Drive-In Theatre for the
past few years. He is survived by his wife.
Gladys, and a son. Dwight.
Smukler in person represented the traditional
great heart of show business in Detroit.
Officially he was chairman of Local
199's sick committee for 30 years, but the
work he did went far beyond that official
assignment. He was constantly visiting
friends and people in show business who
were ill or had illness in the family, frequently
bringing welcome gifts to cheer
the sick. He had a knack of quietly bringing
a special welcome or a helping hand
BOWLING
DETROIT—With the season fast coming
to an end. the National Carbon team regained
the lead in the Nightingale Club
Bowling League by taking all four pomts
from Altec Sound Service. Local 199 lost
three to Amusement Supply, and Ernie
Forbes made it a four-point victory over
National Theatre Supply. New standings
are:
ivrc.^o.z 4i Itt-y? Sound .J5.A«./>
a basket of fruit when a casual friends
wife was ill. a razor or a shave or other
necessity for a man in a hospital, arrangements
to get pallbearers and other details
when showmen died.
He carried his charitable activity into
public service. Assuming the costume of a
circus clown, which he had been in earlier
days, he. with his wife, spent many weeks
on the streets of Detroit year after year,
publicizing the Police Field Day, a major
charity event. During the war he assumed
an Uncle Sam costume and spent an eighthour
day on the streets, in addition to his
regular work, selling war bonds. All this
and more was voluntary work by a greathearted
showman for the public good.
—H.P.R.
High rollers were: Ralph Haskin. 198,
total 559; William Fouchey, 194-194, 557;
Edgar Douville, 191-197, 546; Roger Vahquette,
200, 535; Joe Foresta, 203; Eddie
Waddell, 521; Nick Forest, 511; Jack Lang,
505; Francis Light, 505; Carl Mingione, 501.
iitrrrniifh
RCA
Dealer

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REALART PiaURES
JAY M. GOLDBERG
SELMA G. BLACHSCHLEGER
1632 Central Parkway
CINCINNATI 10, OHIO
ALLIED FILM EXCHANGE
JACK ZIDE
2310 Cass AreniM
DETROIT 1, MICHIGAN
IMPERIAL PiaURE CO.
RUDY NORTON
2108 Payne Avenue
CLEVaAND 14, OHIO

. . Joan
. . Sympathy
. . New
. .
. . Among
. .
. . . Emerson
. . Irwin
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. . The
CI N CI N N AT I
\xrelden Waters, newly appointed 20th-
Fox manager, is boosting the promotional
activities of the local exchange, with
the appointment of J. E. "Watty" Watson,
as exploiteer. Widely known in this area,
Watson has handled publicity and special
assignments for all the leading exchanges
since 1926. His first assignment in his new
job. will be the promotion of "Diary of
Anne Prank," which opens May 21 at the
suburban Valley.
Margraret Woodruff, Columbia booker,
was in St. Louis, on a recent weekend .
Mary Games. Paramount assistant cashier,
and Morris Hail, booker, have returned
from vacations .
was extended
to Harold Rullman. Columbia salesman,
upon the death of his brother Hubert
in Am-ora. Ind. . faces on Filmrow
include Eillen Jones. Paramount clerk, and
Arthur Williams, assistant shipper at 20th-
Fox .
Clemmens. MGM receptionist,
announced her engagement to Gil
Johamieman. manager of the Hippodrome
in suburban Newport, Ky. . . . William A.
Meier. Paramount sales manager, is convalescing
from a tonsillectomy.
Frank Collins, general manager, Cha-
As a icreen game,
HOLLYWOOD takes top
honorj. As a box-office attraction,
it i> without equoL It iiai
been a favorite with theatre goeri for
over 15 yeori. Write today for complete details.
Be sure to give seating or ear capacity.
HOLLYWOOD AMUSIMINT CO.
3750 Oakton St. • Skokie, lllinoii
MID-WEST THEATRE SUPPLY CO., INC.
1638 Central Parkway Cincinnati 10, Ohio
Cherry 1-7724
Finest RCA Equipment for Drive-ins
NEW NEW NEW
RCA IMPAC SPEAKERS
RCA
/^S^ SUPER CINEX
f^^SS) LAMPS
Whatever You Need
We Can Supply It.
keres circuit, Springfield, was in Lexington.
Ky., to inspect progress of the company's
new Eastland bowling alley, scheduled
to open in September . . . Sheldon
Tromberg. district sales representative,
Continental Distributing, was in Pittsburgh,
and Jay Goldberg. Realart comanager.
. . . Robert
was in West Virginia McNabb. and his successor as 20th-Fox
manager, Welden Waters, were in Springfield.
Mike Weiss of Philadelphia, Paramount
public relations department, and Bill
Kraemer, Gloversville. N. Y., sales manager,
with Gus Lynch, Cleveland, Ohio
district manager for the Schine circuit,
were on Filmrow . the exhibitors
seen on the Row was Marvin Samuelson,
Pittsburgh. Prom the West Virginia area
came Charles Sugarman, Parkersburg;
Harold Moore, Charleston, and George
Lively,
Huntington.
Travel films have proved so popular in
conjunction with Monday screenings at
the downtown Albee that a new series has
been started . . . E. B. Radcliffe of the
Enquirer and Dale Stevens of the Post and
Times-Star were in Chicago for the midwest
opening of 20th-Pox's "Diary of Anne
Prank." Each reported the new film is a
sure-fire hit.
Charles Schroeder, UA sales manager, is
up to his ears in baseball this summer and
is loving every minute of it. He is manager
of a Knothole baseball team on which his
son Ronnie, 10, is shortstop and. according
to his father, is the best one in the league.
Ronnie has plenty of competition, for his
brother Donnie, 6. is on a school team,
and another brother. Tommy, 3. who is a
too young to be a member of a team,
little
is learning to play catch, with his own
baseball mitt. All of which keeps Charles
busy and happy every Saturday afternoon.
CLEVELAND
Jack Armstrong, George Sawyer, Elmer
DeWitt and Prank Nickens, all of the
Armstrong circuit, were in town and were
among those who attended the tradescreening
in the Colony Theatre of Warners' "The
Nun's Story," starring Audrey Hepburn.
Judging by the intense audience silence
throughout the entire picture, it looks as
if Warners has a hit.
Ted Levy, Buena Vista district manager,
said that "Sleeping Beauty" has been
booked into the Hippodrome for an early
June engagement. A 35mm print will be
used. The picture, according to Levy, goes
into general release at the end of June .
William Kraemer, Schine head booker, was
in town from Gloversville, to confer with
area booker Gus Lynch and to kibitz
with the local manager.
Olen Martin, Tri-City Drive-In. Bucyrus,
is one of the promotion minded exhibitors
in this territory. In advance of his showing
of "House on Haunted Hill. he employed
"
the services of a trained nurse who in her
uniform appeared daily for a week in the
theatre concessions stand handing out a
small envelope of tranquilizer pills. Im-
printed on the envelope was: "These Tranquilizer
Pills Will Help You Withstand the
13 Great Shocks in 'House on Haunted
Hill,' starts Wednesday, April 29, 1959."
The stunt caused a lot of talk which led to
the purchase of tickets.
Jack Zide, owner of Allied Film Exchange.
Detroit, and Imperial Pictures,
Cleveland, paid his local office a brief visit
Gibbs, Andover Theatre, Andover.
was in town on a buying-booking
mission .
Shenker, Berlo Vending
Co. head in Cleveland, is back in circulation
after fighting a virus battle . . .
Columbia's "Gidget" was the second picture
shown for the high school critic group
sponsored by the Motion Picture Council
of Greater Cleveland. The tape recorded
post-screening discussion was sent to
Columbia for a better understanding of
what youth wants to see.
COLUMBUS
JJoldover business has been so good here
that only one new film opened in
downtown first runs, "The Black Orchid"
at Loew's Ohio. A seventh week was opened
at Loew's Broad by Marilyn Monroe's
"Some Like It Hot," "Imitation of Life"
started a third week at RKO Grand and
"The Shaggy Dog" was held for a second
week at RKO Palace.
Herman Hunt announced a return engagement,
starting May 22, for "Around
the World in 80 Days" at Hunt's Cine-
Stage. Current attraction is Walt Disney's
"Sleeping Beauty" .
T. Wilson,
theatre editor of the Columbus Dispatch,
was awarded an honorary degree of doctor
of humanities in May Week ceremonies at
Capital University .
tenth season
of the Free Christian Drive-In opened with
a showing of "King of Kings." the Cecil
B. DeMille classic. The free-will offering
theatre will be open each Saturday evening
throughout the summer.
When the RKO Palace opened Walt Disney's
"The Shaggy Dog." there was a line
a half-block long at 6:45 a.m. on the first
Saturday, although the doors did not open
until 8 a.m. The next day the theatre was
filled 45 minutes after opening. The waiting
line, four abreast, stretched for several
blocks. "It looks like a long engagement
for the Disney comedy." reported Norman
Nadel. Citizen theatre editor. At this writing
the feature was in a second week.
THE
BIG COMBINATIONS
COME FROM
Allied Film Exchange Imperial Pirturej
2310 Cou Are.
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WESLEY
TROUT
iT.H-lifili-.il t^llu.r. M...lfn. -llu-alr.' Si-fll"
p. O. Box 575, tnW, Oklohomo-
ME-4
BOXOFFICE :: May 11. 195

I
, Bridge
—
—
—
Long Runs Survive
In Hub City Houses
BOSTON — "Some Like It Hot" continued
to do standout business in its fifth week
at Loew's Orpheum. while the completion
of the school holiday week caused the
drop off of "The Shaggy Dog" at the Metropolitan.
This picture is booked for four
weeks and big things are expected of it
each weekend. "Al Capone" was holding
very satisfactorily at the Paramount, as
was "Gigi" at the Beacon Hill and "South
Seas Adventure" at the Boston. The last
week of "South Pacific" was good.
(Average Is 100)
Astar
The Sound and the Fury (20fh-Fox),
South Seas Adventure (Cinerama),
Boston
2nd wk 200
Beacon
50
Gigi (MGM), 7th wk Hill
1
Copn^He Who Must Die (Kossler), 2nd wk
1
110
Exeter Street—The Low Is the Low (Cont'l),
2nd wk 100
Gory Compulsion (20th-Fox), 3rd wk 80
Kenmore—Lonelyhearts (UA) 100
Memorial—Rio Bravo (WB), 4th wk 75
Metropolitan The Shaggy Dog (BV), 25
2nd wk. ...
Orpheum Some Like It Hot (UA), 5th wk
1
115
Poromount Al Capone (AA), 2nd wk 110
Saxon South Pacific (Magna), 55th wk 150
Imitation of Life (U-l), 5th wk 90
Stote
'Paciiic' Hard-Ticket Run
To 11 Weeks in Hartford
HARTFORD — "South Pacific," in its
11th and final week at the Strand, brought
in a handsome 130.
Allyn House on Haurtted Hill (AA);
The Cosmic Man (AA) 90
Art—Rouge et Noir (DCA-Hal Roach), revival... 80
Cine Webb ^My Uncle (Conf'l), revivol 85
E. M. Loew— Hey Boy! Hey Girl! (Col).
Jukebox Rhythm (Col) 90
Meadows Never Steal Anything Small (U-l);
Step Down to Terror (U-l) 100
Palace The Shaggy Dog (BV);
The Littlest Hobo (AA), 2r>d wk 135
Poll The Journey (MGM);
Nowhere to Go (MGM) 110
iStrand^South Pacific (Magna), 11th wk 130
'Life,' in 3rd Week, Is
New Haven Leader
NEW HAVEN — "Imitation of Life"
played a brisk third week at the Paramount.
Other holdovers were "The Doctor's
Dilemma," second week, Whalley: "He
Who Must Die," second week, Lincoln.
College The Sad Horse (20th-Fox);
The Little Sovage (20th-Fox) 90
Crown The Great Man (U-l); The High Cost
of Loving (MGM), revivals 80
Lincoln He Who Must Die (Kassler), 2nd wk. ... 105
Paramount Imitation of Life (U-l), 3rd wk. ...135
Poll Compulsion {20th-Fox);
Back From the Dead (20th-Fox) 1 00
•Roger Sherman—The Shaggy Dog (BV) 120
IWholley The Doctor's Dilemmo (MGM), 2nd wk. .110
Cut Drive-In Admissions
HARTFORD — Brandt Theatres' two
'Connecticut drive-ms—the Portland and
the Bridge at Groton—have reduced admissions.
The Portland to $1 a car (regardless
3f number of passengers) nightly, and the
to 50 cents a car nightly. The usual
admission in this region ranges from 70 to
)0 cents.
Marquond Mss. to Yale
NEW HAVEN—Novelist John P. Marjuand
has given all his manuscripts to
5fale University, the gift including original
irafts of "The Unspeakable Gentleman,"
lis first novel; "Women and Thomas Harrow,
" his latest, and several of his "Mr.
Moto" series. A number of Marquand
itories have been filmed.
New Britain Police Ordinance Ruled
Constitutional in
Parade of Big Shows
Screened in Boston
BOSTON—Film buyers and bookers and
circuit officials have been treated to a
flurry of theatre tradescreenings of some
of the bigger pictures from the various
film companies.
The first of these special tradeshowings
was Warners' "The Nun's Story" at the
Capitol Theatre, AUston, Monday afternoon,
April 27. That evening, 20th-Fox
and the Ben Sack circuit hosted an invitational
tradescreening of "The Diary of Anne
Frank" at the Saxon Theatre.
The following day, Columbia Pictui-es
tried out a new policy for its Doris Day
comedy, "It Happened to Jane," which
will have its world premiere at the Astor
Theatre Tuesday il2i. This film's tradescreening
was in the form of a sneak preview
at the Astor with the new film shown
three times along with the Astor's current
attraction "The Sound and the Fury."
Wednesday morning, April 29, United
Artists held an invitational tradescreening
of the Fi-ank Sinatra film, "Hole in the
Head," at the Coolidge Theatre, Brookline.
Paramount Pictures also arranged special
tradescreenings of three of its big
pictures. Sunday evening (3) the Danny
Kaye film, "The Five Pennies," was sneak
previewed at the Paramount Theatre. The
following day. Paramount showed its big
western, "Last Train From Gun Hill," at
the Capitol, AUston. That evening at the
Astor, the Jerry Lewis comedy, "Don't Give
Up the Ship," was sneak previewed for the
public and exhibitors.
With the Samuel Goldwyn production,
"Porgy and Bess," due at the Astor for
an August 6 opening, the theatre is having
70mm projection equipment installed by
Massachusetts Theatre Equipment Co. This
marks the third theatre in the city to acquire
Todd-AO equipment, the other two
being the Saxon and the Gary, both under
the Ben Sack banner.
With all these tradescreenings, sneak
previews and newspaper attention to the
big productions, several stars have been
here to help build public interest, too.
Doris Day is here for an opening day appearance
at the Astor to help "It Happened
to Jane." Danny Kaye met the press
at a luncheon to tell of his experiences in
making "The Five Pennies." Millie Perkins,
star of "The Diary of Anne Frank," was
introduced to the audience at the invitational
preview by 20th-Pox manager Al
Levy.
John Braine, author of the English film,
"Room at the Top," met the critics and
press at a Hotel Kenmore luncheon hosted
by Continental Films and Louis Richmond,
owner of the Kenmore, where the film was
playing.
Theatreman Is Constable
LE'WTSTON, ME.—The reappointment of
Reynold W. Belanger as city constable has
been approved by the city commissioners.
Belanger is assistant manager and traffic
guide at the Lisbon Drive-In,
Theatre Suit
H A R T F O R D—Superior Court Judge
Louis Shapiro has ruled that policemen
on duty inside New Britain motion picture
theatres may be annoying to the owners
but the practice of stationing uniformed
lawmen in theatres is not unconstitutional.
Judge Shapiro's ruling came in the
$250,000 damages suit brought against the
city of New Britain by Perakos Theatre
Associates and Stanley Warner Management
Corp., the two circuits protesting
that requiring paid policemen to be on
duty was contrary to both federal and
state laws.
Tlie judge said that arguments of unconstitutionality
had no merit but, at the
same time, he added, it may be that in
the light of present-day conditions, the
legislative body of the defendant city might
view the need of this legislation in a different
manner than it did years ago.
"Until it does," the memorandum concluded,
"this court has no basis on which
to substitute its judgment for that of the
city of New Britain."
Judge Shapiro noted evidence in the
case disclosed that theatre attendance had
decreased considerably in the last few
years and that at the present time fire
and other hazards were less than they
were some years back. He also mentioned
that evidence disclosed that between Jan.
30, 1954, and July 20, 1958, there were five
complaints of sexual offenses in local theatres,
17 instances of theft and eight of
disturbances, not all of which were turned
over to the authorities.
"These incidents in the theatres constituted
only a small percentage of the
total incidents throughout the entire city,"
he quoted from court testimony.
Judge Shapiro did issue an injunction
which would restrain the city from making
the owners pay ten cents per day to the
New Britain police benefit fund. He ordered
the city to pay the theatres $85 and
law suit costs.
Richard Widmark at Home
HARTFORD—Actor Richard Widmark,
who recently completed 20th-Fox's "Warlock,"
in which he costars with Henry
Fonda, has been resting at his Sandisfield,
Mass., home. Sandisfield is 40 miles north
of Hartford, just over the Connecticut
state
line.
Variety Visits Prison
BOSTON—Variety Club of New England
members and wives were guests of superintendent
John Gavin at the Walpole state
prison Saturday (2) when "SoUd Gold
Cadillac" was shown the inmates. William
S. Koster, executive director, was in charge
of the group. The Jimmy Fund benefited.
Lions Protest Drive-In Ads
HARTFORD—The Lions Club at Seekonk,
Mass., has adopted a resolution asserting
that suggestive advertisements for
motion pictures being shown in Seekonk
drive-ins "are cause for grave concern."
iOXOFFICE May 11, 1959
NE-1

. . Edward
BOSTON
The Paramount, Needhani. is a good example
of a theatre with good comniunity
relations, owner Ernest Warren
long having recognized the value of lending
the theatre to worthwhile sponsorships
whenever possible. In line with this policy,
Warren has arranged for the Russian Don
Cossack dancers to appear on the stage
sponsored by the local Kiwanis Club. He
also has arranged for a talent night on
the Paramount stage for the benefit of
the Needham Grange, the latter project
being localized for Needhamites regardless
whether they are members of the Grange.
The talent wiimer will be sent to New York
for an audition on the Ted Mack show. A
Ted Mack talent scout will judge the
Needham show. Both of these events will
be held this month.
Officials at New England Theatres are
wreathed in smiles these days and no wonder.
Their two downtown theatres have
been "roped off" for two of the best engagements
in many, many months. The
4,200-seat Metropolitan Theatre, with
"Shaggy Dog." has broken all house records
for a nonstage show program, while
the 3,200-seat Paramount Theatre, with
As a screen gome,
HOLLYWOOD takes top
honors. As a box-office attroction,
it is without equal. If has
been o favorite with theatre goers for
over 15 yeors. Write today for complete details.
Be sure to give seating or cor capacity.
HOLLYWOOD AMUSEMENT CO.
3750 Oakton St • SkoUt, Mlinoi:
"Al Capone" has established a new year's
record. This film will go for three weeks
anyway and the Buena Vista release is in
for four weeks.
Joseph E. "Hercules" Levine. president
of Embassy Pictures Corp.. hosted a press
luncheon at the Boston Club for Herman
Cohen, producer of "Horrors of the Black
Museum." which Embassy is releasing in
New England. It plays the Paramount. Boston,
following the run of AA"s "Al Capone."
Phil Bcrler, for many years head buyer
and booker for E. M. Loew Theatres, has
resigned with his future plans not announced
at this time . Ruff Film
Associates has acquired for distribution in
the New England territory the latest Brigitte
Bardot film called "Love Is My Pi-ofession."
which is now playing at the Little
Carnegie Theatre in New York. This distribution
company also has acquired the
New England rights for "Heroes and Sinners."
a Janus film. Both pictures were
made in France and both are in English.
They are immediately available for this
territory
including New Haven.
American Theatres Corp. has closed the
Jamaica Theatre, Jamaica Plain, during
May and June for minor renovations, including
painting and refreshening . . .
With the installation of Cinemascope at
the Casino Theatre, a burlesque theatre,
there are only two theatres remaining
without the extra-large film screen and
projection. They are the Exeter Street Theatre
and the Telepix Theatre.
'South Pacific' Booked
In Suburban New Haven
NEW HAVEN—"South Pacific" will bypass
downtown for its regional opening.
The Bailey suburban circuit has booked
the Magna Theatre Corp. Todd-AO attraction
into the Whalley for a May 27 bow.
The price scale is yet to be determined.
The film had its Connecticut opening (an
11 -week rum at the Stanley Warner
Strand, Hartford, at $2 top.
MGM's "The Doctor's Dilemma" is currently
in an engagement run at the
Whalley.
British character actress Martita Hunt
will play the role of the grand duchess of
Weimar in Columbia's "A Magic Flame."
seticfMG mm
a 2 years for $5 D
D Remittance Enclosed U Send Invoice
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THE NATIONAL FIIM WEEKIY 52 issues a
825 Van Brunt Blvd., Kansos City 24, Mo
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Tn an editorial on the recent picketing of a
film at the Sky-Ray Drive-In near
Manchester by the Holy Name Society of
St. Patrick's Church of Manchester, the
Manchester Union-Leader said: "There are
those who would protest this type of Christian
Action as censorship. While reserving
to the theatre the legal right to show condemned
motion pictures, they would withhold
the right of protest from those who
are concerned by the effect of such films
on the souls of the citizens, particularly the
teenagers, of the community. They will regard
the picketing as drastic action but
showing of objectionable films will not concern
them in the least."
When New Hampshire's exclusive holiday.
Fast Day, dating back to colonial
times, resulted in a long weekend for many
workers, the Pine Island Drive-In in Manchester
presented a Sunday-Monday program
with four feature films.
Ernest Reynolds, a barber-hairdresser in
Bristol since 1955. has accepted an offer
to become a hair stylist for 20th Century-
Fox in Beverly Hills. Calif. The film company
became interested in his services
when he participated in recent style shows
in Boston and New York. He created the
"circle bang." which has been accepted by
women throughout the country.
Police are investigating a break-in at the
Starway Theatre in Somersworth. where
three panes of glass were broken to gain
entrance into the cafeteria. Considerable
damage was reported, including the spreading
of ice cream and syrups over the
counter, a cigaret machine smashed and
the place considerably cluttered.
Mrs. Grace Metalious Martin of Gilmanton,
author of "Peyton Place." the novel
from which the film of the same title was
adapted, suffered cuts and bruises on the
forehead when her car hit a curbing on the
railroad overpass in Winnisquam and
plunged 71 feet down an embankment to
the railroad tracks below. Her mother,
Mrs. Loretta Cugel of New York City, suffered
a broken arm In the accident and
the novelist's teenage daughter Cynthia was
also injured.
Theatres will be affected when the Manchester
building department soon inaugurates
its first system of permit fees. There
will be a two-dollar charge for motion picture
projectors using arc lamps with wattage
of 1,000 or more, and five cents for
each electrical outlet installed 24 inches
or less on center, as in strip lighting, marquee
lighting, footlights and borders.
Last Drive-Ins Reopened
In Vicinity of Toronto
TORONTO—Three drive-ins opening in
Hamilton, Brantford and here have just
about rounded out the reopening activity
for the summer in this area.
Many impro\'ements were made by Famous
Players in the Skyway Drive-In at
Stoney Creek in the Hamilton region prior
to the relighting. Toronto's fifth drive-in
to invite customers back for the summer
was the Dufferin, which boasts a kingsize
swimming pool. The Breezes, the last
ozoner at Brantford, was reopened by Alan
Gazer.
NE-2 BOXOFTICE :: May 11, 1959

m\
DOUBLE BOXOFFICE BLOCKBUSTER I NO.
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Black museum
CONTACT YOUR Jlm,anlaaru M^
EXCHANGE
EMBASSY PICTURES CORP.
JOSEPH LEVINE
20 Winchester Street Boston, Massachusetts

. .
.
. . The
. . Manager
. . William
. . Garry
. . Reginald
. . . Lockwood
Eugene Picker Reports Atteridance
On Upgrade in N.E. Situations
By ALLEN M. WIDEM
NEW HAVEN—Concluding a torn- of all
Lsew's PoU-New England Theatres situations
in both Connecticut and Massachusetts.
Eugene Picker, LoeWs Theatres president,
voiced some significant observations
on the industry's future.
Admitting that motion pictui-e theatres
•took a beating for a while at the hands
of television and other modern forms of
entertainment." he said that theatres ai'e
gradually winning back the American public.
"The better quality of Hollywood productions
has a lot to do with it. Hollywood now
seems to be concentrating on making the
quality picture, which costs more in both
time and money, but pays off at the boxoffice.
"Independent production companies
formed by various stars in recent years
have also helped to improve the Hollywood
product. These stars have their own money
invested in their productions so they have
a special interest in turning out good pictui-es."
At the same time, he noted: "But we're
not counting on the movies alone to keep
our customers coming back. We're currently
in the middle of an extensive theati-e
remodeling designed to make our theatres
more comfortable and more attractive to
the moviegoer.
"Features of the remodeling program
^ejseo
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have included such innovations as seats
placed far enough apart to give ample leg
room, more comfortable lounge- type seats
and staggered seating arrangements giving
each viewer a better view of the screen."
Picker was accompanied on the torn- by
Hari-y F. Shaw, division manager.
BRIDGEPORT
Joseph Cossette, projectionist at Loew's
Majestic, has been elected for his second
term as president of Local 277. Also
returned to office were Fred Lewis, Majestic,
treasm-er; Merrick Parrelli, Loew's
Poli, financial secretary; Thomas Colwell,
Beverly, recording secretary, and John
Lynch, Majestic, sergeant at arms. Joseph
Kaplan, Loew's Poli, succeeded Leslie C.
Blakeslee, Warner, as vice-president, and
John A. Martin, Merritt, succeeded Frank
Musante, Warner, as business agent.
Named to the executive board were Harold
W. Ryckman, John S. Bernard, Roland Mc-
Leod and James Liburdi. Elected to the
board of trustees were Liburdi. Lynch,
Kaplan and Robert Lewis.
Sympathy to Robert Carney, manager of
Loew's Poli in Waterbury, on the death in
this city of his sister Patricia . . .
James
Liburdi, projectionist at Loew's Poli, is a
year older Matt L. Saunders
.
of Loew's Poli was a business visitor in
New York City.
Manager Matt Saunders of Loew's Poli
and Mrs. Saunders were in Atlantic City
for a few days of relaxation . . . Pleasure
Beach Amusement Park is now operating
weekends until the start of the season on
Memorial Day .
Kaplan, 10-yearold
son of Joseph Kaplan, projectionist at
Loew's Poli, appeared in a television revue
Playhouse, Sharon, will open for
a season of ten weeks June 29.
HARTFORD
Cal Adorno jr. of the Middletown Drive-In.
capitalizing on recent television promotion
for Columbia short subjects stars,
the Three Stooges, booked a Stooges featurette
on a double bill consisting of UA's
••Return of Dracula" and "The Flame
Barrier" Murphy, Cine Webb,
.
"discovered" an 11 -year-old Wethersfielder
by the name of Tom Sawyer and had him
pose with lobby posters for a revival showing
of NTA's "The Adventures of Tom
Sawyer."
The independent Quinebaug Drive-In re-
ojcned, featuring a 75-cent admission for
adults. Children under 12 are admitted as
guists of the management . . .
Promoting
MGM's "torn thumb." enterprising Walter
Fyler, Plaza, Windsor, distributed 1,000
imprinted balloons at public school traffic
points.
George E. Landers, Hartford division
manager. E. M. Loew's Theatres, got a
handsome newspaper break for Columbia's
•Hey Boy! Hey Girl!" playing downtown
E. M. LoeWs, after learning that Hartfordite
Sophie Tucker had heartily endorsed
the Louis Prima-Keely Smith starrer
following recent California screening.
Ray McNamara of the Allyn and Allen
M. Widem, Hartford Times, attended the
Monday '4i Boston press reception, honoring
Danny Kaye and "The Five Pennies,"
hosted by Paramount New England field
representative Arnold 'Van Leer.
NEW HAVEN
pioyd Fitzsimmons, ex-regional MGM exploiteer
now assigned to Warners, flew
to Chicago for the national promotion conferences
on "The Young Philadelphiana"
Pelletier, Lockwood & Gordon's
Waterford Drive-In, played showings
of 20th-Fox's "The King and I" and U-I's
"All That Heaven Allows," both revivals
sponsored by the Jordan Fire Co.
Bob Schwartz has resumed a first-run
art policy at the Ville, Waterbury. His initial
program features ••Lovers of Paris" and
"
•A Man Escaped & Gordon
reopened the Danbury Drive-In . . .
Harry
Rose, Loew's Majestic, Bridgeport, came
home from a brief fishing trip with a dozen
flatfish.
Spanish Films Successful
At Springfield Jefferson
"SPRINGFIELD, MASS.—The Jefferson
Theatre on Main street has apparently
found a successful formula at last under
the new ownership of Herman Rifkin,
president of Rifkin Theatres. Boston, and
the active managership of Mrs. Esther B.
Daniels. The new policy calls for showing
Spanish-language films tlu-ee days a -week
and the large Puerto Rican colony in the
north end has responded weU to the programs.
Mrs. Daniels said she had noticed that
the Puerto Rican families made theatregoing
a real holiday event and the foreign
language films have become an impoi-tant
part of their recreation here.
Prior to Mrs. Daniels' operation of the
theatre, a gi'oup had adopted a policy of
showing sex films, wliich brought a storm
of protest and tiie final abandonment of
the operation.
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Hamden 14—Atwater 8-2547
Massachusetts- -MASSACHUSETTS THEATRE EQUIPMENT
Boston— Liberty 2-9814
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NE-4
BOXOFFICE

—
— —
'Dog' the Pace Setter
In Lively Winnipeg
WINNIPEG—Attention here was shared
•
between "The Shaggy Dog" and "Gigi,"
although all first-run houses reported better
than average business.
(Average Is 100)
Thousand Hills (20th-Fox) Copifol—These 10
Goiety Gigi (MGM), moveover, 2nd wk 120
Blood of the Vompire (U-l); Monster on
Gorrick
•;.,„•••" °
the Compus iU-l)
Lyceum—Attack of the Puppet People (AlP);
Wor of the Colossol Beast (AlP) 05
Metropolitan—The Shaggy Dog (BV) 50
._........ 1
Odeon The Remarkable Mr. Pennypaeker (20th-
Fox) "5
Bob Hope Western Spoof
Tickles Toronto Fancy
TORONTO—The leader of the week was
"Alias Jesse James" at the Odeon-Carlton
while other popular attractions were "Some
Like It Hot" in its third week at Loew's and
"Too Many Crooks" at the Towne.
Eotinton The Inn of the Sixth Happiness
(20fh-Fox) 00
Hollywood Bell, Book and Candle (Col), 4th wk. 00
Hyland Next to No Time (Rank), 2nd wk 00
Imperial—The Hanging Tree (WB), 2nd wk 05
Uoew's—Some Like It Hot (UA), 3rd wk 10
Ode:n-Carlton Alias Jesse James (UA) 2S
Nortown—Auntie Mam« (WB), 2nd wk 00
Tivcli—South Pacific (Mogna), 43rd wk
Towne—Too Mony Crooks (Rank) 10
Uptown— Imitation of Life (U-l), 6th wk 100
Montreal Gets First View
Of Cinerama 'South Seas'
MONTREAL—The latest Cinerama production,
"South Seas Adventure," was
shown for the first time in this province at
Cinerama Corp.'s Imperial Theatre Tuesday
evening 1 5 ) . The opening was under
the auspices of the Canadian Cancer Society.
Following the opening, the adventure
film was presented to the general pubUc,
commencing Wednesday
1 6
1 , with a matinee
at 2 p.m. and an evening showing at
8:40. Two o'clock matinees will be presented
every Satui'day, Sunday and
Wednesday, with the Sunday evening show
at 7:30 All presentations are on a reservedseat
basis.
Two Cinerama Centers
Luring Ontarians
TORONTO—With Cinerama now but a
memory at the University in Toronto, theatregoers
in Ontario are being lured by promotional
campaigns from both sides to see
"South Seas Adventure" at theatres beyond
the borders of this province.
The Music Hall in Detroit is advertising
the Cinerama feature around the western
Ontario territory, emphasizing the mail
order sale for Canadian visitors to the
Motor City. The Imperial in Montreal is
using display space in eastern Ontario to
attract out-of-town customers.
Dozen Toronto Theatres
Block-Book 'Al Capone'
TORONTO—Something of a record for
block-booking was set for "Al Capone"
when 20th Centm-y Theatres grouped no
less than 12 local units, including the "400"
and North-East drive-ins, for its first-run
engagement.
Famous Players hned up eight units
around the city for another run of "Inn
of the Sixth Happiness" after its 13 weeks
at the Hollywood.
Theatre Bought for TV
Becomes Moneymaker
Toronto—Ken Soble, owner of the
television station in nearby Hamilton,
bought the 650-seat Kenmore in that
city last winter but he has now admitted
that he cannot use the theatre
as a studio for the presentation of video
programs.
"I can't because it's doing good business
with movies," he said.
The Kenmore, which is managed by
Sam Hebscher, playing the Canadian
premiere engagement of a British picture,
"Oh, Rosalinda," at $1 top, held
the the film a second week.
W. G. Lester Elected
New UAC President
MONTREAL/—W. G. Lester has been appointed
president and managing director
of United Amusement Corp., which operates
the largest circuit of motion pictures
here and In Quebec Province,
At the meeting of directors following the
annual meeting of shareholders of UAC
Lester, formerly vice-president and managing
director, was named president succeeding
the late John G. Ganetakos.
George Destounis was appointed executive
vice-president, while W. N. Murray
was elected to the board of directors.
Lester, addressing shareholders at the
annual general meeting, said that results
in the first quarter of this year were somewhat
ahead of the corresponding period of
last year.
FPC Remodels, Reopens
Skyway, Hamilton, Ont.
TORONTO — Famous Players
Canadian
Corp. reopened its Skyway Drive-In at
Stoney Creek April 30 with a fii-st-run
policy. The opening followed completion of
extensive improvements, including a large
refreshment salon, the latest equipment
and a playground. The headoffice called it
"the most modem drive-in in Canada."
The Skyway accommodates 700 cars.
The Skyway was the first drive-in in the
Hamilton area, which now has three other
privately-owned ozoners, all previously
opened for the season.
Famous Players also reopened the Sunset
Drive-In at Brantford Friday (1 ) . This
unit has space for 500 cars.
Robert Rowland at Helm
LOGAN. OHIO—Robert Rowland again
is managing the Hocking Drive-In, which
reopened with a three-feature and twocartoon
program the first two nights of
the new season. All children under 12 are
admitted free.
UAC Earnings in Upturn
TORONTO — The financial
statement
for the past year of United Amusement
Corp.. a Quebec affiUate of Famous Players,
shows an increase of 2 per cent in
earnings for its group over the previous 12
months.
Privalely-Owned TV
On Way in Canada
OTTAWA—Following the announcement
in the House of Commons that enabling
legislation was being readied for consideration
of Parliament for operation of
privately-owned television stations in major
centers, Frank Ryan, owner of CFRA
here, came out with plans for a local TV
outlet.
The bill to come before the Commons
will permit private interests to operate in
direct competition with goverimient-owned
television stations of the Canadian Broadcasting
Corp. In Ottawa, the Ryan project
would compete with two CBC stations,
CBOT and the French-language CBOFT,
making three in the area, Cornwall, the
nearest city, has started construction of
its first television unit.
Famous Players Canadian Corp. is interested
in the establishment of a second
television station in Toronto which would
be a rival for CBT of the CBC.
Armouncement has also been made in
Ottawa that Associated Television, the independent
company in Great Britain, has
decided on a large investment in eight new
television stations in Canada in cooperation
with Canadian organizers. Norman
Collins, deputy chairman of the British
company, is scheduled to visit Ottawa
shortly to complete negotiations.
Signs Overhanging Walks
Target of Safety Group
TORONTO — The metropolitan roads
committee of greater Toronto has moved
to prohibit the use of overhanging signs
on the front of buildings, including theatres
which face business thoroughfares.
The legislation would also ban the use
of orange or red colors which conflict with
traffic lights. In Toronto proper all projecting
signs and conflicting illumination
were removed from a long stretch of Yonge
street several years ago with the exception
of plain lights on theatre marquees.
The Toronto proposal has been picked
up by the municipal authorities in Ottawa,
consideration being given to the removal
of advertising signs on Sparks, Rideau,
Bank and Elgin streets, plus a ban on
orange or red illumination near main intersections.
Developments are being
studied in other cities.
Fred Leavens Is Named
Odeon Maritimes Chief
TORONTO — The promotion of Fred
Leavens as district manager for the Maritime
provinces under the super-vision of
Ai-t Bahen, eastern division manager, has
been announced by Fi-ank H. Fisher, general
manager of Odeon Theatres of Canada.
Leavens was previously supervisor of the
Ontario theatres under Steve McManus.
Ontario district manager, prior to which
he had been manager of the Elmdale, Ottawa,
and was a supervisor of Regional
Theatres, an Odeon subsidiary. Leavens
goes to Halifax in succession to Lee April,
who resigned to enter another line of business,
BOXOFFICE May 11, 1959
K-1

.
. . Odeon's
. . Roger
. . "Rio
1 1 . when
. . Manager
.
.
MONTREAL
Tnternational Film Distributors announced
that a drive beginning June 1 and continuing
until the end of August will honor
the company's president. Nat Taylor of Toronto.
The drive will cover Canada. The
company has moved its offices from the
ground floor to the first floor at 5801
Monkland Ave. The new- premises are
larger. The company is retaining the
ground floor space for storage.
Mrs. Doris Pearson, secretary to Ted Atkinson,
manager of Astral Films, won a
1959 Chevrolet. The event was organized
for the Motion Picture Pioneers Fund and
took place at the Harold Cimimings Co..
5255 Namur St. Phil Maurice and Tom
Cleary were leading organizers of the affair.
Liberace, who was appearing at a
local carbaret. participated in the affair.
Gerard Cote, owner of the Cap Chat
Theatre, Cap Chat, entered Quebec Citys
Hotel Dieu Hospital for a general checkup
.. . Bill Trow, president of Montreal
Poster Exchange and Quebec Cinema Booking,
is recuperating at home after being a
patient at Jewish General Hospital. He
pays regular but short visits to his office.
you, Mr. Exhibitor, must have
the
BEST
in sound and projection
to meet present competition
i'"i Is your present equipment up to por
\ with the productions you offer?
Hove us put it in first class shope or
modernize it.
\
Expert advice and repairs that are
! guaranteed.
BEST THEATRE SUPPLY REGD.
ARMAND BESSE, Prop.
4828 Saint Denis Street
Montreal, 34
Victor 2-6762
John Levitt of Columbia Pictures visited
Quebec City and district and the Louisville
area on business . Bravo," starring
John Wayne and Dean Martin, will follow
the cui-rent showing of "I Want to Live" at
the Capitol Chartran, MGM
.
sales representative, visited Joliette on
business .
Montreal and district
theatres were advertising a $5,200 Poto
Nite.
Exhibitors who visited the film exchanges
included Corporal Couillard of the
Royal Canadian Air Force Base, St. John;
Romeo Beaupre of the Prancais Lori-ainvllle.
and Mr. and Mrs. A. Proulx, Riviera.
Drummondville.
Coniederalion Corp.
ElectsW. Harold Giles
MONTREAI^—W. Harold Giles has been
elected managing director of Confederation
Amusements, succeeding the late John
G. Ganetakos.
Other officers of Confederation are Fred
Tabah, president; Prank B. Chauvin, Q.C.,
vice-president; William Mannard, treasurer,
and WiUiam F. Tabah, secretary.
seMfinB |H
D 3 yeors for $7
D 2 years for $5 D 1 year
THEATRE
STREET ADDRESS
TOWN
NAME
Remittance
Enclosed
..ZONE
Indecent Pictures Charge
Dismissed in Toronto
TORONTO^A ruling of the Toronto police
court has created an interesting legal
precedent under the Canadian criminal
code, the decision having the effect of permitting
the private showing of motion pictures
which can be classed as obscene or
indecent.
Magistrate Donald Graham dismissed a
charge against Richard B. Hughes of showing
indecent pictures which he had
screened for a group of invited men identified
with the real estate business. The mag-
STATE..
D Send
.POSITION..
Invoice
^^^QtHE national FIIM WEEKLY 52 issues a voo,
ing.
825 Van Brunt Blvd., Kansas City 24, Mo
Supreme Court Eases
Sunday Restrictions
OTTAWA — A ruling of the Supreme
Court of Canada has paved the way for
further easing of Sunday restrictions for
commercial pm-poses under the federal
Lord's Day Act by allowing provincial governments
to pei-mit Sunday sports.
A unanimous decision of the country's
highest court dismissed an appeal by the
Lord's Day Alliance which sought to quash
an enactment of the British Columbia legislatur-e
which aUowed Sunday commercial
sports for which an admission was charged
during the hours between 1 and 6 p. m.
Sen. J. W, Parris. a director of Famous
Players Canadian Corp.. argued as counsel
for the city of 'Vancouver, that Sunday
observance involved civil rights, hence
came under provincial jurisdiction.
Organized theatres in Ontario are pressing
for Sunday shows on the ground tha.t
motion pictures are televised on Sundays.
077 A\N A
TXTinners of the annual Academy Awards
Sweepstakes sponsored by the Evening
Citizen and Ottawa Theatre Managers
Ass'n were decided before a crowded house
Friday night
< a playoff was conducted
on the stage of the Famous Players
Capitol in conjunction with "Rio Bravo."
The 40 contestants tied for first place in
the original balloting took part in a quiz
tie-breaker and W. J. Niven walked off with
the $200 cash award, the runner-up being
Ken P. McDonald. The master-of-ceremonies
was Gord Atkinson. The Capitol
manager is Ray Tubman.
A clergyman won a $500 Foto-Nite reward
April 29. The Rev. George Veck
qualified by having his name called at the
Somerset, one of the five theatres which
conduct the weekly feature. The 65-yearold
cleric said he would use the money for
Bob Hol-
a trip to England .
based his decision on the definition lister of the recently reopened Cornwall
istrate
of the words "public view" which appeared
being that
Drive-In has made contract arrangements
w'ith several Cornwall merchants for a
in the charge, the inference
the invited group was not a public gather-
series of screen-advertising presentations.
Ron Taylor of the Regent, where "The
Shaggy Dog" was being held for a sixth
week, got still another publicity break in
a tie-in with the annual all-breed championship
show of the Kennel Club at the
Coliseum. One of the 350 canines was
"Bonnie." three-year-old sheep dog owned
by Mr. and Mrs. Peter Levers of Carleton
Place. She was another "Shaggy" of film
fame and the resulting publicity was a natural.
"Imitation of Life" was a success at the
combined Elmdale and Nelson, being held
for a third week. The respective managers
are Jim Chalmers and Jack Marion .
L. J. Williams has reopened the Port Elmsley
Drive-In in the heart of the Rideau
Lakes district near Smiths Falls.
Odeon Selling a Theatre
TORONTO—The 660-seat Capitol, Niagara
Falls, which has been closed for some
months, has been put up for sale by Odeon
Theatres (Cajiada>.
BOXOFFICE May 11, 1959

DOUBLE BOXOFFICE BLOCKBUSTER I NO.33
YOU CAN'T RESIST
IT PUTS YOU IN THE PICTURE!
VMV\40VISTA
'HORRORS OF The
Black ^mm
CONTACT YOUR Jh?ianlaajz,^L
EXCHANGE
ASTRAL FILMS LIMITED
I. H. ALLEN E. V. ATKINSON SAM SWARTZ E. WHELPLEY A. E. ROLSTON
130 Corlton St. 5975 Monkland Ave. 157 Rupert Ave. 714 Eighth Ave., West 162 Union St. 2182 W. 12th Ave.
TORONTO, CANADA MONTREAL, CANADA WINNIPEG, CANADA CALGARY, CANADA ST. JOHN, CANADA VANCOUVER. CANADA

. . . Congratulations
. . . Also
. . Manager
. . Frank
. .
WINNIPEG
l^ayor Stephen Juba and the city council
heartily backed the Academy Awards
promotion, the mayor issued a proclamation
distributed throughout the city and its
suburbs. The reader panel mounted on the
front of city hall, which usually is devoted
to announcements of important civic occasions,
read. "Academy Awards CBC-TV
Monday, 10:15 p.m." The Manitoba Exhibitors
Ass'n. led by Harry Prygrocki.
president, and Ken Beach, secretary, are
to be congratulated for splendid promotional
efforts. The city of Winnipeg was
thanked by the association for the backing
given the event.
Manager Zozoriz, Roxy Theatre, Canora.
Sask., is elated in recent action of the
town council in amending its amusement
tax law to exempt all theatre admissions
of 60 cents and under. The exemption goes
Into effect immediately. The council at
Kamsack, Sask., has taken similar action
to help theatre operations in that community.
Bin Wilson of the Garneau, Edmonton,
has won top spot in the Famous Players
Prairie Promotional Contest for his allround
promotion. Bill arranged to rent the
Garneau each Wednesday matinee to Fabriccaire
for the presentation of a stage
show aimed at women patrons. Tickets are
obtained by telephoning the Edmonton
radio station or the sponsors, a dry cleaning
firm and this information is aired
several times a day by the radio station.
Ads promoting the events are carried in
the Edmonton Journal and promotion banners
carried by all Fabriccaire delivery
trucks. Edmonton women prominent in different
business activities address the gathering
each Wednesday, coffee and biscuits
are served to all ladies present. The activity
does not cost the theatre a penny
but is worth a great deal in public relations.
"The Shaggy Dog" is having a tremendously
successful run at the Metropolitan
Theatre. From the first time the theatre
opened its doors at 9 a.m. Saturday, April
25. to sell tickets for this show, people have
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Also new
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Spring edge steel bottom seat cushions ond
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11
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I the
• ADLINES & EXPLOITIPS
• ALPHABETICAL INDEX
• EXHIBITOR HAS HIS SAY
• FEATURE RELEASE CHART
• FEATURE REVIEW DIGEST
• REVIEWS OF FEATURES
• SHORTS RELEASE CHART
• SHORT SUBJECT REVIEWS
• SHOWMANDISING IDEAS
THE GUIDE TO j BETTER BOOKING AND B U S I N E S S - B U IL D I N G
Builder Says Homes
No Imitation of Life'
"This Is No 'Imitation of Life' . . . You
Are Really Living When You Find an Edward
Rose Home"—this was the theme of
a tiein aiTanged for the opening of the
film at the Michigan Theatre in Detroit
by Dick Richman, U-I exploiteer. Edward
Rose, home builder, kicked it off with a
two-page spread in the two Detroit dailies,
inviting the public out to register at any
of the homes his fii-m kept open. The
grand prize was a free weekend in New
York for two people.
Added value was given the tiein by traffic-builder
gifts given by salesmen at the
homes on a spot basis—every tenth visitor
or so. Gifts included two Decca soundtrack
albums of the film. 100 copies of the book,
75 single recoi-ds, and 25 pairs of tickets
to the theatre.
A contest was arranged on radio station
WXYZ on the theme, "Why Movies Are
Your Best Entertaimnent." Prizes included
an Underwood typewriter, an RCA-Victor
clock radio, ten albums, and 25 pairs of
tickets.
Grocery Giveaway Ends
His Dead Wednesdays
A grocery giveaway seems to be curing
Girl."
a weekly "dead" spot in the business of the
Scioto Breeze Drive-In at Lucasville, Ohio. He promoted free announcements at all their boy friends to buy heavily at the
Manager Bud Trimble said patronage was fom- of the weekly dragstrip races during concession stand since it cost them nothing
for the girls at the boxoffice. Of
tripled on the first Wednesday night of the week prior to the show. He advertised
the eight-week
that the dates of all the drag racers would course, almost all of the boys who came in
deal.
Trimble got two grocery stores to put be admitted free, and that there would be said they were drag racers, but so what?
up a $25 basket and three $10 bags of a "best sounding twin pipes contest." At least they were in the theatre and not
groceries, each one for four weeks, thus For this, the young car drivei's would at home or somewhere else, and that was
providing prizes for eight weeks. The giveaway
was by car license numbers. As the near a microphone where they gunned their them in the theatre."
come in, buy their tickets and roll down my primai-y pm-pose when I started—get
autos came through the boxoffices, fomlicense
plate numbers were picked.
recorded. The tapes were played back
motors and the sound of the pipes was tape-
Teaser spots on the radio advertised and three winners .selected, and announced
Dinner for Two Nightly
"You. the Movie Patron, May have a Lucky during an intermission. The third place
License Plate Number at the Scioto Breeze winner received ten free passes; the second
place winner, 20 passes, while a gold Walter Fyler. manager of the Hartford,
Is Free for Six Months
on Wednesday," and likewise each night at
the drive-in.
trophy went to the best sounding set of Conn., suburban Windsor Plaza, arranged
On Wednesday night Trimble wrote the pipes.
with a new restam-ant to provide a free
fom- numbers on a blackboard in the concession
stand, then during intermission
Engraved on the trophy was, "Cowtown dinner for two to a Plaza patron nightly
Drive-In Theatre Award for the Best Pipes for six months. On entering the theatre,
announced the numbers on the public address,
plus proper credits for the mer-
"
of 1959. Awarded to
each patron is given an opportunity to
"I displayed the trophy in the boxoffice
for several days before the program
chants, suggesting the patrons check their
numbers against those posted on the board.
This created heavy traffic in the concession
building, and almost doubled the normal
take.
Each donating merchant got an ad on
the screen for a month, a sign with proper
credits in the concession stand, and live
announcements over the public addi-ess.
BOXOFFICE Showmandiser ;: Mav 11, 1959
Weekend Booking Outlook Bleak? Hot Rod
Show^ Drag Racer Dates Free^ Is Answer
Photo at left shows how the racking of pipes was taperecorded
staged at the Cowtown Drive-In in Fort Worth. Right, Manage
Dennis Dixon, the winner, and his girl companion.
Facing a weekend when there simply
were no big pictures available. Bill Corbell.
manager of the Cowtown Di-ive-In at
Fort Worth. Tex., came up with a Hot
Rod Show built on four teenage and hot
rod pictiu-es— "Hot Rod Girl." "Dragstrip
Riot,' "Hot Rod Gang" and "Dragstrip
best sounding pipes contest
Bill Corbell awards a trophy to
opened, and I think this added greatly to
the big tiu-nout for the show," Corbell
reports.
"Also, since I was interested in getting
my message mainly to teenagers, I bought
radio spots after 9 o'clock at night when
the kids are the only ones listening and
— 73 —
when spots can be bought very reasonably,
since other advertisers do not want that
time. It was on the radio that I plugged
the pipes contest, since our newspaper will
not run ads in which a contest is mentioned.
"Business was good, and the girls who
got in as dates of drag racers compelled
participate in the evening's contest by
putting his name on a blank and depositing
it in a box provided for this purpose.
At approximately the boxoffice closing
hour, the winning name is selected and
posted in the lobby. The entire promotion
is at no cost to theatre, except expense of
a trailer, run nightly and giving suitable
restaurant credit.

which
received
Vouno Man Pub His Pidure-Sellinq Ideas to Work
PUniNG ZIP IN A SUBRUN THEATRE
How Planned Week-ln-and-Week-Out Promotion
Hypoed Ticket Sales Over 20% at N. Y. House
In the Aug. 25. 1958. issue of Boxoffice, display for only three days attracted some
Harvey Chertok repoi-ted on a study he of the best business seen at the theatre
made in preparing his Master's thesis at in months! i started the current exploitation
campaign on January 1.
New York University. "The Effects of Exploitation
Upon Neighborhood Theatre Personnel directly involved with the
Ticket Sales." The article entitled "How campaign include the theatre owner. Joe
$19 48 Sparked a Subrun Campaign" dealt Cirker of Equity Advertising Co.; John
specifically with a controlled study of two Stern, theatre manager and Al Novins. assistant
manager.
New York Citv theatres in which Chertok
sought to prove that a little extra effort This is what was accomplished in the
in time and imagination by a theatre man-
first two months;
ager can materially hypo attendance.
The article created widespread comment.
It was read to a conference of managers
by the head of one of the large
national theatre circuiUs. It also brought
some criticisms, the principal one being
that the controlled experiment contained
a basic fallacy—it was a "shot in the dark
and "that naturally" an injection of promotion
in a situation where none had existed
must necessarily have a stimulating
effect on business. The critics also said
it was a major promotional effort and was
impractical in the sense that no subrun
could possibly have duplicated the effort
under the pressures of week-in and week-
By
HARVEY CHERTOK
The big job was to find the right theatre,
a situation where, if the promotional
activities worked, one couldn't be accused
of setting up a perfect target. I spent
three weeks studying subrun theatres m
the New York area, and finally settled on
the Polk Theatre in Jack.son Heights. It
presented an extraordinary challenge. It
a clean 600-seat house, with a small
is
marquee area, located about a block and
a half from the main shopping area.
Bu.siness was poor. Like a great many
other theatres, it was jast playing pictures.
I sold the owners on my ideas and made
an arrangement with them whereby I
would directly participate in the additional
iJiofits I hoped to create for the theatre.
I was willing to gamble my time and
theory. If I couldn't deliver. I'd gel
nothing.
After a feeler promotion of presenting
orchids to all women patrons on Christmas
Eve and Christmas Day incidentally
through a 40x60 lobby poster on
Dressing Up The Theatre;
The "new" Polk had to have a new
physical flavor. First order of business was
to give it a festive air by installing a tent
of colorful luminescent pennants on top
of the marquee and also a string of them
along the perimeter underneath. A spotlight
added to the effect at night. Next,
we installed an FM receiver in the cashier's
booth with one extension speaker set
up over the boxoffice and two in the lobby.
The music heard outside the theatre and
in the lobby immediately attracted favorable
comment. The lobby itself was spruced
up with colorful cartoon "house" posters,
out operation.
Not at all, Chertok now replies. "The Japanese paper lanterns and some interesting
lighting effects. Total cost for the
experiment was so designed that
entire
the manager of the theatre could have "dressing-up" was tmder $100.
done it himself had he intended to do so."
As to those who said it was a shot in the Developing The Exploitation Campaign:
dark Chertok has since undertaken an entirely
new project to prove that week-in The campaign platform is to primarily
and week-out promotion pays off handsomely—and,
in his own words, "I have product. We're trying to make moviegoing
promote the theatre and secondarily, the
merely scratched the surface on the fantastic
possibilities of more than doubling
a real event. 'We're doing more than just
playing pictures. We're enticing the "lost
patrons" to make theatregoing a regular
the gro.ss of a subrun theatre."
habit once again. We're giving Polk patrons
Let Chertok tell his story.
more for their entertainment dollar.
A theme which could be carried through
indefinitely in all situations and in all
media was necessary. After careful consideration.
"It's More Pun To See It At
The Polk!" was selected. Not only would
this slogan appear regularly in all newspaper
ads. but it would be found on the
"house" cards in the lobby, on our window
posters, etc.
Doorman Al Novins giving away
frei- gifts at a Saturday morning
kiddy
matinee.
— 74 —
Theatre manager John Stern is L I
shown reviewing some of the exploita- " "'
tion devices used during the current
campaign at the Polk.
Next, the advertising budget had to be
reevaluated. 'Whereas, heretofore, newspaper
advertising was restricted to daily
one-inch ads in the Long Island Star
Journal with occasional two-inch ads for
"big" pictures, it was decided to begin
advertising in other New York newspapers
as a means of attracting patrons from
other parts of the city, and thus increase
the potential audience instead of confining
our market to the immediate area.
Naturally, to believe that people would
travel from great distances just from noting
a "standard" movie ad, was ridiculous.
The advertising itself had to be extremely
different, unusual and very appealing.
It was also decided that in addition to
the content, there had to be a physical
difference in the appearance of the Polk
ads. After carefully weighing the situation,
it was decided that we would go with copy
only—no "standard" illustrations. It was
up to me, then, to find words that would
be worth a thousand pictures. In addition,
instead of the standard ruled line bordering
the ads. we would use bullet borders.
A simple device with attention-getting
power.
Finally, we agreed to also take a shot
^
at the moon by not only trying to get
people to specifically look for our ads in
^_^j
^
the papers, but to tear them out and save
them as well! Impossible? The results to
date, which I will get into later, are truly
amazing.
To supplement the advertising, it was
also decided to send press releases to the
local newspapers in the hope that the
"gimmicks" used might have .some news
value and thus gather additional space in
the newspapers at no cost. As things
worked out, the very first "gimmick" (.The
ALL-SHIRLEY PARTY for "Matchmaker"
and "Hot Spell"
> a solid publicity
story in the Long Island Star Joui-nal
adjacent to our ad.
The "Gimmicks":
And now to the "gimmicks" themselves.
Following is a recap of the ones used in
January and February;
(11 The "ALL-SHIRLEY PARTY" for
"Matchmaker" and "Hot Spell" —
(Anyone in town with the name of
Shirley could be our guest.)
(21 "RED KERCHIEF NIGHTS" for
"Mardi Gras" and "Raw Wind In
Eden "—(Escorts of gals wearing red
kerchiefs could be our guests, i
Cji "INDIAN NIGHTS" for the March of /
Dimes for "The Big Country"— 'Es- V
corted gals could be our guest if they
put an Indian Head nickel or penny
together with a dime into our March
of Dimes box.)
BOXOFFICE Showmandiser May 1959

)
. . :
. . We
. . were
. .
(41 "EXERCISE CAN BE FUN" for "The
Case of Dr. Laurent" and "Appointment
With A Shadow"— I Escorted gals
who tore out the newspaper ad and
gave it to our cashier could be ouiguest.)
(5) "CIGAR NIGHTS" for "The Last Hurrah"
and "Tank Force"— (Escorts of
gals who would leave a cigar for our
derbied manager so that he could appear
in keeping with the chai-acters
in the feature, could be our guest.
i6> "BE OUR VALENTINE" for "Cat On
A Hot Tin Roof" and "All At Sea"—
(Escorted gals who would tear out and
give the newspaper ad to our cashier
would receive a box of Valentine
candy.)
MAN RAN
(7> "OUR PROMOTION
AWAY WITH THE PEARLS" (also
"PEARLS FOR THE GIRLS") for
"Party Girl" and "Dunkirk"— (Escorted
gals who would tear out the
newspaper ad and give it to our cashier
would receive
I
necklace.
a simulated pearl heart
(8) "HELP THE PROMOTION MAN
KEEP HIS JOB AND BECOME A
CELEBRITY" for "Houseboat" and
"As Young As We Ai'e"— (A short
"fan" letter together with our newspaper
ad given to our cashier would
get the writer's name in the paper,
i
A close examination of the above eight
promotions would reveal that No. 1 is a
"no catch" free admission offer. Nos. 2-5
are merely versions of the old "Twofer"
deal. Nos. 6 & 7 are simply merchandise
"SUSAN HAYWARD WILL WIN AN
ACADEMY AWARD FOR HER PER-
FORMANCE IN 'I WANT TO LIVE'
—OR THE PROMOTION MAN -WILL
EAT HIS HAT IN THE POLK LOBBY
ON APRIL 7 AT 8:00 P.M."— (copy
plugging playdate, etc., followed)
^Editor's Note: Was Mr. Chertok happy
to hear that Miss Hayward did win!)
And Speaking Of Fon Mail . . . :
How many other neighborhood theatres
can boast that they regularly receive
unsolicited fan mail? Matter of fact, we
got to like it so much that now we're
it soliciting (see Promotion No. 8).
We're Now Helping The Community .
The "INDIAN NIGHTS for the March of
"
Dimes is one example of community work.
A salute to the Boy Scouts of America in
honor of National Boy Scout Week is another.
For the Saturday matinee of that
week, we advertised accordingly and admitted
free all Boy Scouts in uniform.
Children's Matinees:
Formerly a weak spot in the week's program,
we're starting to turn a profit in
this direction also. Tearing out a page
from the promotion tricks of yesteryear,
we are now giving away free gifts to all
the kids for each matinee on Saturdays
and holidays. Rabbit's feet, compasses,
magnifying glasses, puzzles, comic books,
colorful masks, key chain charms, magic
writing slates, hand puppets and the like.
The additional kids we're getting more
than offset the added expense of the free
gifts. The giveaways are supported by another
old trick, that of passing out "Lucky
Number" and "Lucky Color" cards at
neighborhood schoolyards, etc.
We have had people come to the Polk
from East Patterson and Lodi, in New Jersey:
Huntington, Great Neck and Little
Neck, Long Island; the Bronx, Brooklyn
and Manhattan. Why,
we even had to put
a map of Metropolitan
New York in
our boxoffice so that
our cashier could give
correct information
to those who phoned
for directions. Fantastic?
In just a few
short months, we feel
that the Polk has
become the most
Harvey Chertok talked - about neighborhood
theatre in all of Metropolitan New
York! And we've just begun. We're out
to double the theatre's average gross and
at the rate we're going we might even do
it before the year is up.
Conclusions . . .
There are no mysteries about our activities
at the Polk. It's imagination and
perspiration that's drawing more and more
people into the theatre. What's significant
is that this is all being done TODAY
RIGHT NOW. .
.
might be spending
a little more now than the theatre had in
the past, but the old adage about having
to spend it to make it sometimes holds
true. However, we really don't look at it as
an additional outlay. We look at it as an
investment. We're investing in the future
of the theatre and we're getting substantial
dividends now. We're not throwing away
money when we give away boxes of candy
for Valentine's Day . making
money. We drew pretty close to SRO that
night. The candy cost us $21 and we did
better than $200 over last year's average
Saturday evening gross.
That you can't get SRO for every pic-
Results?
Not only did we hang up our first SRO
sign after but three weeks (the first SRO
giveaways.
in the past three years at the Polki but
we hung up a second and came vei-y close
Which worked best? A7iswers at bottom on several other occasions.
of center column.
We've had some excellent (by comparison
to last year) weekends in January. We don't hope to pack them in for a pictm-e
ture that comes down the line is obvious.
Developing A Personality For Theatre: Mondays thr-ough Thursdays were soft, but that's less than the best. All we can do is
we'll soon take care of them. Dollar-wise, try to get a few more people in than would
Promotion No. 7, however, represented January came out a little ahead of last otherwise attend. But when we've got a
more than a giveaway. It introduced me year's figures. The effect of the campaign hot show, that's when we start working
(via the name "Promotion Man") to the began to show dramatic increases in gi-oss and thinking in terms of an SRO. Our
public at large. It further introduced a in February, Business was tvell over 20 per reasoning is basic. When you've got something
that you know any recipient will
specific personality to the Polk. From this cent over last year—and you could feel the
"character" who, in the mind's eye. takes electricity in the neighborhood air.
enjoy and be happy with, you're selling
the form of an eager and enthusiastic More important than the immediate increase
in gross, is the spirit and feeling ture and hoping for SRO is folly. It may
honest. Giving away candy for a poor pic-
young man who is trying to "help" the
public at the risk of being fired by management
for giving away things at the its own neighborhood but outside the area Never underestimate the public.
that the Polk has generated not only in even do you harm if you do it regularly.
theatre—we are developing, in effect, an as well. So incredible is the fact that we Let's face it. the subrun is up against it.
empathy towards the character which indirectly
will accrue towards the theatre
true, and now I say it with amplified
are now regularly drawing people from What I said in my first article still holds
other boroughs and from New Jersey, that
itself. What is so very important is that
authority and proof of performance: It's
I must preface the following by stating
like the old carnival barker used to say:
the character is totally believable. He is that I will be happy to supply names and
"You say you want more for your money,
the one who is arranging for the "Pearls addresses to anyone so desiring them.
you say you're not satisfied. I'll tell you
For The Girls." He is the one who will
How do we know where our patrons are
what I'm going to do ." . . We're getting
publish the names of the fan mail writers. coming from? It's simple. Our cashier
more and more people to beUeve that "It's
He's believable because the public is receiving
the things he says he is arranging for son that comes into the theatre for or
takes the name and address of evei-y per-
More Fun to See It At the Polk!" because
we're giving them a lot of reasons why.
them.
as a result of a gimmick. Not only have
We're giving them "Exercise Nights,"
That the "Promotion Man" really exists we built an accurate and potent mailing "Pearls for the Girls" and the like. The
as a person is further developed in one hst, but we know that we are on the right
public loves it. We do too, especially in the
of our March ads which read as follows: track with the campaign and that what pocketbook.
appeared impossible is now a fact not only
in spades but also in cash.

New Faces... Going Places Series Adds 21
players when they are included in the art.
One drama editor said that 50 per cent are
not identifiable.
6. Increase the pressure upon studio
publicity and advertising departments to
try to release press books when the pictui-e
is
released.
7. Drama editors dislike it when you
feed news to "city-side." They feel that any
news away from the drama section takes
away from the section itself. /T
8. Advance screenings are important, v
However. Frances Melrose. Denver News
drama editor said. "It is a great injustice
to see a picture in a screening room."
9. Don't go over the drama editor's head.
When asked his reaction to a manager
doing this. Larry Tajtri. Denver Post d. e.,
said. "He's dead!"
A final tip by Sweeten is to take your
drama editor to lunch once a week, not
just when you want to "pitch" him for
additional breaks.
Gil Green, supervisor of theatre operations for United Detroit Theatres,
points out to Helen Bower, motion picture critic for the Detroit Free Press, and
Lincoln Friend, manager of the Michigan Theatre, a point of interest in the
Most Popular New Faces of 1958 display on the wall of the Michigan. The winner,
as decided by Detroit exhibitors, was Pat Boone. Eveiy year since
1951 the Detroit Free Press, cooperating with UDT, has sponsored a "New
Faces . . . Going Places" series. The series, featuring 21 screen newcomers, is
presented on Helen Bower's amusement page in a handy fonn for movie fans
to save.
The exhibitors of Detroit vote on the 21 "new faces," choosing the star who
has best captured the public's interest.
Here's Nine-Point Plan for Building Good
Relationship
A prime requisite to the success of any
business is the building and maintaining
of a friendly relationship with the editorial
staffs of the local newspapers, Robert
Sweeten, manager of the Centre Theatre
in Denver, points out in Showman, the
publication of National Theatres.
"Many of us have seen the damaging
effect an unfriendly newspaper editor can
have upon a theatre whose manager or
press agent is either short-sighted, inconsiderate,
or careless in his press relations,"
Sweeten said.
"It is important, of course, that we get
to know all of the men in key positions;
the editor, city editor, society editors, sports
and drama editors, and others. However,
since we deal more often with the drama
editor, this ai-ticle relates more to him
than anyone else.
"While we like to think that we know
pretty well how to go about obtaining cooperation
from our newspaper friends, it
is quite possible that we are guilty, occa-
.slonally. of inconsiderations which could
have a harmful effect.
With Your Newspapers
"In an effort to determine what Denver's
drama editors consider to be their "pet"
peeves, the writer recently took them to
lunch and—in a switch—interviewed them.
"Assm-ing me that the relations between
theatre people and newspaper people in
Denver were among the best in the nation,
the drama editors outlined nine salient
points which, if adhered to by theatre
managers and press agents, can do much
to improve their press relations."
The nine points outlined by them to
Sweeten are:
1. Know the best time of the day and
the best day of the week to call on the
drama editors. They have deadlines to
meet, you know.
2. Out-of-town press agents never should
call on a drama editor without first making
an appointment.
3. Supply your drama editor with a good
selection of material well in advance.
4. Know the newspapers' preferences as
to art. In Denver, one paper prefers cheesecake,
the other prefers portraits/action art.
5. Supply identification of supporting
1926 Classic Pays Way
In Large First Run
Raymond T. McNamara. manajr^r at th?
Allyn Theatre for New England Theatres,
in Hartford, Conn., recently concluded a
week's revival run of a 1926 classic—Carl
LTpmmle's "Uncle Tom's Cabin." by H-.rri"t
Beecher Stowe.
The playdate proved there is a substantial
interest in screen classics. Local critics
cited the need for additional releases in
the .same vein, in their writeups of the
Allyn engagement. McNamara arranged
newspaper interviews with Miss Katharine
Seymour Day, who lives in the Harriet
Beecher Stowe home at 73 Forest St., Hartford.
No less than five disc jockeys came up
with listener contests over radio station
WPOP, all five providing top winners with
guest tickets to the theatre. Twenty-five
thousand heralds, five-thousand bookmarks,
and displays in ten branches of the
Hartford public library were included in
the campaign.
McNamara also advertised a discount
price for children, admitting youngsters
under 12 for only 35 cents with discount
coupons printed in newspaper ads. The
regular children's price during the engagement
was 50 cents.
The booking got theatre mentions in all
public and parochial schools of metropolitan
Hartford. McNamara set up two private
screenings for the Sisters of Mercy.
Book shops volunteered valuable front
space for display material, and the larger
department stores even stepped forward
with willing offers of assistance to promote
the book and motion picture at the same
time.
The showing marked one of the few revival
programs scheduled in recent months
into the 1.900-seater, a downtown, firstrun
operation. The week preceding featured
a dual Paramount revival bill, consisting
of "A Place in the Sun" and "Stalag 17."
One and two-inch teaser ads started
some ten days ahead of opening.
To top matters off, McNamara mailed
personal letters to drama critics throughout
the region, reminding th^m of the return
showing, noting, too. that tht^ rerelease
contains something unattainable
in the silent era of 1926— a newly incorporated
narration by Raymond Ma.sscy!
— 76 — BOXOFFICE Showroandiser :: May 11. 1959

'
ramed
, who
the cast
Donavan HOWARD KEEL
Elizabeth ANNE HEYWOOD
Deebles CYRIL CUSACK
^haikev.HARRY H. CORBETT
Viurphv JOHN CRAWFORD
Sheriff EDDIE BYRNE
> Matthews..JOHN PHILLIPS
the staff
From the Novel by John and
Ward Hawkins. Serialized in the
Saturday Evening Post; Addi-
;ional dialogue by Vivienne
ECnight; Music Composed by
Rawsthorne. Conducted by
fVlan
VEuir Mathieson: Director of
Photography. Christopher Chal-
.is: Production Manager. Jack
Swinburne; Editor, Peter Bezen-
:enet; Art Director, Cedric Da we;
Assistant Director. Robert Asher;
Camera Operator, Dudley Lovell;
Sound Editors, Donald Sharpe,
Desmond Saunders; Make-up,
W, T, Partleton; Dress Designer,
Toan Ellacott; Set Dresser, Ar-
,hur Taksen; Technical Adviser.
David Kanter; Associate Producer,
David Deutsch; Executive
P'roducer, Earl St, John.
UNIVERSAL-INTERNATIONAL
SHOWMAN'S
MANUAL
the story
(Not for Publication!
Violent storms cause a mighty
\merican river to flood the town
)f Humboldt. A prison gang pilng
disaster bags is swept away.
Escaping in the confusion, con-
;ict Donavan (HOWARD
iEELi, rescues a girl, Elizabeth
ANNE HEYWOOD I, and caries
her to an isolated, half-subnerged
house. He also saves
Peebles
i
CYRIL
CUSACK >, a
icious fellow-convict, and inured
prison guard Sharkey
HARRY H. CORBETT I. The
rightened girl learns Donavan
s serving a
nurdering a
life sentence
woman.
for
When
='eebles molests Elizabeth and
ries to kill Sharkey, Donavan
Jrevents the assaults, and ten-
;ion mounts in the marooned
louse. Duty-bound. Sharkey
nanages to escape for help. The
hree survivors float down the
wollen river and Peebles flees
o freedom. Eluding searchers.
Donavan and Elizabeth hide on
in island where she discovers
he convicted murderer was
by his ex-business partler.
Murphy (JOHN CRAW-
FORD had killed his own
.ife. He leaves her in a safe
and rows away to find and
'lace
ill Murphy for his revenge. The
irl, now in love with the fugi-
'ive, hurries to try and stop him,
ut cannot prevent Donavan
rom stalking the real murderer.
'hey meet and fight, but when
e beats Murphy senseless, his
ury is over and he cannot kill
im. Donavan is absolved of the
iabolic murder and returns to
leedom and Elizabeth,
MAT NO, 301—285 LINES
6%" X 3 Col.
MAT No, 30
ADVERTISING • PUBLICITY • EXPLOITATION
COPYRIGHT 1959—UNIVERSAL PICTURES CO. INC.

. . Going
i
-
New Faces... Going Places Series Adds 21
players when they are included in the art.
One drama editor said that 50 per cent are
not identifiable.
6. Increase the pressure upon studio
publicity and advertising departments to
try to release press books when the pictm-e
is
released.
7. Drama editors dislike it when you
feed news to "city-side." They feel that any
news away from the drama section takes
away from the section itself.
8. Advance screenings are important.
However, Frances Melrose. Denver News
drama editor said. "It is a great injustice
to see a picture in a screening room."
9. Don't go over the drama editor's head.
When asked his reaction to a manager
doing this. Larry Tajiri. Denver Post d. e.,
said. "He's dead!"
A final tip by Sweeten is to take your
drama editor to lunch once a week, not
just when you want to "pitch" him for
additional breaks.
Gil Green, supervisor of theatre operations for United Detroit Theatres,
points out to Helen Bower, motion pictui-e critic for the Detroit Free Press, and
Lincoln Friend, manager of the Michigan Theatre, a point of interest in the
Most Popular New Faces of 1958 display on the wall of the Michigan. The winner,
as decided by Detroit exhibitors, was Pat Boone. Every year since
1951 the Detroit Free Press, cooperating with UDT, has sponsored a "New
Faces . Places" series. The series, featm-ing 21 screen newcomers, is
presented on Helen Bower's amusement page in a handy form for movie fans
to save.
The exhibitors of Detroit vote on the 21 "new faces," choosing the star who
has best captured the public's interest.
Here's Nine-Point Plan for Building Good
Relationship
A prime requisite to the success of any
business is the building and maintaining
of a friendly relationship with the editorial
staffs of the local newspapers, Robert
Sweeten, manager of the Centre Theatre
in Denver, points out in Showman, the
publication of National Theatres.
"Many of us have seen the damaging
effect an unfriendly newspaper editor can
have upon a theatre whose manager or
press agent is either short-sighted, inconsiderate,
or careless in his press relations,"
Sweeten said.
"It is important, of course, that we get
to know all of the men in key positions;
the editor, city editor, society editors, sports
and drama editors, and others. However,
since we deal more often with the drama
editor, this article relates more to him
than anyone else.
"While we like to think that we know
pretty well how to go about obtaining cooperation
from our newspaper friends, it
is quitf possible that we are guilty, occa-
.sionally, of inconsiderations which could
have a harmful effect.
With Your Newspapers
"In an effort to determine what Denver's
drama editors consider to be their "pet"
peeves, the writer recently took them to
lunch and—in a switch— interviewed them.
"Assuring me that the relations between
theatre people and newspaper people in
Denver were among the best in the nation,
the di-ama editors outlined nine salient
points which, if adhered to by theatre
managers and press agents, can do much
to improve their press relations."
The nine points outlined by them to
Sweeten are:
1. Know the best time of the day and
the best day of the week to call on the
drama editors. They have deadlines to
meet, you know.
2. Out-of-town press agents never should
call on a drama editor without first making
an appointment.
3. Supply your drama editor with a good
selection of material well in advance.
4. Know the newspapers' pi i^ r, lur-, us
to art. In Denver, one paper i>i> i< r , in ,
cake, the other prefers portr;iii .n i.on .ni
5. Supply identification nl .suijijui imr;
1926 Classic Pays Way
In Large First Run
Raymond T. McNamara, mana?°r at tho
Allyn Theatre for New England Theatres,
in Hartford. Conn., recently concluded a
week's revival run of a 1926 classic—Carl
Liemmle's "Uncle Tom's Cabin." by H"!--
ri°t Beecher Stowe.
The playdate proved there is a substantial
interest in screen classics. Loc:il critics
cited the need for additional releases in
the same vein, in their writeups of the
Allyn engagement. McNamara arranged
newspaper interviews with Miss Katharine
Seymour Day. who lives in the Harriet
Beecher Stowe home at 73 Forest St., Hartford.
No less than five disc jockeys came up
with listener contests over radio station
WPOP. all five providing top winners with
guest tickets to the theatre. Twenty-five
thousand heralds, five-thousand bookmarks,
and displays in ten branches of the
Hartford public library were included in
the campaign.
McNamara also advertised a discount
price for children, admitting youngsters
under 12 for only 35 cents with discount
coupons printed in newspaper ads. The
regular children's price during the engagement
was 50 cents.
The booking got theatre mentions in all
public and parochial schools of metropolitan
Hartford. McNamara set up two private
screenings for the Sisters of Mercy.
Book shops volunteered valuable front
space for display material, and the larger
department stores even stepped forward
with willing offers of assistance to promote
the book and motion picture at the same
time.
The showing marked one of the few revival
programs scheduled in recent months
into the 1,900-seater. a downtown, firstrun
operation. The w^eek preceding featured
a dual Paramount revival bill, consisting
of "A Place in the Sun" and "Stalag 17."
One and two-inch teaser ads started
some ten da.vs ahead of opening.
To top matters off. McNamara mailed
personal letters to drama critics throughout
the region, reminding them of the return
showing, noting, too. that the rerelease
contains something unattainable
in the silent era of 1926— a newly incorporated
narration by Raymond Masspy!
— 76 — BOXOFFICE Showmandiser :: May 11. 1959

. . trapping
. . with
. . trapping
. . and
I
. . suspense
. . and
. . from
.
FLOODS
43
i
1 engagement
I Keel
woman.
TV TELOP OR SLIDE
Telop and Slide are
$6.00 with theatre playdate and
station identification informa-
LOBBY DISPLAY SCENE BOARD
Outstanding piiut-ua— .i.^.. « ----
Ills of your National Screen set.
ange a photo display of these stark-ieali;
fill and exciting lobby display boaid It will draw plenty of
"FLOODS OF FEAR a
Keel Plays Killer
In Tense New Film
Floods of Fear the thrilling
"Floods of Fear"
Is Powerful New
Dramatic Thriller
$5.00 identification . . . $2.50
for each duplicate copy of any
Telop or Slide. Be sure to
mention whether you want
Telop or Slide. Order direct
from JQ TTTLE CARD CO..
247 West 46th St., New York 36,
N. Y. Use Telop or Slides as
the tailpiece for your TV trailers or simpl:
AUDIO FOR TELOP OR SLIDE
A new experience in terror and suspense . OF FEAR,
starring Howard Keel in his first dl-amatic role! Starts
at the theatre' Unforgettable movie adventure.
I
FLOODS OF FEAR
FREE BACK-TO-BACK RADIO DISC!
Spots on One Side!
Open-End Interview on Otherl
Forceful set of radio spots on one side sells the excitement,
the nei-ve-wracking suspense of "Floods of Fear." The spots are
15. 30 and 60-second lengths, including time for live announcer tag.
Reverse side offers special five-minute open-end interview with
ANNE HEYWOOD. giving your local announcer on-the-spot promotion
with a vivid new screen personality. Order this combined
disc FREE from Radio Department. Universal-International Studio.
Universal City. Calif.
RECORD, MUSIC STORES
FLOODS OF FEAR'" in a straight
3le. has been a romantic singing headliner in motion pic-
1949 when he sang in "Annie Get Your Gun." His record
MGM Records cover all the brilliant musical films in which
at Metro and Warners.
An-ange record displays in your music dealers' windows for eyegrabbing
attention, with stills of Keel from his musical pictures, as
well as the contrasting photos of him as he appears in •FLOODS OP
PEAR." He also starred in the Broadway and road productions of
"Oklahoma!" and "Carousel." Currently. Howard Keel is a recording
artist on the RCA Record label.
SUGGESTED COPY FOR LIVE' RADIO SPOTS
ONE MINtlTEl
ANNOUNCER: Terror . . . . violence ... all surging
in with the bursting waters of a raging flood ... in "FLOODS OP
FEAR" . a frightened girl . . . marooned in a crumbling,
half-submerged house with a vengeful escaped "lifer" sentenced for
murder and a desperate convict maniac! . . . "FLOODS OP PEAR,"
the thrilling motion picture drama . the most exciting Saturday
Evening Post serial in years. "FLOODS OF FEAR" stars Howard
Keel in his first great non-singing role ... a pov
obsessed fugitive on the run . featuring
cast headed by Anne Heywood and Cyril Cusack. See "FLOODS OP
FEAR" . all its fury and pulse-pounding drama . . . coming
"FLOODS OP FEAR," headlining
Howard Keel in an unforgettable i
(30 SECONDS)
ANNOUNCER: Violence roars in with the wall of raging water in
"FLOODS OF FEAR" . them all in the house of sudden
death—and murder! It's spine-chilling suspense . . . with teiTor-filled
sleepless nights ... as four people stalk each other like
desperate, hungry
The vengeful fugitive, life-sentenced for
muroer ... the helpless, frightened beauty ... the convict maniac
with the thirsting knife
. the injured, duty-bound prison guard!
From the most sensational Saturday Evening Post serial-chiller
~
in
"FLOODS OF FEAR"
Howard Keel i
Heywood and Cyril
You'll
o see "FLOODS OF
Starts
murder-;
and hate! See "FLOODS i
first big non-singing role
"FLOODS OP PEAR!"
kmfe-wielding convict's desire
starring Howard Keel, in his
at the
Theatre!
CIVIL DEFENSE PROGRAM
OF FEAR
officials
nd Civil Defense workers and voluiiteeis
eening for the officials of these oiganizastress
the importance for lofi coopeiative and stiategicallvfunctioning
if such a disaster should stuke then city
It should get your showing of "FLOODS OF FEAR plenty of
publicity space
MERCHANT TIEUPS
Arrange window displa;
neighborhood merchants on
photos from "FLOODS OP FEAR,"
Motor boats, canoes, outdoor an(
sporting goods shops, fit in perfectly
ploitation.
CONTEST PROMOTIONS
Offer free tickets for
Hollywood hit musical films i Howard Keel 1
lere is the listing:
949—"Annie Get Your Gun" iMGMi
950— "Pagan Love Song" iMGMi
950— "Three Guys Named Mike" iMGMi
951—"Show Boat" iMGMi
951—"Texas Carnival" iMGMi
951—"Callaway Went Thataway" iMGMi
"Lovely to Look At" iMGMl
952— "Ride Vaquero" iMGM)
952— "Fast Company" ;MGM
953—"Calamity Jane" i Warners)
953—"Kiss Me Kate" iMGMi
953—"Rose Marie" iMGMi
953— "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" iMGMi
954—"Deep in My Heart" iMGMi
954—"Jupiter's Darling" iMGMi
955—"Kismet" IMGM)
He also starred in the drama for MGM. "Desper;
Special FLAG and BANNER ACCESSORIES
Order direct from
NATIONAL FLAG CO West 21st St
, . New York 10. M Y
in Canada from
THEATRE POSTER SERVICE, 227 Victoria St., Toronto, Onl
• 3.SHEET (Above, left)
ACCESSORIES
• 1 -SHEET (Above, right)
14x36 CARD
22x28 CARD
WINDOW CARD (with space for theatre imprint)
Order above paper and displays, trailer, slide, ad
and scene mats, stills and other accessories from your local
NATIONAL SCREEN SERVICE EXCHANGE.
Howard Keel Stars
As Fugitive 'Lifer'
Aftei stalling lii 17 Hollywood
musicals, famous singer Howard
Keel has turned to straight
he havoc of the storm and with
killer's hate
Heading the strong suppoiting
ast are Anne Heywood and
1
"FLOODS Of FEAR'
;)ortroys a fugitive, life-sentenced for
(illmg o woman, revenge bound through
3 roging Hood in "Floods of Feor " In
Satevepost Novel
Is Now Smash Film
The St
terrified
"hfer"
Vict, and an mjured prison guard.
all thrown together by the turbulent
storm and findnig inescapable
refuge in a crumbhng.
half-submerged house.
Howard Keel, the amiable
giant whose flashing smile and
golden voice have won him millions
of fans in Hollywood's most
pictures, pla\s
s first big non-singing lole .t-
> powerfully
1 the r
Heading
are Anne Heywood
on
at the
Theatre
The star of this dramatic
scieen thriller is singer Howard
Keel, renowned for his musical
appeal ances. in a powerful and
escaping,
victed worn
venge - bound
le strong suppo
nne Heywood and
.ai
hateful
IN ni that
and Its
inundates
surround-
the world-famed
of 17 of Hollywood s
prisoner
giound of a raging flood is the
pulse-pounding drama of suspense
"Floods of Fear. " engulfing
four desperate people This
tensely gripping motion picture
thriller, from the famous Saturday
Evening Post serial, is cur-
rently on
for murdering a The
-
successful off-beat casting of the
massive, athletic and goldenthroated
performer in this role
of violence augurs well for his
in straight draicalizing
hero of such
Bd extravaganzas as
ret Your Gun."" ""Show-
Boat." Kiss Me Kate"" and
"Seven Brides for Seven Brothers."'
and the headlining star in
the stage productions of ""Carousal""
and ""Oklahoma!"". Keel de-
about
th'
for
that
straight musicals. His only other
years ago while appearing on the
London stage.
Heading the featui-ed cast with
Howard Keel in "Floods of Fear."
a Universal - International release,
are Anne Heywood and
Cyril Cusack The film, from the
novel of the same title by John
and Ward Hawkins and serialized
in the Saturday Evening
Post, was directed by Charles
(Still
nplay
699S.I6AO).
producer
was
Floods of Fear, ihe r.e'*-
Universal-International screen
release v/ith its background
ol a raging flood, is a power
ful drama of suspense cr-;
violence.
Starring in the action-thr
er. "which opened
at the Theatre, is
Howard Keel in an exciting
and robust non-singing performance
as an escaping convict
serving a life-sentence
for murdering a "woman. In
making the straight-drama
s"witch from Hollywood
musicals, Keel is ideal as the
desperate fugitive. For, as
well as the acting strength
for his portraval, he has the
stalwart ph-ysique necessor."
for the part.
The unusual story in "Floods
of Pear."" from the novel by John
and Ward Hawkins, and serialized
m the Saturday Evening
Post, tells of the overflowing of
an American nver and its flood-
:onvict gang
to drowning
Trapped by the rising w;
girl is rescued by a big.
man Onlj" when they fii
fuge m a marooned and
filled house does she disco
miirder
"Two men share t
rous con\act. and an injure
he nver rises The climax of the
rama reaches new heights in
(ulse-tmglir^ suspen
efuUy 3 Iks
The strong group of supporting
layers in ""Floods of Fear ail
ive uniformly formidable perormances
m their perfectly-cast
a difficult part as the
gulfed in the terrifying
Veteran Cyril Cusack turns in
another of his brilhant acting
characterizations as the vicious,
miiid-t\\isted couMCt. Harry H.
Cotbetr is smoothly capable as
the relentless duty-bound jail
guard, and John Crawford, as
Keel's hated and treacherous
enemy, is an efficient opponent
m theu- deadly strugsle.
"Floods of Pear" was directed
with an mtense feeling and unusual
degree of realism by
Ch!
the screenplay With mos^
re sa\-age action of the
A taking place In turbulent

I
THE
.-r,fSS?^
TRAPPED in the £ury
of die flood. ..between
the vengeance of an
escaped wife-nmrderer
and a knife^elding
convicts hate !
^mwFLOODS
^1 HOWARD KEEL
MAT NO. 101-16 LINES
l"xl Col
FMIITHESUSPEItSE-UMaD
SKTORDAY mm POST SBS
The Rank Orgamzalicr.
HOWARD KEEL
ANNE HEYWOOD . CYRIL CUSACK
HOWARD KEEL -^" c-T
ANNE HEYWOOD CYRIL CUSACK
A UNIVERSAL INTERNATIONAL RELEASE
MAT No. 102
MAT NO 102—30 LINES
2" X 1 Col
MAT NO. 206—200 LINES
7" X 2 Col
FROM THE SUSPENSE-LOADED SATURDAY EVENING POST SEWAL'
IN*,
SUSPENSt-LOAOEO ^
SATURDAY EVENING POST SERIAL'
FUOODSoQ
FEAR
MAT NO. 201—30 LINES
1" X 2 Col.
sia.nng
HOWARD KEEL ANNE HEYWOOD CYRIL CUSACK
A LNIrtRSU IMSSW :\i, S;.{IS;
MAT NO. 203-70 LINES
2'4"x2CoL
MAT NO. 401—616 LINES— 11- X 4 Col.
ALSO AVAIUBLE MAT NO. 501—825 LINES— 12" x 5 Col

'
§UOT^E ROARS FROM THE PAGES
OFThE sat. eve. post SERIAL!
FROM THE SUSPENSE-LOADED
SATURDAY EVENING POST SERIAL!
A mf M^ %i
|j-f
W^ I
desperate fugitives k
.. at the mercy v ^
murderous I
y^
•"^^4*''''* 3 ^k flood I
^^^^s«
HOWARD KEEL
ANNE HEYWOOD. CYRIL CUSACK
SPECIAL MAT
NO. 1
INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING:
AD MAT NO. 101
AD MAT NO. 201
AD MAT NO. 203
AD MAT NO. 206
SCENE MAT NO. 1A
SCENE MAT NO. 2A
MAT No. 205
MAT NO 205—150 LINES
5'4"x2 Col.
LOODS
HOWARD KEEL
ANNE HEYWOOD.. CYRIL CUSACK
THEATRE
MAT No. 302
HOWARD KEEL • anne heywood. cyril cusack
MAT NO, 302—360 LINES
UNIVERSAL INTERKATIONAl BELUSi
8V2" X 3 Col
MAT NO. 202—56 LINES
r X 2 Col
MAT No. 202
MAT NO. 204—100 LINES
3'2"x2 Col.

"
. at
,
TRAPPED in the fuiy
of the flood
\ .between
. . the vengeance
of an escaped
^
Starring
j^
Ivifie-murderer and
f a knife-wielding
1 convict^shatel
E'
ioTK'^
w/s
fh I
idveo ture
from I
HOWARD KEEL
ANNE HEYWOOD .» CYRIL CUSACK
Screenplay by CHARLES CRICHTON
Direcled by CH4RIES CRKHTON
• Produced by SYONFY BOX
• A UNIVFRSAl INTERNATIONAL REUASF
THEATRE
MAT NO. 207—260 LINES
9V2" X 2 Col.
(Printed in U.S. A )
MAT No. 207
Irish Star Shines
As Brute Murderer
Cyril Cusack, one of Ireland's
most vensatile actons, gives the
motion picture screen a classic
new symbol for terror with his
part in 'Floods of Pear." the sensation-laden
drama from the
Rank Organization and Universal-International
which is due
at the
theatre.
In the role of Peebles, a convict
with a twisted mind. Cusack
creates a new concept of a remorseless
killer at large, playing
it with shocking finality that will
make even hardened penologists
gasp.
The part is at complete variance
with the real-life Cusack.
well-known for his even temper.
Cusack made his stage start
with the Abbey Theatre, his London
debut in 1941 opposite Vivien
Leigh, and his film debut in 1945
in Carol Reed's "Odd Man Out."
In the U. S. he was last seen on
the stage in 1957 with Wendy
Hiller and Franchot Tone in "A
Moon for the Misbegotten."
Opposite Cusack in "Floods of
Fear" are Howard Keel, in a nonsinging
role and Anne Heywood.
Produced by Sydney Box. the film
is based on a recent novel by
John and Ward Hawkins which
was serialized in Saturday
Evening Post.
Flood Expert Gove
Film Right Effect
With rampaging floods setting
the plot in "Floods of Fear." the
suspense-filled screen thriller
starring Howard Keel as a fugitive
life-sentenced for murder,
the realism for the scenes on the
bursting river had to be expertly
handled, despite the fictional aspects
of the film-making.
Perfect for this task as the
picture's technical advisor was
29-year-old David Kanter. Chicago-born
writer whose experience
as a medical aide in the
1952 flood disaster at Council
Bluffs, Iowa, insured the technical
accuracy.
billing
The Rank Organisation
Presents
HOWARD KEEL
ANNE HEYWOOD
Terrified Anne Heywood is
by fear to two desperate fugitive killcn'
in a murderous flood in "Floods of Fear,'
chillinq s-JSDcnse drama starring Mis!
Heywood with Howard Keel ond Cyri
Cusack. (Still 6995-7AD).
'Floods' Role Most
Dramatic for Keel
Howard Keel, the amiablf
giant whose flashing smile anc
golden throat have won him millions
of fans, gets tough, anc
mighty rough, in his first bis
non -singing screen role as hi
stars in "Floods of Pear." thi
new action-suspense thriller, re
leased by Universal - Interna
tional, and opening
at the
Theatre.
The star of Hollywood's big
gest musical smashes, Keel por
trays a life-sentenc; murderer, ;,
flood-freed fugitive whose mimj
is corroded with one thought-]]
that h? must kill the man wh(.
framed him.
Featured with Howard Keel ii
"Floods of Pear." tensely dra
matic with its background o
raging floods, violence and ter
ror, are Anne Heywood and Cyn
Cusack.
Anne Heywood Bea^
Real Fear in Film
Perl, shapely and lovely Ann
Heywood, who plays the feminin
starring role opposite Howar
Keel in "Floods of Fear," th
tensely gripping suspense dram
set against the background of
raging flood, had to conquer
very real fear of water for he
performance which has her i,
and around a swollen and ram
paging river throughout most q
in
"FLOODS OF FEAR
with
HARRY H. CORBETT
JOHN CRAWFORD
the picture.
and
The actress nearly drownc
CYRIL CUSACK
when she was 16, and has feare
Screenplay by Charles Crichton water ever since. However, whe
she signed for the part, the di
Prom the Novel by
rector of "Floods of Fear," m
JOHN and WARD HAWKINS
sisted on 100 per cent realisn
Serialized in the
so she had to take swimmm
Saturday Evening Post lessons in order to conquer In
Produced by Sydney Box terror.
Directed by Charles Crichton The screen thriller, a Univet
A Universal-International sal-International release, open
the Theatnl
Release

This
departm
Symbol t.,j dt
lalysis of lay and tradepress reviews. Runn
i indieote degree of merit. Listings cover cui
so serves os an ALPHABETICAL If^DEX
BOXOFFl'cE Blue Ribbon Aword; Q colo
:r of release, see FEATURE CHART.
+r Very Good; + Good; ^
Review digest
AND ALPHABETICAL INDEX

'
.20-Fox
. Lopert
c^VN DIGEST.
AND ALPHABETICAL INDEX
Very Good; + Good; Poor; = Very Poor. -H is rated 2 pluses, = as 2
S «1
I III 111 t£i
The (70) Sc-F'n UA 12-15-58 + * + ± H + 7-1-2-
2293 Lost Missile.
2273 Lucky Jim (95) Comedy Kinosley 10- 6-58 * + H - 5+2-
2295MKhjle (75) Outdoor Drama UA 12-22-58 ± ± - + - - J4-^-
2250 Machine Gun Kelly
(gj) Superama. Action AlP 7-14-58+ ± + ± ^ 5+3-
OMad (94) Com. 1-19-59-1 + H 4+
2301 Little Island
or 2303 Man Gun (79) Western 1-26-59+ 1+
(gi Rep
2288 Man Inside, The (90) © Drama... Col 11-24-58+ + + ff ± + ± S+2—
rn the Net. (97) •) 232S Man The Mys UA 4-27-59 ± - ± 3+3-
2270 OMan of the West (100) © Wn..UA 9-22-58 ft H ++ -H- + - - 11+2-
.2290OMardi Gtas (107) © Com-Dr 12- 1-58 4+ 4+ ++ +f + ++ 13-(-
++
Com... MGM 3- 2-59 ff ++ + ++ H + 10+
2314 OMatino Game. The (96) (g)
2285 Me and the Colonel (HO) Com-Dr...Col 8-11-58++ + ++ ++ H ++ + 12+
2274 Menace in the Nioht (78) Cr UA 10- 6-58 ± ± ± i "+4-
2318 Miracle of St. Therese
(97) Religious Drama Ellis 3-16-59 ± + 2+1-
2298 Missile to the Moon (78) SF Astor 12-29-58 + - 1+1-
2278 ©Money, Women and Guns
(80) © Western U-l 10-20-58 =t ± ± + ± + ± 7+5-
2277 Monster on the Campus (76) S-F....U-I 10-20-58 ++ + + ++++ i 9+1-
2281 Mujger, The (74) Cr UA 11- 3-58 + ± + ± ± 5+3-
2299 Murder by Contract (81) Crime... Col 1-5-59+ ++ + + + 8+1-
± +
2321 Mustang (73) Western UA 3-30-59- - - ± ± — 2+6-
22990My Uncle (110) Farce Confl 1-5-59+ + 2+
—N—
2251 ©Naked and the Dead, The (131)
Warnerscope, Drama WB 7-21-58 ± i H ++ ^ +10+3-
©Naked Maja, The (111) UA
tt
3-30-59+ ± + ++ - ± 6+3—
2321 .J Dr
2308 ©Never Steal Anything Small
(94) © Comedy-Drama Ul 2-9-59+ ++ + ++++ + +10+1-
2294 Nice Little Bank That Should Be
Robbed, A (87) Comedy 20th-Fox 12-15-58 ± ± + + ± + ± 7+4—
2285 ©Night Heaven Fell. The
(80) © Drama Kingsley 11-17-58 + ± W + + 6+1-
2293 Night o( the Blood Beast (65) Ho. AlP 12-15-58 ± ± + ± 4+3-
2310 Night of the Quarter Moon
(97) © Drama MGM 2-16-59+ + + + ++ ± + 8+1-
2300 Night to Remember, A (123)
Factual Drama Lopert 1- 5-59 ++ ++ ++ ++ ++ ++12+
2235 UOOId Man and the Sea, The
(86) Drama WB 6-2-56++ + + ++++ t+ + 11+
2258 Once Upon a Horse
(85) © Farce-Comedy U-l 8-11-58+ - + + + + 5+2-
Onionhead (110) Comedy- WB 9-29-58 +f ++++++ + + +11+
2272 Drama
2315 Operation Dames (74) Action AlP 3- 9-59 ± ± =t ± 4+4-
2297 Orders to Kill (93) Drama UMPO 12-29-58 + 6+1-
± ++ ++
2312 Pagans, The (80) SpecUcle AA 2-23-59+ 1+
2305 Paratroop Command (71) AlP 2-2-59+ 6+1—
Action + ++ + ±
2272 Party Crashers, The (78) Drama. Para 9-29-58+ ± + ++ 7+1-
+ +
22790Pa/ty Girl (99) © Drama. ... MGM 10-27-58 + + 2+
2278 ©Perfect Furioujh, The (93) © C-D U-l 10-20-58 ++ ± U+l-
H ++ + + ++
2264 ©Queen of Outer Space
(80) © Science-Fiction AA 9-1-58+ + + ± 4+1-
2313 Question of Adultery, A (86) Dr. . .
NTA
3- 2-59 + ± + + 4+1—
2300 ©Rally Round the Flag,
Boys! (108) © Comedy 20th-Fox 1
2255 ©Raw Wind in Eden (89) © Ad. Dr. U-l 8
2258 ^©Reluctant Debutante
(98) © Com MGM 8-
2307 ©Remarkable Mr. Pennypacker, The
(87) © Comedy 20th-Fox 2-
2279 Restless Years. The (86) © Dr U-l 10
2284 Revolt in the Big House (75) Ac AA 11.
2254 ©Ride a Crooked Trail (86) © Wn..U-l 7-
2308 ©Ride Lonesome (73) © Wn Col 2-
2313©Rio Bravo ((141) Western WB i
2325 Riot in Juvenile Prison (71) Dr UA 4
2281 ©Roots of Heaven. The
(131) © Adv. Drama 20th-Fox 11
2264 R> Murder (85) © Crime-Drama 201h-F(n 9
5-59 H
4-58 H

Feature productions by company in order of release. Running time is )n parentheses. @ Is for CinemoScope;
(V^ VistoVision; (f> Superscope; '^ Noturomo; (g) Regolscope; ® Techniromo. Symbol U denotes BOXOFFICE
Blue Ribbon Aword; © color pliotogropiiy. Letters and combinations tliereof indicote story type—{Complete yEATURE
key on next page.) For review dates and Picture Guide page numbers, see REVIEW DIGEST.
ALLIED ARTISTS 1 U
CHART
^

. Nice
|
.D.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
pr
JRE CHART
The key I.
with
Music
combinations thereof Indleoting story type:
Action; (C) Comedy; (CD) Comedy-Oroma
r.cntory; (D) Dromo; (F) Fontosy; (FC) For
(usieol; (My) Mystery; (OD) Outdoor Dromi
^nture Drama; (Ac) Action
me Drama; (DM) Dromo
(Ho) Horror Drama; (Hi)
ence-Fietion; (W) Western.
20TH-FOX ^i UNITED ARTISTS 3
OA Certain Smile (105) (g D..830
Itnssano Br»z7.l, Chrlsllne Car«c
S
IX Murder (85) © •*», 82"
l!lck Ja-on. Lisa Gas'.cnl. Maritis
Frontier (70) ® W .81S
Hnife Bennett, Jim Davis
The Fiend Who Walkeii the
West (101) © ....D..831
Hugh OBrlan. liobert Evans
Pari
Chai
It! The Terror From Beyond
Soace (68) SF
of Curse the Faceless Man
(66) SF
The Defiant Ones (97) ...0
Tony Curtis, Sidney Pollle
UNIVERSAL-INT'L
©Twilight for the Gods
(119)
Hock lliidfion, 0yd Charl
©Wild Heritage (78) ©
Will llcigcrs jr., Maurcei
Voice in the Mirror
II WARNER BROS.
©The Naked and the Dead
(131) Warnerscope
Aldo Ray. Raynwnd Mas'
Robe:t5on. Barbara Nichols
COMING
ALLIED ARTISTS
Crime and Punishment, U.S.A...D..
George S. Hamilton, Mary Murphy
Face of Fire Ho..
eron MltxAell. James Whitmore
©The Big Circus © D.
.IF .Mature. Red Buttons.
Harry Black and the Tioer
(106) I© ° -°
llcuart Orantcr, Barbara Rush
cm
©In Love and War (107) © t
lioberl Wagner, liana Wynte
rey Hunter. Hope Unge
Little Bank That
Be Robbed (87) ©...
Mlrkev Ilooney. Tom Ew
Tommy Sands. r.aiy
Coq Hater (75) Cr. .5832
Koherl Loggia, Gei-ald O'Loughlin
©The Big Country
a66) ® 0D..5S30
(Iregorv Peck. Jean Simmons, (Hiarllon
lleston. Ciirroll Baker
The Gun Runners (S3) AD. 5834
.\iidle Murphy, Eddie Albert
Terror in a Texas Town
(SO)
W..5g31
St erling Haydcn, Sebastian Cabot
Menace in the Nioht (78) .5846
.
Griffith Jones. Lisa Gastonl
Hong Kong Confident;
(57) .5843
Sus.in
llayward.
(120).
©Ride a Crooked Trail
(86) ©
Audie Murphy. Ga Scala
©Man of the West
(100) ©
©Raw Wind in
(93) ©
Eden
Barbarian and the
W..5S37
5838
Geisha (104) © D 835
Jeff Ch.indlei
Eslher Williams,
Eiko Ando. Sam Jaffe
ohn Wavrie. fiary Cooper, Julie London, Lee J,
Coljh
©Saga of Hemp Brown
Fearmakers (83)
Andrews.
D..5845
Torme, Dick (79) © 5839
liana Mel
lioiy Calhoun. Beverly Garland. John
l>©The Inn of the Sixth Happiness
(158)(§) D..901
Ingrid Bergman. Curt Jurgens
Fractured
)The Sheriff of
Jaw (103) © W..902
Jayne Mansfield. Kenneth More
©Smiley Gets a Gun
(90) © Ad. 903
Chips Hafferly. Calvert
Keith
©Rally
Boys!
Ptnl >
Flag,
C
ine Woo-lu
} Cr
1 Milan
(96) © W..906
Don Murray. Lee Itemlrk
Intent to Kill (89) ©....Ac. 907
Richard Tmid, I'.itsy Dr.ike
tlJika Passage (71) 'Bl OD. .908
and Gangsters
Ac. 5902
Doren. Oer.ild Mohr
The Last le (81) D..5904
Mlckev Rimney, Ala
Escort Wc-t (75) ©
Oanhan
Dento
Serarate Tables (98) D..5
Deborah Kerr, David NIven,
Rita Hayn-orlh, Burt Lancaster
Lirch
©Blood of the Vampire
(87)
Donald Wolfit, Barbara
Shelley
Monster on the Campus
.SF..5902
Franz, Joanna Moore
The Restless Years (86) © D. .5906
John Saxon. Sandra Dec. Janx
Whitmo.e. Teresa Wright
Appointment With a Shadow
(72) © D..
George Nader. Joanna Moore
©The Perfect Furlough
(93)
Tony Dirtls, Janet Leigh
Wynn. Linda Cristal
The Silent Enemy (92)....
Laurence Harvey. Da
©Money, Women and Guns
(SO) ©
W..5913
Jock Malioney. Kim Hunter, Tim
Hovey, Gene Evans
©No Name on the Bullet
(77) © W.
Audle Murphy, Joan Evana
©Wind Across the Everglades
(93) D..801
Burl Ives, Gypsy Rose Lee. Chrlsto-
©From the Earth to the Moon
(100) Ad, 805
Joseph Cotlen. Debra Paget. George
Sanders, Don Dubbins
Home Before Dark (136). . D
Jean Simmons, Dan O'Herlihy.
Rhonda Fleming. E. Zimbalist
tS©The Old Man and the
(86)
Spencer Tracy, Filipe Pa
©Up Periscope
(111) Warnerscope
James Garner, Edmond O'B
©The Hanging Tree (106)
Gary Cooper. Maria Schell,
Karl Maiden
Dolls Day. Jack Lemmnn
©They Came to Cordura ©..OD.
G.iry Cooper. Rita Hayvvorth. Vai
Ileflin. Tab Hunter
The Last Angry Man D
Paul Muni. David Wayne
The Mouse That Roared C
Jean Seherg, Peter Seller.s
Idle on Parade © C/M.
William Bendix. Anthony Nenley
Middle of the Night D.
l-redric M.irch. Kim Novak
Battle of the Coral Sea Ac
niff Robertson, Gia Scala
The Crimson Kimono
Shaw, James Shlgeta
MGM
©For the First Time ® M..
Mario Lanza, Zsa Zsa Gabor
©North by Northwest (?) D..
Cary Grant, Eva Marie Saint
The Scapegoat D.
Alec Guinness. Bette Davis
The Angry Hills © D.
Robert Mltchum, Elisabeth Mueller
The Beat Generation D .
Ray Danton. Steve (Jochran, Mamie
V.in Doren, Fay Spain
©Ask Any Girl © CD .
Sliirl.y Madeline, David Niven
The Big Operator D..
Mickey I.'nimfy. .Mamie Van Doren
©Tarzan, the Ape Man Ad. .
Dennis Miller. Jauuia B.-unes
PARAMOUNT
©Last Train From Gun Hill ®- W.
Kirk Douglas, Anthony Qulnn,
C.irotjTi Jones. Earl Holliman
The Hangman (f) W. .
Roliert Taylor. Tina Ixiulse
That Kind of Woman (f) C.
Sophia Loren. Tab Hunter
©The Five Pennies (J) D..
lanny Kaye. Louis Armstrong
Onc-Eyed Jacks (?) W.
ilarlon Brando, Plna PelUcer
20th-FOX
Shadow of a Gunman W.
Charles Broason, John Carradine
The Diary of Anne Frank ©...D..
Millie Perkins, Joseph Schlldkraut
©The Man W\a Understood
Henry Fonda. Leslie Caron
©Holiday tor Lovers © D.
Jane Wyman. Clifton Webb
©The Alaskans © 00.
John Wayne. Robert Mllehuni
©Say One for Me © CD.
Ring Crosby, Debbie Reynolds,
Robert Wagner, Ray Walston
©A Private's Affair lS> C.
Ch Istlne Carere, Bal Mlneo,
Gary Crosby, Shereo North
UNITED ARTISTS
Remarkable Penny-
©Till
sr (87) © C..9I
Clifton Webb. Dorothy McGulrc
©The Sound and the Fury
(115) © D .9
Ytil Bryrwier, Joanne Woodward
©Warlock (122) © W..914
R.chard WIdmirk, Henry Fonda,
A (tulnn. Dorothy Malone
iNever Steal Anything Small
(94) © C
l,ime< Cigney. Shirley Jones
)lmilation of Life (124) .. D. .5918 ©Rio Bravo (141) W. .
Lana Turner, John Gavin.
John Wayne. Dean Martin.
Sandra Dee, Dan O'Herlihy
Ricky Nelson. Angle Dickinson
John Saxon. Linda Cristal
The Rabbit Trap I
Ernest Borgnlne. B«t5y Blair
Hole in the Head I
Frank Sinatra, Carolyn Jones.
Edward 0. Robinson
©The Horse Soldiers I
John Wayne, William Holden
The Devil's Disciple CI
Burt Lancaster, Kirk Douglas,
Sir Laurence Olivier
©Wonderful Country 01
Robert Mltohum. Julie LomUm
UNIVERSAL-INT'L
The Little Savage (73) © Ad. .913
Riot in Juvenile Prison
(71) Cr..5914
John Hoyt. Marda Henderson
Man in the Net (97) My.
.Man Urld. Cjrolyn Jones
©Gunfight at Dodge City
(80) © W.
Joel Mi-Crea. Nancy Gates
Ten Seconds (0 Hell (..)..D.
Jeff aiaiiiller. Jack I'alanco
Pork Chop
©The Wild and the Inm
(85) ©
Audle Murphy. RaiMlra
Dm. Gilbert Roland
Floods of Fear (82)
Born Reckless (79)
iladelphians
©This Earth Is Mine ©
I
Rook Hudson. Jean Simmons,
Dorothy McGvilre. (Haude Raln.s
i
©Operation Petticoat
Cary Grant, Tony Curtis
WARNER BROS.
The FBI Story D
James Stewait. Vera Miles
©The Miracle
D..
Carroll Baker. Roger Moore. Richard
Burton. Dennis King
The Nun's Story D..
Audrey Hepburn. Peter Flncli
©John Paul Jones (S HO
Robert SUick. Oiarles Coburn, BetK
Davis, Erin O'B len
Look Back in Anger D.
rialre Bloom. Richard Burton
BOXOFFICE BookinGuide May 11. 1959

C
Dec
FEATURE CHART
ASTOR
Frai'keiutL... - Daujhtcr
- -
(S5)
Ho,.Dec5S
SiUMira Kriiahl. lloniild Milrl'hy
Missile to the Moon (7S) SF. . 58
Kicluird Tra\ls. Cathy lloivns
BUENA VISTA
©me Proud Rebel (103) 0D..Jun5S
Alan Ladd. Olivia De Havilland
©The Light in the Forest
MISCELLANEOUS
(93) Ad. Jul 58
l'>ss Parker. Joanne Ilru. James
SlarArthnr. Carol LsTlley
©White Wilderness (73) Doc. Oct 58
\Ah- in II'L- Arctic
©Tonka (97) 0D..Dec58
Sal Miiieo. Philip Carey
©The Shaggy Dog (104) CD. .Mar 59
Fred M.icMiirray, Jean Ilagen
©Sleeping Beauty (75)
ij) Special Rel.
.Vniniateii feature
CONTINENTAL
(Check Foreign Language section for
additional listings)
Trin (86) -C .Jul 58
Jovce Gienfell. Gcoree Cole
Law and Disorder (76) . . Sep 58
Michael Redgrave. Robert Morley
©The Truth About Women
(98) C Oct 58
Laurence Harvey. Julie Harris
©Sof
(70)
©My U.

was
had
—
can't
doubt
—
XHIBITOR HAS HIS SAY
ABOUT PICTURESI
S-
ALLIED ARTISTS
BUENA VISTA
Proud Rebel, The (BV)—Alon Ladd, Olivia De
Hovilland, David Lodd. This picture did a pretty
nice business here. Whot oil exhibitors need is more
fomily-type pictures in color, and maybe— just maybe
we will have a chance to survive. Worth best
Dlovina time. Played Sun. through Wed. Weather;
Cold ond windy.—Chorles E. Smith, LoMor Theatre,
Arthur, 111. Pop. 2,000.
Whife Wilderness, (BV)—Documentary. The magic
word tiere is "Walt Disney." One of the best crowds
in months. I wish there was one of his pictures for
every month of the year. The trouble is, film rental
is too high—so the small guy doesn't moke much
after expenses. Played Sun., Mon. Weather: Cold -—
Jomes Hordy, Shoals Theatre, Shoals, Ind. Pop. 1,300.
COLUMBIA
Apache Territory (Col)—Rory Calhoun, Barbaro
Botes, John Dehner. Another western in color thot
did overage business. Good westerns in color will
still pretty do business good here on Saturday. We
played it with three cortoons. Weather: Cold.
Charles E Smith, LoMar Theatre, Arthur, III. Pop.
2,000.
Bell, Book ond Condle (Col)—James Stewort, Kim
Novak
it Was
Sun
Jock Lemmon. Died here. Can't understand
a very fine picture—terrific cost. Played
Mon., Tues. Weather: Foir.— Paul Gamoche,
Welden Theatre, St. Albans, Vt. Pop. 8,600.
METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER
Bodlonders, The IMGM)—Alan Ladd, Ernest Borgnine,
Katy Jurodo. This was a good western in
'Scope and color. it, If you haven't played and
westerns still do well in your situation, it is worth
dote Played Fri., Sot. Weather: Cold.—Charles
E. Smith, LoMar Theatre, Arthur, 111. Pop. 2,000.
Cot on o Hot Tin Roof (MGM)— Elizabeth Taylor,
Paul Newman, Burl Ives. An excellent movie. The
trouble is the big towns get all the cream and by
the time the small town gets it everyone has seen
It. Nevertheless, I
an obove overage crowd Sunday
night. Paul Newman rates on Academy Award
for this, and so does Liz Taylor. Played Sun., Mon.
Weather' Cold and rainy.—James Hardy, Shools
Theotre, Shoals, Ind. Pop. 1,300.
Gigi (MGM)—^Leslie Coron, Louis Jourdan, Mourice
Chevalier. Too high class and cultural for our area.
Murder on running time. Metro insisted on a week
when it should hove been three days top. Weather:
Average.— Paul Gomoche, Welden Theatre, St. Albans,
Vt. Pop. 8,600.
Hired Gun, The [MGM)—Rory Calhoun, Anne Francis,
Vince Edwards. Another run of the mill western
in Cinemascope. We did below overage with this
one, but the weother was very much ogoinst us.
Boy, what o winter! Played Fri., Sat. Weather: Terrible
— Charles E. Smith, LoMar Theatre, Arthur,
111. Pop. 2,000.
Imitation Generol (MGM)—Glenn Ford, Red Buttons,
Toino Elg. Not a bod comedy, which would
hove been better in color. I played it late end everyor>e
hod already seen it. I mode expenses, but that
wos all. Playd Sun., Mon. Weather: Fair and cool.—
James Hordy, Shools Theotre, Shoals, Ind. Pop. 1,300.
Porty Girl (MGM)— Robert Toylor, Cyd Charisse,
Lee J. Cobb. This beoutiful story of the Rooting
Twenties is o well made crime story that doesn't
look old foshioned like mony of the movies depicting
the post. Production, octing and story ore tops in my
book. Gross wos overoge. Played Sun., Mon., Tues.
—Jess Jones, Ritz Theatre, Crescent, Okla. Pop.
1,300.
Tunnel of Love, The (MGM)—Doris Day, Richord
Widmork, Gig Young. Really a good picture. Plenty
of laughs. Did obove overage business and everyone
seemed to enjoy it. I could recommend it in ony
operation for odult fore. Ployed Sun., Mon., Tues.
Weother: Snow, cold.—W. E. Seavef jr.. Beacon
Drive-ln, Bristol, Tenn. Pop. 30,000.
PARAMOUNT
Teacher's Pet (Pora)—Clark Gable, Dons Doy, Gig
Young. Clork Goble did an excellent |ob in this
picture, and Doris Doy was real good. Our pajfons
liked it and it should do well anywhere. Played Wed.,
Thurs. Weather: Poor.—W. E. Seaver |r.. Beacon
Drive-ln, Bristol, Tenn. Pop. 30,000.
Trap, The (Pora)- Richard Widmark, Tina Louise,
Lee J. Cobb. I
say much for this one. Maybe
ploying ahead of Easter hurt here. Only rated 75 per
cent of normol business. Played Mon., Tues. Weather:
Cold —Simon M. Cherivtch, Levoy Theatre, Millville,
N. J. Pop. 19,500.
20th CENTURY-FOX
Barbarian ond the Geisho, The (20th-Fox)—John
Wayne, Eiko Ando, Sam Jaffo. Put a cowboy in
the Met— just OS much sense. Fell flat. Played Thurs.,
Fri Sot. Weather: Good.—^Bruce Wendorff, Dome
Theatre, Libby, Mont. Pop. 4,500.
Inn of the Sixth Happiness, The (20th-Fox)— Ingrid
Bergman, Curt Jurgens, Robert Donat. This picture
was very good, but our teenagers didn't go for
it It did normal business Wednesday, Thursday and
Saturday nights, but fell down Friday (teenage)
night. Weather: Cold and clear.—Simon M. Cherivtch,
Levoy Theatre, Millville, N. J. Pop. 19,500.
Love Me Tender (20th-Fox)—Elvis Presley, Richard
Egon, Deborah Paget. We didn't ploy this when it
was new, so just now picked it up. We did fair business
on midweek with it, even though it is old. Elvis
Presley is still a pretty popular name here Played
Tues. Wed., Thurs Weather: Fair.—Charles E. Smith,
LaMor Theatre, Arthur, 111. Pop. 2,000.
Remarkable Mr. Pennypacker, The (20th-Fox)
Clifton Webb, Dorothy McGuire, Charles Coburn.
Business wos just fair. just t Our patronage won go
to see any picture doted in the period this one is.
Clifton Webb is good, as usual. Most people liked it,
but there weren't enough of them. This is okay for
families. Played Sun., Mon., Tues. Weather: Fine.
Don Kelsey, Lyric Theatre, Blacksburg, Va. Pop.
3,500.
UNITED ARTISTS
I
Gun Runners, The (UA)—Audie Murphy, Eddie Albert
Patricio Owens. Another black and white picture
that didn't do any business. If it hadn't been
for Audie Murphy's name out front, if we
would have mode enough to pay the light bill.
Fri. Played Thurs., Weather: Foir —Charles E. Smith,
LoMor Theatre, Arthur, 111. Pop. 2,000.
I Want to Live! (UA)—Susan Hayward, Simon Oakland,
Virginia Vincent. They went for this, and it
did good business. Susie does a great job in a sordid
role. Played Thurs. through Mon. Weather: Mild.
Jim Eraser, Auditorium Theatre, Red Wing, Minn.
Pop. 12,500.
It! The Terror From Beyond Space (UA)—Marshall
Thompson, Shown Smith, Kim Spalding. Combined
this with "Curse of the Faceless Mon" for a horror
show that was a real money maker. The teenagers
flocked to see it on a Wednesday night, and liked this
one the better of the two. Did 200 per cent of normal
business. Weather; Warm 75.—Simon M. Cherivtch,
Levoy Theatre, Millville, N. J. Pop. 19,500
UNIVERSAL-INTERNATIONAL
Benny Goodman Story, The (U-l), reissue—Steve
Allen, Donna Reed, Gene Krupo. This is an old one,
but we mode a try. Did obout 85 per cent of overage.
Kothy O' (U-D—Don Duryeo, Jon Sterling, Potty
McCormock. This is a very good family picture, but
for some reason it completely foiled here. The few
who saw it reolly like it. In most places it should
do well. Played Sun., Mon., Tues. Weother: Foir.
Chorles E. Smith, LoMor Theatre, Arthur, 111. Pop.
2,000.
'Scope that bucked o Saturday night basketball
tournament and gave us about on average gross.
Audie Murphy is top drower here, and I'd rather not
see him ploy the port of hired killer, but our patrons
went out bragging about the picture, so guess it's
okay. They poy the freight, so what they like, I
like Played Fri., Sot. Weather: Cold,—Jess Jones,
Ritz Theotre, Crescent, Oklo. Pop. 1,300,
WARNER BROS.
Bodmon's Country (WB) — George Montgomery,
Buster Crobbc, Karen Booth. Another block ond
white western that did overage business. If it hod
been in color, 1 feel thot it would hove done much
better. We ployed it with three cortoorvs. Played Fri.,
Blob, The (Pora)—Steve McQueen, Aneta Corscout, Sot. Weather: Cold.—Chorles E. Smith, LoMor Theotre,
Arthur, 111. Pop. 2,000.
Eofl Rowe. Ployed this doubled with "As Young As
v/o Arc." This is the first horror picture to do Enchontcd Island (WB)— Dona Andrews, Jane
busint-,r here. Ployed Thurs, Fri., Sot. Weother; Powell, Don Dubbins. Good picture—good business-
Good.—M. W. Long, Lorw Theotre, Lorwing, lowo. Ployed Fri., Sot. Weother: Good.—William Duncan,
Pop. 1,536
Duncon Theatre, Killbuck, Ohio. Pop. 800.
Gclsho Boy, The fPoro)—Jerry Lewis, Morie Mc- Onlonhcod (WB)—Andy Griffith, Felicia Fonr, Wolness.
Folks around here reolly like Andy Griffit
DonDld, Sr-.suo Hoyokowo. Give us more like this one.
Did over overoge, ond seemed to be enjoyed by old
ond your>g. Ployed Sun., Mon. Weottwr: Cloudy.
Horold J. Smith, Wilson Theotre, Wilson, N. Y. Pop. Ployed Sun , Mon. Weother: Light snow.—Sam EIrod,
1,100. Moiestic Theotre, Cleor Loke, S. D.
Wiiie—
YOUR REPORT OF THE PICTURE YOU
HAVE rUST PLAYED FOR THE
GUIDANCE OF FELLOW EXHIBITORS
-RightNow
The Exhibitor Has His Say
BOXOFFICE, 825 Van Brunt Blvd.,
Kansas City 24, Mo.
Title
Comment
Days of Week Ployed
Weather
Title
Comment..
Dcrys of Week Played.
Weather
Title
Comment..
Doya oi
Weather
TiUe
Comment..
Week Ployed..
Days oi Week Played.
Weather
Exhibitor
Theatre
City
Company..
Population
..State
^1
c
BOXOFFICE BookinGuide :: May 11, 1959

Opinions on Current Productions
VisfoVision; (SI Supefscope;
The Five Pennies F 'fT ''"T'"'
"
Paramount ( ) 117 Minutes Rel.
No expense or effort has been spared to make this biography
of bandleader Red Nichols among the finest musical
dramas of recent years. Every quality that could be wanted
is generously accounted for to make it a surefii-e candidate
•
for long, successful i-uns wherever it is shown. The many
bright facets are headed by sincea-e, rich Dixieland music
recreated witJi great effect by top members of today's jazz
world who make up Nichols' original Five Pennies. Incomparable
jam sessions are featured between Louis Ai-mstrong
and Danny Kaye, who plays Nichols. Kaye's vivid performance
is richly filled with fine degrees of ai'tisti-y to
emerge as one of the most appealing chai-acterizations the
screen has produced in a long time. He is ably assisted
by such staunch perfomiers as Barbara Bel Geddes and
Harry Guardino as well as newcomer Tuesday Weld and
a delightful child actress, Susan Gordon. Because of the
tragic development of Nichols' life, there are emotional pitfalls
that, in the hands of less competent performers and
dii-ection, could have become maudlin and generally objectionable.
Credit is due screenwTiters Jack Rose and Melville
Shavelson, who also produced and directed, respectively.
Technicolor and VistaVision photography are a great asset.
Danny Kaye, Barbara Bel Geddes, Louis Armstrong, Bob
Crosby, Harry Guardino, Susan Gordon, Tuesday Weld.
Fori: Chop Hill
United Artists (5916) Minutes Rel. May '59
All of the elements necessary in good picture-makmg ai-e
evident in this tightly constinicted, intelligently focused war
story. Based on an actual battle in the Korean war, it
weaves together strong qualities of pathos, dramatics,
emotion, comedy and human reaction in a completely believable
fashion. Chiefly, this is due to .superb direction by
Lewis Milestone, whose control of battlefield action, which
Is constant from beginning to end, is calm and easy, emerging
greatly realistic as a result. Coupled with locations and
settings expertly created by art director Nicholai Remisoff,
one feels pretty much a part of the entu'e activity.
While Gregoi-y Peck's is the only name of surefire marquee
value, he is assisted by an all male cast of 33 first-rate performers
who provide notably fine support thi'oughout. The
greatest appeal of the film will probably be to younger
audiences, however, thinking adults should find the central
theme of American valiancy and moral righteousness rewarding.
James R. Webb's fine screenplay is taken from
the book by S. L. A. Marshall, U. S. A. R. Sy Bartlett produced
for Peck's Melville Productions.
Gregory Pecli, Harry Guardino, Rip Torn, George Peppard,
James Edwards, Bob Steele, Woody Strode, George Shibata.
Gunfight at Dodge City F
^ ^
United Artists (5915) 80 Minutes Rel. May '59
Despite loose construction and an occasional lapse into
stagnant routine, this Cinemascope, De Luxe Color western
contains a strong audience attraction in its central figui-e.
Bat Masterson, which character is currently di-awing heavily
on television screens. The Mirisch production treats
the western hei'o in a totally different manner, too, which
could prove as asset in
exploiting the film. Two weak stories
have been woven together in developing the plot, resulting
in spotty action and an obvious break in intensity.
At one point, however, the .screenplay almost achieves a
degree of vivid reality with an expression of honest views
on love. Joel McCrea is well cast as Masterson, playing
the stock, fist-fighting hero for which he has won some
fame. John Mclnth-e ably comes up with the finest characterization,
however, as a unique sort of doctor-of-all-ills,
whether they be medical or what-have-you. On the distaff
side, Julie Adams has little to do but look pretty, leaving
the more meaty romantic work to equally pretty Nancy
Gates. Joseph M. Newman directed the Daniel B. UUman
and Martin M. Goldsmith screenplay for producer Walter
M. Mirisch.
Joel McCrea, Julie Adams, John Mclntlre, Nancy Gates,
Richard Anderson, Jim Westerfield, Walter Coy.
^EATURE REVIEWS
{^ Regolscope; j, Technirama. For i
Face of a Fugitive
Ratio:
F I
Western Drama
C5
Columbia (338) 81 Minutes
Rel. May '59
A good solid drama with the marquee value of
weste;
Pi-ed MacMun-ay and the Ea.stman Color by Pathe to put
above the programmer level. It will make a fine
it slightly
supporting dualler generally and can top the bill in many
action situations. MacMun-ay, currently getting renewed
attention thi-ough the current "The Shaggy Dog" and his
recent TV portrayals, and Alan Baxter, the former leading
man turned character actor, are the sole screen familiars in
the cast but Lin McCarthy will attract considerable attention
for his convincing portrayal of a courageous young
sheriff. Pi-oduced by David HeilweU, this ha-s a strong,
suspenseful .screenplay by David T. Chandler and Daniel
B. Ullman, based on a stoi-y by Peter Dawson. The actionpacked
opening has MacMun-ay, a handcuffed prisoner
being taken to jail, escape from a moving train while his
younger brother, trying to aid him, is mortally wounded.
The rest takes place in a western towoi, where MacMurray
aids the slieriff in fighting a land-grabbing rancher and
winning the affection of the townsfolk. Another newcomer
from TV. Dorothy Green, adds a touch of romance and
little Gina Gillespie has natural charm as a girl who befriends
the ouUaw. Well directed by Paul Wendkos.
Fred MacMurray, Lin McCarthy, Dorothy Green, Alan
Baxter, Ron Hayes, Gina Gillespie, Francis de Sales.
r» ±it -fl T? Rati": War Drama
Battle Flame t issi
Allied Artists (5907) 78 Minutes Rel. May '59
Once again, that mighty fighting unit—the U. S. Marine
Coips—provides the hook upon which has been hung a
yai-n of wartime braveiy and derring-do. and. in this case,
the end product probably will di-aw its share of devotees
of such filmfare. Other than some rousing battle sequences,
however, the picture offers little, either in the stoiy or acting
departments, to recommend it for other than the nether
side of a dual program. There is virtually no maa-quee
weight in the cast, with Scott Brady's name the only one
that may be relied on to lure potential ticket buyers. Brady
performs adequately as the lieutenant faced with solving
his platoon and personal problems, the solutions of which
are unfortunately apparent from the film's start. Elaine
Edwards supplies a pretty face and creditable acting as
the romantic interest, and a few chuckles are gleaned from
Ken Miller's portrayal of the fonner bus-boy at Romanoff's
who dreams aloud of gourmet dishes while munching
frozen K-rations. A note of authenticity is added by the
intermingling of newsreel footage of actual action in Korea
with standard location shots. Lester A. Sansom produced,
and R. G. Springsteen directed.
Scott Brady, Elaine Edwards, Robert Blake, Wayne Hefley,
Gordon Jones, Ken Miller, Arthur Walsh, Richard Harrison.
1 Mobster F ^
""""
20th-Fox (905) 81 Minutes R«l. Feb. '59
As the supporting half of a dualler or top attraction in
smaller houses, this violent stoi-y of big time syndicate
rackets should provide exliibitors with generally good response
from most patrons. Chiefly aimed at younger audiences,
whose current thriving interest in blood and guts
it feeds in great quantity, the film, however, is put together
well and follows a level enough story Ime to emerge satisfying
to anyone. Steve Fisher wrote the screenplay from a
novel by Joseph Hilton Smyth. It incorporates alcoholism,
open sex, narcotics addiction, bratal murder and other unpleasant
elements attributed to gangland activities in sufficient
quantities throughout to early live up to any images
built by the suggestive title. These violent patterns are
woven with degrees of intrigue, tension and a new romantic
twist that maintain interest to the end, where just
retribution is indicated. Dii-ector Roger Co:-man, who coproduced
with his brother. Gene, held the fUm together
tightly, obtaining fine performances from his enthe cast.
Steve Cochran's name should prove good marquee value,
along with that of co-star Lita Milan. Lili St. Cyr's brief,
but famous, bath scenes and first-rate di-amatics by Robert
Strauss and Celia Lovsky are an asset.
Steve Cochran, Lita Milan, Lili St. Cyr, Robert Strauss,
Celia Lovsky, John Brinkley, Yvette Vickers.
The reviews on these poges may be filed for future refereneo in any of the following woys: (1) in any standard three-ring
loose-leaf binder; (2) individually, by company, in any standard 3x5 cord index file; or (3) in the BOXOFFICE PICTURE
GUIDE three-i pocket-size binder. The latter, including a year's supply of booking and daily business record sheets,
from Associated Publicotions, 825 Van Brunt Blvd., Kansos City 24, Mo., for Jl.OO, postage poid.
2332 BOXOFFICE BookinGuido :: May 11, 1959

. .
''^
. . . Romantic
. . Rich,
.
.
FEATURE REVIEWS Sfory Synopsis; Exploitips; Adiines for Newspaper and Programs
THE STORY: "Face of a Fugitive" (Col)
Fred MacMurray, falsely accused of murder and being
taken to jail, jumps from a moving ti-ain aaid escapes but
his younger brother, Ron Hayes. Ls killed in the resultant
shooting. Changing clothes. MacMurray board.s another
train and picks up an acquaintance with little Gina Gillespie.
When they airlve at the tomi of Tangle Blue. Gina ^^:^
introduces MacMurray to her widowed mother, Dorothy ,-
Green, and to the town sheriff. Lin McCarthy, who is unsuccessfully
fighting Alan Baxter, who fences in public lands.
Realizing that reward postei-s are on their way to Tangle
Blue. MacMurray interrupts his getaway to aid McCai-thy
against Baxter. MacMui-ray is badly wounded in the gun
battle but McCarthy, realizing he is an outlaw, promises
to get him a lighter sentence—and Dorothy and her little
girl promise to wait for him.
EXPLOITIPS:
Capitalize on Fred MacMuiTay's current stan-ing role in
"The Shaggy Dog" by offering prizes for the longest list of
pictures in which he has starred since 1935. Use "Wanted"
postei-s with MacMun-ay's face around town and play up
the "face" angle by offering prizes to youngsters with their
faces made up like the star.
CATCHLINES:
Danger Shadowed Every Step He Took . . . Tlie Face of
the Hunted—the Face of the Hunter.
THE STORY: "Battle Flame" (AA)
Scott Brady commands a Marine Coips platoon at the
beginning of the "police action" in Korea Instigated by
the United Nations. During hospitalization for a wound,
he falls for nurse Elaine Edwards, who tells him she's already
betrothed to a Navy surgeon. Scott retui-ns to active
duty, only to meet Elaine once more when his platoon
saves a group of nurs&s captured by the enemy in Chinyong.
Their romance seems to be finally ended when she
tell him that she expects to be reunited with her fiance. At
this point, the platoon and nurses are ordered to retreat to
Hungnam, and during the treacherous march to safety,
Elaine and Brady realize they truly love each other. Eventually,
they achieve then- escape: Scott meets the sui'geon.
who realizes Elaine loves Brady and bows out, leaving the
lovers to face a hopeful future.
EXPLOITIPS:
Tie in with local Marine Corps recruiting stations for
lobby displays of wartime equipment. Publicize a special
night for ex-Marines and all Marine personnel in your
area. Tout name of Scott Brady, best known in the cast.
CATCHLINES:
"Police Action" in Korea Finds the U. S. Marine Corps
All for One—and One for All Beautiful Elaine Edwards! .
Would the Handsome Marine, Fighting for His Country,
Give Up the Fight for the Woman He Loved?
THE STORY: '1 Mobster" (20th-Fox)
On the stand of the Senate Rackets Investigating Committee.
Steve Cochran tells in flashback the story of a
life that makes him king of the underworld. Beginning
as a dope runner for Robert Strauss, he gets caught and
sei-ves a year in jail. Coming out, syndicate boss. Grant
Withers, hire.s him to kill another racketeer and he rapidly
goes to second spot in the bigtime operation. Lita Milan,
his girl, tries to stop him but falls in love and eventually
sticks to him through everything. He and Strauss go
through deal after deal together until Cochran eventually
kills Withers and gets to be top man. The flashback fades
to reality with a break for rece.ss and Coclu-an tries to get
out of the counti-y. Straass, however, shoots him in a dramatic
ending.
EXPLOITIPS:
Have bookstores set up display of the widely read book
along with pictures from the film. Have special screenings
for FBI or police, with crime experts speaking. Do the
same with juvenile organizations. Display photos of Lili
St. CjT, [Xjpular stripteuse.
CATCHLINES:
Violent Life and Loves of Gangland Leaders ... All the
Elements of Unpleasant Gangland Activity Realistically -
Brought to the Screen ... His Powerful Life Ended In Vio- '^
lent Death.
THE STORY: "The Five Pennies" (Para)
Cornet-playing Danny Kaye gets a job in Bob Crosby's
band and meets and man-ies singer Barbara Bel Geddes.
When Crosby won't u.se his Dixieland arrangements, he quits
the band and proceeds to lose other jobs for the same reason
until he strikes out on his owti. His wife becomes preg-
L'ari. nant, and when then- daughter, Susan Gordon, Ls born,
-r
^-
she grows up on the road until eventually put in a boarding
school where she develops polio. Kaye blames himself
and quits the music business to devote his time to her
recuperation. When she grows to 13 years of age. now
played by Tuesday Weld, she hears his records and encourages
him to play again. He opens at a small club and she
takes her fu-st step alone.
EXPLOITIPS:
Dress theatre personnel in red and white striped jackets,
bow ties, straw hats and white pants or skirts, Nichols' band
costume. Tie in with his records and with the book by
Grady Johnson of the same title. Have a Dixieland combo
play for opening day in the lobby. Feature pictures from
the film at local Dixieland clubs.
CATCHLINES:
The Wai-m, Tender Sto:-y of a Ti-agic Public Life . . .
Relive the Exciting, Happy, Yet Sad Moments of One of
the Nation's Top Music Men .
FuU Dixieland
Music Played by the Counti-y's Top Jazz Artists.
THE STORY: "Pork Chop Hill" (UA)
American infantrymen huddle in trenches near Korea's
Pork Chop Hill while the peace treaty conference at Panmunjom
haggles on. Lt. Gregory Peck, assisted by Lt. George
Shibata, is commanded by Lt. Col. BaiTy Atwater to lead
an all-out assault on the embattled hUl. Expected to be
just a "mop-up" job, the command is unawai-e of the terrific
Chinese strength guarding the hill. Several problems
greet Peck. Some of the men feel this may be the last battle
of the war and don't want to risk their lives, there is a
lack of water, food and ammunition and little reinforcements.
Yet the company valiantly fights on inch by inch
untU they gain the hill. Though the loss of men is great,
the tactic is attributed as a chief aid in gaining peace,
laywQ EXPLOITIPS:
"* *'
Bookstores could have displays of the book along with
maps and Korean area pictures, etc.. and pictures of the
film. Similar displays in the lobby. A group of Korean veterans
could be given a special preview, especially if any
are vets of Pork Chop Hill itself.
CATCHLINES:
Valiant and Courageous Stoi-y of American Spirit . . .
A Strong Recreation of One of Korea's Hardest-Won Victories
. . . Human Emotion. Pathos, Dramatics, and Comedy
Woven Together in Realistic Fashion.
THE STORY: "Gunfight at Dodge City" (UA)
Joel McCrea and Wright King. 16-year-old mentaUy retai-ded
brother of McCrea's friend, Walter Coy, we greeted
at their campsite by Richard Anderson, who tells McCrea
that an Army .sergeant is gunning for him in Hays City.
When they return, he kills the sergeant in a shootdown and
is forced to flee to Dodge City, where his brother, Harry
Lauter, is rumiing for sheriff against reckless Don Haggerty.
McCrea buys a half-interest in a gambling hall and
saloon nm by Nancy Gates and on opening night his brother
gets killed. He "nitivs for sheriff against Haggerty and
wins, however, when he helps young King escape from an
unwarranted murder charge, he loses liis badge. He kills
Haggerty in a shootdown and the lovai votes him back
in as sheriff.
EXPLOITIPS:
Emphasize character of Bat Masterson with pictures from
the film, historical displays, etc. Get bookstores to feature
similar displays on him and othei- famed old law enforcers
of history. Place gun displays and cutouts of stars in lobby
and any spots in town whei-e they can be seen.
CATCHLINES:
Torn Between Loyalty to His Office and Honest Justice
Drama of a Man Wanted by Two Women .
A Gunman Turned Lawman in the Wild and Lawle.ss West.
BOXOFFICE BookinGuidc :: May 11, 1959

i
permajient
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Carton
( !
!
|^..
. I .1 ,
Dept.
.
5: 15c per word, minimum $1.50. cash with copy. Four consecutive insertions for price
ee. CLOSING DATE: Monday noon preceding publicalion date. Send copy and
swers to Box Numbers to BOXOFHCE. 825 Van Brunt Blvd.. Kansas City 24. Mo. •
CLtefilflGHOUSt
POSITIONS WANTED
Pressbook. will travel. Qualified f\r
available. Excellent references,
e. 7921.
ijer. Experienced, drive-in and indoor,
hange. available short notice. Box ;
Roston.
Virginia.
iger; Twenty years experience, publicity,
on minded. Bondable. non-drinker. Box-
7954.
BoNomer. 7(15.
HELP WANTED
Hjer: ilutdoor or conventional in Chicago.
II ill first letter including experience, saluiremoiits
and referem-es. Boxoffice. 7957.
sger: Experience all pfiases. promotion
position for a man of good
er and ability. Drifters slay away. Im-
I- opening. Forward coiDplete Information
iiaiBllot. .Xrmstrong Theatres, Box 211.
i Green. Ohio.
i: Experienced manager. State age. exmarital
status, references. Year around
le Bnxotfiee, 7958.
WEEKLY TAPE SERVICE
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COMMBRCT.AL SOUND SERVICE,
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EQUIPMENT WANTED
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Harry Meleher, 1210 W. Atkinson Avenue
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sound and projection equipment bought
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Irass Theatre Service, 1551 Beacon Hill
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BUSINESS STIMULATORS
more action! $4.50M cards. Other s
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GENERAL EQUIPMENT—USED
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NO JUNK HERE! Pair Holmes projectors, complete
to operate, beautiful, $345. Extra special—
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What do you need? STAR CINEMA
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0

MAY 13th
SET fOR
W\0)NEST
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^RE^sl_
HBeini
IffDOMEmr
\ 1 starring
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JOELMcCREA
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ADAMS
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KANSAS CITY
CZlMEN/iAScroPE 3
COLOR by DE LUX j
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TER M. MIRI?|H|.