Boxoffice (Oct-Dec 1963)

December 10 Red Letter Day for Variety Tent 15 DES MOINES — Variety Tent 15 has circled December 10, date of the 20th annual Christmas Benefit, as the club’s red letter day of 1963. The Tuesday evening event at the Jewish Community Center will begin promptly at 7:30, according to Chief Barker Ralph Olson. Gary Sandler of Sandler Theatre Enterprises is chairman of the 1963 Yule Party. The usual barrel of prizes will be available to all who attend, with “surprises” yet to be announced. Tickets are available at local film exchanges, circuit offices and wherever there’s a Varietyman. On November 15, members of the local tent were hosts to Joe Podoloff of Minneapolis, international Variety representative. At a luncheon meeting held at the Elks Club, Podoloff discussed with members plans for a new charity, which the Des Moines tent hopes to undertake in the near future. DES MOINES J^Juch of the news for this column is gathered each Friday afternoon, when the busy pace of the week slackens in the offices “along the Row.” Or, it is gathered on Friday evening, a time when most exhibitors can be reached at work in their theatres. For this December 2 column, the news-gathering day would have been November 22. On that bleak Friday, there was only One Story. It is written in hearts, and it will be read in history books. Des Moines’ three downtown theatres, the Des Moines, Orpheum and Paramount, delayed their usual 11:45 a.m. opening time until 2 p.m. on Monday, in observance of the funeral of President John F. Kennedy. Vandals Cause Big Loss At Tennessee Drive-In From Southeast Edition SAVANNAH, TENN. — Damage exceeding $1,000 was caused at the Sky-Vue Drive-In on a recent Sunday morning by persons who seemed more bent upon destruction than upon robbery after breaking into the concessions building with a crowbar. The vandals littered the floor on both sides of the concessions counter with cigars, candy, eggs, juices and popcorn. They also took about $100 worth of cigarets. Hopes of the invaders to get money were frustrated by Manager Charles Johnson’s policy of never leaving any money in the concessions building, a policy he adopted after a break-in at the drive-in several years ago. Fans Clamor to See Star From Eastern Edition NEW YORK — Richard Chamberlain, TV’s “Dr. Kildare” who is starring in MGM’s “Twilight of Honor,” attracted thousands of fans to his personal appearances on the stage of the Paramount Theatre during the film’s opening week. Chamberlain found fans waiting for him at every street corner, back stage and even at nearby Sardi’s Restaurant with the New York police trying to keep the youngsters in check. The entire affair was reminiscent of Frank Sinatra’s appearances at the Paramount in the 1940s. OMAHA QJ,eorge Hall, veteran exhibitor who has the Rosebowl at Franklin and the Minden at Minden, Neb., was in a Lincoln hospital as the result of an accident on the way home from Rockford, 111., where Hall and his wife had gone to visit their daughter and her husband and new grandson. Mrs. Hall stayed in Rockford, and Hall stopped in Omaha en route and said he was driving on home. According to reports he suffered fractures of both legs and rib injuries. His wife flew to Lincoln as soon as she heard of the accident. Cooper Foundation Theatres closed its three houses here, the Cooper, State and Indian Hills, on Friday as soon as the report of President Kennedy’s assassination came through. Also closed were its Stuart and Nebraska theatres in Lincoln. In addition to the Friday closings the theatres were closed the day of the funeral services until 5 p.m. Weekend business was generally curtailed throughout the territory. After a long huddle between conference officials and heads of Big Eight schools it was decided to go ahead with the University of Nebraska-University of Oklahoma football game in Lincoln. Approximately 3,500 fans watched the game on closed circuit in the Omaha City Auditorium at $2 a ticket. Bill Burke, a veteran in the industry as an exhibitor, film salesman and auditor, took up his duties with Jack and Edith Renfro’s Theatre Booking Service. Bill came here from Dallas where he had been with Buena Vista . . . Bill Barker of Co-Op Theatre Services was scheduled to enter a hospital Monday (25) ... “Beach Party,” which showed at the Chief Theatre and Skyview Drive-In, did 300 per cent business and ALP said it was one of the best grossers it had had in Omaha. Dick Barkes of TOP Advertising Co. returned from Milwaukee and Chicago, assisting K. Gordon Murray with “Santa Claus” publicity. Dick said they had numerous reports of turn-away crowds, including 5,000 at the Terrace in Minneapolis, and that one theatre did more business with the Saturday-Sunday kiddy matinee than it did the whole week on its regular offering, a strong attraction . . . Tony Goodman, Paramount salesman for his territory, reported his wife was ill. Howard Burrus, exhibitor at Crete, was taken to a hospital at Central City, where his son is on the staff . . . Marvin Jones and his wife returned to Red Cloud from Rochester, where both underwent surgery . . . Joe Jenny of Malmo, an exhibitor in this area from the early days of the flickers, was called to serve on the grand jury. Elsa and Adolph Rozanek, exhibitors at Crete who just returned from dancing engagements in New York, have accepted an invitation to appear in Chicago. They have received raves from over the country for their interpretation of the polka . . . Joe Jacobs, Columbia exchange chief at Des Moines, was in town lining up releases with bookers. Two Paramount Pictures For Christmas in N.Y. From Eastern Edition NEW YORK — Paramount Pictures has booked two of its new pictures, “Who’s Been Sleeping in My Bed?” and “Love With the Proper Stranger,” at Manhattan first runs for the Christmas-New Years period. Already playing or booked for the Thanksgiving period in New York are three other Paramount pictures, “Who’s Minding the Store?”, “All the Way Home” and “A New Kind of Love.” “Who’s Been Sleeping in My Bed?,” which stars Dean Martin and Elizabeth Montgomery and marks the screen debut of Carol Burnett, will open at the Victoria Theatre in Times Square and the 57th Street Festival, Christmas Day, while “Love With the Proper Stranger,” starring Natalie Wood and Steve McQueen, will open Christmas Day at Loew’s State on Broadway and the east side Murray Hill Theatre. “Who’s Minding the Store?” will open at the Victoria Theatre November 27 while “All the Way Home” opened at the TransLux East October 29 and “A New Kind of Love” opened at the DeMille and the coronet theatres October 30. P/ease send tne □ 2 years for $5 □ 1 year for $3 □ 3 years for $7 □ Remittance Enclosed □ Send Invoice THEATRE STREET ADDRESS TOWN ZONE STATE NAME POSITION THE NATIONAL FILM WEEKLY 52 issues a year 825 Van Brunt Bird., Kansas City 24, Mo. BOXOFFICE :: December 2, 1963 NC-3