Boxoffice (Oct-Dec 1963)

UA's Nine-Month Net Reported at $1,610,000 NEW YORK — United Artists’ net earnings for the first nine months of 1963 amounted to $1,610,000, after provision of $1,250,000 for income taxes, compared with $3,103,000 for the comparable period of 1962. Robert Benjamin, chairman of the board, reported, however, that net earnings for the third quarter, which amounted to $808,000. exceeded the combined total of the net profit for the first and second quarters of the year, previously reported in the aggregate amount of $802,000. UA's gross worldwide income for the first nine months of 1963 amounted to $81,870,000 against $91,502,000 for the same period last year. The nine-month net represented earnings of 87 cents per share on the 1,848,630 shares outstanding on September 28. This compared with net earnings of $1.68 per share for the first nine months of 1962, after adjusting the share then outstanding to the number outstanding on September 28. WB Plans Underwater Show For 'Incredible Limpet' NEW YORK— Warner Bros, will hold the first underwater presentation of a motion picture, the world premiere of “The Incredible Mr. Limpet,” at Weeki Wachee Springs in Florida in January to be attended by 250 representatives of the press, radio-TV and the tradepress from all parts of the U.S. and Canada. The showing of “Mr. Limpet” will be the highlight of a four-day program of activities from January 16 to January 19 in Florida at Port Paradise Hotel and in nearby Crystal River. Weeki Wachee is located in Brookville on the west coast of Florida and is operated by a subsidiary of American Broadcasting-Paramount Theatres. John Rose produced “The Incredible Mr. Limpet” in Technicolor for Warner Bros. It was directed by Arthur Lubin and stars Don Knotts with Carole Cook, Jack Weston and Andrew Duggan and five Sammy Fain-Harold Adamson songs. 'The Prize' Runs 135 Minutes The correct running time on “The Prize” (MGM) is 135 minutes. The film, which was reviewed in Boxoffice December 9, erroneously carried the time as 156 minutes. Report Trading Stamp Plan Okay in Midwest Tests ST. LOUIS — A Movie Stamp plan, similar to the highly popular trading stamp plans now prevalent, is expected to build boxoffice for theatres, based on the results in initial midwest test areas. Thomas James, pioneer St. Louis exhibitor, developed and launched the plan which is very simple for the customer, the participating merchant and the exhibitor. The merchant issues one Movie Stamp for each dollar purchase. When a total of 50 stamps are collected and pasted in the Movie Stamp folder, the completed book may be presented at the boxoffice of the cooperating theatre, representing a $1 value. A theatre admission ticket is issued at the prevailing rate, and the change from the “$1” is returned to the patron in cash. Theatres adopting the plan are furnished attractive 10xl4-inch display cards, imprinted in red and blue on white stock, bearing the legend: “We Accept Movie Stamps . . . Good for Admission or Cash.” Participating merchants are issued similar cards indicating, “We Give Movie Stamps.” No fractional stamps are issued and no fractional books are redeemable. Merchants are protected against Movie Stamp issuance by any competitive firms within an agreed area, and are to be kept advised of theatres accepting stamps. Thomas James Entertainments, Inc., maintains, on deposit in escrow, in designated banks, sufficient funds to be released to the exhibitor on presentation of filled and redeemed Movie Stamp folders; or, by arrangement, a company agent will, at regular intervals, call at the theatre to redeem filled books. Great interest in the Movie Stamp plan has been shown in the tested areas by women and children, because only 50 stamps are required to fill the books which are immediately redeemable for movie admission and cash — the latter, as expected, usually finds its way to the refreshment stand. Viertel Novel to Garrick NEW YORK — Garrick Films has acquired the motion picture rights to Joseph Viertel’s novel, “The Last Temptation,” according to Joel W. Schenker, president of Garrick. The company recently acquired the screen rights to another Viertel novel, “To Love and Corrupt.” H. E. REESE CAND CO. HERSHEY, PA. Make every night OPENING night! Churchill's Early Life To Be Foreman Film NEW YORK — Carl Foreman has acquired the rights to two autobiographical works of Sir Winston Churchill for adaptation into a motion picture which will be distributed worldwide by Columbia Pictures. The project was announced jointly here Thursday (5) by writer-producer-director Foreman and Anthony Montague Browne, The signature of writer-producerdirector Carl Foreman is added to those of Columbia Pictures executive vice-president Leo Jaffe (left) and Anthony Montague Browne (right), personal representative for Sir Winston Churchill, concluding an agreement for Foreman’s coming film version of two autobiographical works by the British ex-prime minister, to be distributed worldwide by Columbia. personal representative of Churchill, who came over from London to complete negotiations and participate in the joint announcement. The two books on which the picture will be based will be “My Early Life” and “The World Crisis,” which were published in the United States by Scribner. Foreman told a press meeting at the Sherry Netherland Hotel that the picture would span the Churchill years from birth to his entry into politics in 1908. It will cover the adventurous side of his life as both a soldier and newspaper writer. The picture will be shot on location in India, Africa and other parts of the world, Foreman said. Foreman, who said the picture would be the most important in his career, will write the screenplay for the Churchill production, as well as direct. He said he probably would not start the writing until next spring, with production starting the following spring. Robert Ferguson, vice-president, who attended the press session, said Columbia regarded the film as a work of major proportions, in the same vein as “Lawrence of Arabia,” “Bridge on the River Kwai,” “From Here to Eternity,” “The Guns of Navarone” and “The Victors,” the latter two being Foreman productions. Foreman said it was too early to predict whether the picture, as yet untitled, would be a hard ticket enterprise. He currently is attending the premiere of “The Victors” and will be on hand for the opening in Tokyo, Stockholm, Copenhagen, New York and Los Angeles. 14 BOXOFFICE :: December 16, 1963