Boxoffice (Oct-Dec 1963)

All Omaha Features Far Above Average OMAHA — The story was bright for Omaha’s first-run theatres over the holiday period and right down the line the results were plus average. Patrons had a variety of offerings to choose from and the choice was hard. “Under the Yum Yum Tree” had a good second week at the Orpheum and the long-running “How the West Was Won” rebounded into the doubleaverage division at the Indiana Hills Cinerama Theatre. (Average Is 1 00) Admiral — McLintock! (UA) 160 Cooper — The Wheeler Dealers (MGM) 130 Indian Hills — How the West Was Won (MGM Cinerama), 26th wk 225 Omaha — Fun in Acapulco (Para) 150 Orpheum — Under the Yum Yum Tree (Col), 2nd wk. 165 State — The Incredible Journey (BV) 160 Two Holdovers and Newcomer Tie at 170 in Minneapolis MINNEAPOLIS— Mill City theatremen reported a three-way tie for top percentages this week, with “Under the Yum Yum Tree,” “Fun in Acapulco” and long-running champ “How the West Was Won” all scoring 170 points. Not far behind was debuting “Palm Springs Weekend,” opening to the tune of 150 at the Gopher. Business at other first-run houses remained steady, with exhibtors giving thanks for no turkeys. Academy — Mary, Mary (WB), moveover, 4th wk. . . 90 Century — Cleopatra (20th-Fox), 23rd wk 100 Cooper — How the West Was Won (MGM Cinerama), 38th wk 170 Gopher — Palm Springs Weekend (WB) 150 Lyric — Fun in Acapulco (Para) 170 Mann — Take Her, She's Mine (20th-Fox), 3rd wk. 110 Orpheum — McLintock! (UA), 2nd wk 120 St. Louis Park — In the French Style (Col) 90 State — Under the Yum Yum Tree (Col), 2nd wk. ..170 Suburban World — Lord of the Flies (Cont'l), 7th wk. 100 World — The Wheeler Dealers (MGM), 3rd wk 120 'Under Yum Yum Tree' 275 Best Milwaukee Percentage MILWAUKEE — “Under the Yum Yum Tree” at the Warner Theatre was by far the best grosser of the week. Next best was “McLintock!” at the Palace and Mayfair theatres. Business in general was good. Downer — Lord of the Flies (Cont'l) 150 Mayfair, Palace — McLintock! (UA), 2nd wk 165 Riverside — The Wheeler Dealers (MGM) 175 Strand — Cleopatra (20th-Fox), 21st wk 125 Times — Fantasia (BV), reissue, 3rd wk 150 Tower, Oriental — Please, Not Now! (20th-Fox) ....100 Towne — The Small World of Sammy Lee (Seven Arts) 80 Warner — Under the Yum Yum Tree (Col) 275 Janus Acquires U.S. Rights To British The Guest' From Eastern Edition NEW YORK — Janus Films has acquired the American distribution rights to “The Guest,” the film version of Harold Pinter’s stage success, “The Caretakers.” A January 1964 release is planned, starting in New York. “The Guest,” produced in England by Michael Birkett, stars Alan Bates, Donald Pleasence and Robert Shaw, who created these roles in London and Broadway. The entire financial backing for “The Guest” was provided by ten people, Peter Bridge, Richard Burton, Peter Cadbury, Leslie Caron, Noel Coward, Peter Hall, Charles Kasher, Harry Saltzman, Peter Sellers and Elizabeth Taylor. MILWAUKEE Qliver Trampe, Film Service, Inc., finding he will be unable to serve as a canvasman with the Variety Club, has been replaced by Henry Kratz, executive secretary for Allied Theatre Owners who was elected press guy recently. Variety delegates to the 1964 convention in Buffalo will be: M. P. “Pat” Halloran, chief barker who is manager for Universal; John Reddy, retiring chief barker who is manager of radio station WOKY, and Hugo Vogel, executive secretary. The alternates are Sam Kaufman, theatre insurance broker; Joe Imhof, UA manager, and Harry Olshan, retired manager for Columbia who now is booking on his own. Two new members were welcomed into the tent: John J. Pilmaier, MGM manager, and Lavern O. Huntsinger, stage contractor, Fred Miller Theatre. “As far as I am concerned,” said E. William Henry, chairman of the FCC, speaking to the National Ass’n of Educational Broadcasters meeting here, “you can even use Gina Lollobrigida to fill up your screen, build up your audience, and give you a good lead-in.” And added that real operas can compete with the “soap or horse variety,” and movies of great classics are surely compelling and spellbinding. Diane Lynn, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ben D. Marcus, was married to Richard Lloyd Kite, Beverly Hills, Calif. Marcus heads a circuit of theatres, a chain of restaurants (Marc’s Big Boy), the Pfister Hotel, and has other interests including an affiliation with the J. C. Penney Co. “Every time Minnesota Fats outcues Fast Eddie Felson for his bank roll on the theatre screen he sells pool tables,” said Willie Mosconi, 15 times world champion at pocket billiards, performing at a number of department stores here. Mosconi credits Jackie Gleason and the motion picture, “The Hustler,” which appeared at the Towne theatre with a major assist in the game’s recent boom. “It was regaining popularity before the picture came out,” he asserted, “but that really got business going. Oddly enough, the picture was set in just the background we were trying to avoid — pool sharks taking the suckers — we were really concerned. Yet the picture didn’t hurt the image of the game at all; all they saw was Gleason playing a game. And they rushed out of the theatres and swamped our branch offices.” Kirk was next to be enrolled for the part, and arrived in town with a jaw aching from a tooth extraction . . . her doctor advised her to withdraw from the cast. Finally June Ericson was signed. She was in the original “Bells” and numerous other stage plays, had a part in “A Touch of Mink” on the screen and has appeared in many television programs. Moviemakers in the Wisconsin area are rapidly attaining professional status. Ruby Niebaurer, an assistant profressor of education at the University of WisconsinMilwaukee, produces “How To” films on low budgets and has won awards for every film she has made thus far — 12 of them. She hires a cameraman, and frequently appears in the film herself, supervises the sound and makes the study guide. Then, too, a film is now in production up at Baraboo at the Circus World Museum. “It’s being produced here,” said museum historian Paul Luckey, “because it requires a circus background, and this is the only place in the country where the authentic thing is possible.” The finished product will run at the world’s fair in New York. Reid Ray Film Receives Two Excellence Awards ST. PAUL — Reid H. Ray returned from Washington where he received two awards for a film which his company produced for Harvey Mudd College, Claremont, Calif. The film, “Molecular Spectroscopy,” featured Dr. Bryce Crawford jr„ dean of the graduate school of the University of Minnesota, who demonstrated the presence of infrared radiation in the spectrum and the absorption of light related to molecular vibrations and rotations. By the use of spectroscopy, this molecular structure can be studied. The film was submitted to two international film events — the eighth International Exhibition of Scientific-Didactic Films at Padua University, Padua, Italy, where it received the bronze medal, and to Council of International Non-Theatrical Events, from which it received a golden eagle. The 21 -minute film was produced in the St. Paul studios of Reid H. Ray Film Industries and was directed by Ray, assisted by Ellsworth Polsfuss. It was photographed by Howard W. Cress, the animation was conceived under the direction of Gordon Ray, it was recorded by Donald Anderson and edited by Robert H. Winter. A resolution protesting any federal limitation on time devoted to commercials on television and radio, was passed by the Wisconsin Associated Press-RadioTelevision Ass’n meeting in convention here. Other mutual problems included withholding of information by government agencies, and the need to recruit young men and women to study journalism, according to Jack Krueger, news manager of WTMJ and WTMJ-TV. The trouble with a star policy in the theatre is that something is likely to happen to the star, and the Swan’s experience here is no exception. Casting for “The Bells Are Ringing,” included Barbara Nichols for the lead, only to have her cancel out due to “a conflict of engagements.” Phyllis UA’s “Ladybug, Ladybug” deals with the effect of a nuclear attack false alarm on a group of young school children. I Take A Tip From Me Exploit More In '64' And Remember To Get Your S PECIAL TRAILERS From Dependable FILMACK 1325 S. Wabash CHICAGO, ILL. BOXOFFICE ; ; December 9, 1963 NC-1