Variety (November 1954)

PICTURES Theatre-TV Pulls ’Em In Television presentation showed re- markable improvement over the T&ZIETT larly standout Well-chosen ex- cerpts gave the operas’ highlights, tllllo 'Clin In eliminating some dull stretches, to rUII5 .till III point up their appeal. And the lavish victory scene that closed continued from page * — - — ’’ " " the "Aida’’ segments gave the eve- " c chnipv » r ,.*"ning the full.sc'al-e-sjpli:sh,--the- > visti- qUl K rlmriin 'N T T h d?pw oniv a as well. as tonally magnificent -.state -in y j5t. windup that the unique occasion Wednesday, November 10 * 1954 experimental "Carmen" 'telecast fair audience Lpcw^ State in St ^ two years ago: However, there ? s Louis grossed $8,000 with, a $4.25 still room for updating the quality to $5.25 scale ■ ■ ■ - ■ — of the picture aftid the sound. This. In Buffalo,, the Centre Theatre.. ■ -- I Si»jk observation is based on wh'at was drew only. 1,150 opera lovers, lldUS LIK0 JiiL ri 1J mi ‘ kt V- * wiAAfintf Viftfft; nnrhnptlf.lftn ■ 'irOlU I "■ observation is based on was. drew only 1,150 opera lovers; Continued from page % seen at the Guild Theatre, N. Y;, meeting hefty competition Irom ■ r '• • . . where a* specially-invited aud Liberace at the.Memorial Auditor- =55: Continued from page % ssf* viewed the’ .telecast/..' Reports.,from ium. Other . ft®" to recoup its cost in the domestic Variety correspondents through- mond. Va.r Japanese market alone. This is du t the country indicated generally Houston, 1.000; Cleveland,* -Luuu, nariimiiaHv tn.P nf tire fihnehiku out the country indicated generally Houston, L00Q; Lieyeia good, sharp pictures and sound and Salt Lake City, 900. ... with, only occasional lapses of focus.- Milton Cross, familiar to listen-, and fuzziness of sound. ers of- the Saturday The production apparently was . tfiS-necessarV' commentary With* his'- Nevertheless, Koidt’s mission is geared fot telecasting, and the th f* ■ " S to sec what can be done about ex- particularly true of the Shochiku pix since the company is active! in % :h**?*a distribimon aHd « Hi - CIS ui' uic oaiuiuaj biav^iwvi*. hiHrin radiocasts of the opera, handled uu . - special lighting of the Met stage made fot better video viewing. The work by a DuMont teievir ion crew was excellent and : Kirk Browning’s direction, of the cam- era shots was outstanding. The usual competence. Accent on Continued frot age 1 to see. what can be done about ex- porting' Japanese films to the U. S. and also to arrange for possible co- production with American pro- ducers. Shochiku is the distribu- tor in Japan of United Artists prod- uct. There is a possibility that UA may eventually act as Shochiku’s concentration was on closeups, and 0 ther healthy b.o. year. Certainly may eventually act as Shochiku’s Br wning succeeded, in composing- it has become big business. rep in the U, S. excellent pictures that took in the if was a night, of nights at the Koide explained that, the alloca- necessary stage action. It dis^- Broadway tonsil emporium, and a tion of Japanese permits, to UA was played mastery of the televising night of "firsts.’’ The largest pay- limit ed v and that Shochiku devoted technique in conquering a most .jng. audiehce in. opera history— jt s own . import licenses to bringing difficult assignment TNT em- estimated at 60,000 people in the i n additional UA pix. a Production staff 27 cities where the 32 theatres Japanese star salaries are very pf 475 people, believed to be the showed the event, plus the 3,800 high, Koide said, due to the limited. largest number .ever- to h - in the N,Y. auditorium—watched number of b,o. names. At first, the volved Single television, pip- the affair. It was the start of the studios had only the. old-and pop- ducti Met’s 70th season tactually the - , u iar players to call on. Later, stu- The large screen viewers were. Met is 71 years old, but one season dio competition extended to the up- given something which the. live was .burned out by a fire). And by CO ming talent, Koide said that New York audience did. not have common agreement, the audience while his company, was the. only —intermission visits to the. Opera, wasthe most brilliant-—in. celebfi- otm s tm engaged in tur ing out Club Room in the. Met,, where ties,., society, business,’ show biz thie. traditional Kabuki theatre-aiid- Celebfities were introduced . and and. diplomatic toppers; in ermine, dance pix, the general trend was to- • omen’s gowns -shown* • and .de- chinchilla; tiara and lavaliere^—-in wards the western approach of film- scribed; These portions. of the the Met’s history before making. This, he indicated* was in telecast were unintentionally funny World War I. line with the orientation towards and occasionally, brought forth hys- . It was. also the most novel open- ^he younger audience- bracket terical laughter from the theati’e. ing in Met history.* Defying tra-. which had adopted western ways, audiences. Edward Johnson, £6r.- : ditiori, which dictates opening with Japanese, audiences are different iner general manager of the Met, a strong and certainly a complete, from their American counterparts; roained about the room chatting full-evening opera, the Met for the Koide * observed, in that they like with the celebs. While Johnson first time offered up excerpts fr m un ] ia ppy endings.. "They like to appeared to know, them by their four operas. This was definitely .in C r y in the theatre,’’ he said. "If first nariies; he frequently forgot to deference to tv and the him* 1° film isn’t sad,: many of our peo- introduce them to the tv viewers, make opera more palatable for tv pfe just won’t enjoy it!” >J .'-k . . .4 . >. V , • ■ - kl> j; MM-yt AM M M #1 4 A n K A .A tV A W * . * - In addition* there seemed to be audiences, and to show off as many conflict between the off-screen 1 of the Met stars as possible, introcs of Alan Prescott and John- Accent was on tv instead of on son arid the camera kept coi ing : anything else. The house looked back to the same embarrassed different, with camaras, lights and celebs and society people over and other’tv equipment scattered about, ver agaim Eight cameras ,\vere used, lour in- MARYLAND CENSOR LAW NOW ‘ARCHAIC’ Patrice Munsel’s fashion: com- side the auditomi , others in . ... ® a i 1 timore> , N °^. ^. mehtary and interviews- were also-. Sherry s bar and the lobbies. ; The fate, of film censoisnip in laugh ■.provoking. Every govvri .was. Traditional, ligliting and' staging Maryland, would-be determined, by it her' "ravishing” or "beautiful’’ was altered for tv’s sake. Makeup the public under a proppsalad- and there seemed to be a snobbish of singers was different, due to tv. yanced by Gerard M. Cahill, rep- appeal in the fact that they came Leonard .Warren led off the pro- ping the Motion Picture Assn,: of from either Paris or Rome 'de- ' ceedings With the Prologue from America. In a statement inade to- signers. Some of the society folk . "Pagliacci,” dressed in evening day (Tues*). before the subcommitr appeared to. be film and stage tails—biit the shirt and tie were tee of the .Maryland legislative atires of high society. blue instead of white, in deference Council, he urged "prompt repeal From a performance viewnbinr.. tp. tele. Even the. audiehce looked by the 1955 Legislature pf the ar- as seen via television, Roberta different with cameras, lights. anS chaic movie censorship law.” Peters Jerome Hines and Mario big on ty during the evening. If the law-makers are unwilling Del Monaco came off ’best. Latter ' An Admitted Stunt to do this, he added, the blue-pen- appears a good bet for films. , Intermission features added to cil issue should be decided by the In many cities, the telecast was the glamor and circusy air of the people "in the privacy of the elec- a gala occasion, with many of flic proceedings, with ceLebs • dawdling tion booth.” Cahill concluded! "If stubholders showing up in evening over drinks or food in Sherry’s the. people of Maryland voted, we clothes. The boxoffice result, al- bar, with ex-manager EdWard are confident that they would over- though not fully tabulated, was Johnson interviewing a gathering whelmingly vote tp make the Free sock to fair. In many cities, charity of names in the opera club room State free of censorship. orgs placed their influence behind for; tele, and soprano Patrice - ’ r—’ tire event and seats went for as MUnsel femceeing a fashion show _ . * high as $7. Nate Halpern estimates of Met singers tand pro models) in Warners Sliver Chalice that 60,000 persons saw the opera^ gowns of leading couturiers. A i '1> AM rii* b in theatres. ; Evening was admittedly, a stunt I U16llQ6r ai x ar, IlItlGS &Q. The RKO Fordham Theatre in by the Met for cash and publicity" Robert Shapiro, managing dir- the Bronx 'was tilled to its 2.100 purposes. Yet it was surprising rector of the N. Y. Paramount The-, capacity and Fabian’s Fox Theati’e h w Well the artistic side stood up atfe, has set "Silver Chalice,” a in Brooklyn sold 3|0Q0 of its 4,000 under these conditions, so that die- WB picture, as the Christniias film spats; In Washington, a near capac^ hards among the .purists who came production for the Par flagship, ity audience of 3;200. bought seats to scoff, remained to thaw out and This followed his return from a at the $3, $4, $5 scale at Loew’s enjoy the spectacle for its musical two-week trip to the Coasts Capitol Theatre. House, which in- values. “Chalice” booking moves back eluded a. sprinkling, of. national The.Met put its best, tonsils for- the playdate for "Battle Cry,” celebrities and ranged from full ward as it stepped into the elec- which originally had been set to evening dress to informal sports tronics era. . .Using a three-platoon follow "Star Is Born,” current in ...clothes, furnished enthusiastic system of stars for its three-and- its fifth ..and final week at. the Parar proof; that audiences, will buy this; a-half-ring cif ctiS (the solo appear- mount. "Drum Beat>” another .War- kind- of performance.-Arias, dmv, ance of . Warren in "Pagliacci” ac- her production,, goes ip, next, as burst after burst of applause, .coin- , counting, Xof the,, "half”)., ..the Met' the .accompanying pic with the p.letely drowning out UV matting . offered soi grade-A bperalics Jackie Gleason stageshow, bpening from the New. York audience, -that shone, out above .all the frou- ^Nov. 17. 'The 2,200-seat Orph.eunv in 1 frou. . ■. v ; • - Hollywood drew 909o of capacity I After the Warren solo, the Met : for.a gross of about $5,000. It was presented : the. first act of "La' rnlnmfiio’c a well received by the straight opera Bohenie,” with Victoria de ios An- vUIllIU.UICl O UHldgU lUCCl crowd, dressed for th e occasion, .geles* Richard Tucker, Frank .. Columbia will open a sales con- Silks and, minks gave the theatre. Guarrera. Norman Bcott and others, verition in Chicago next Monday a; plush lpok it hasn’t had : in some Then, came the second act of "Bar- (15) and the company is billing time., Opinion,, favored the pro- ber of Seville,” with Roberta; the meet as one of its most im- 1 gr m s variety, but the 4:45 p.m. Peters, Jean Madeira, Gesare YaL poi’tant. Upper-bracket, budgeters • start \vas ah. awkward hour for .the letti, Robert- Merrill, Fernando ; on the .Col lineup will be given^the C oast. The. Uptown in Chicago was Corena and Jerome Hines. This ; spotlight -. while promotion and Columbia’s Chicago Meet Columbia will open a sales con- 75 r o of capacity with a $2.50 ad- ivas followed by Act I, Scene I, sales for the entire pic lineup are mission, Audience was dressed for and Act II of "Aida,” with Zinka mapped. the occasion and responded to the Milanov, Blanche Thebom, Mario Total of 18 sales and ad-pub show as if it were an actual , live del Monaco, Leonard Warren and execs from the homeoffice will sit opera. The Paramount in San Fran- Jerome Hines. . j in with 38 domestic division and cj s'co grossed $4,200 at; a $3.85 to Singing throughout was first-: branch managers and the top $6.80 scale, with day-long rain rate, with Tuckeiv and Miss de los seven sales execs in Canada. This • -the-.boxoffice. Angeles’ work in "Boheme,” Miss I hiarks the first time that the The Stanley-in Philadelphia drew Peters arid Coreria’s stint in "Bar- Canadians .wall be present at such near capacity at $5 scale under the ber," and Miss Milanov and del a huddle. Abe Montague^ Col’s sponsorship of. Philadelphia In- i Monaco’s w.ork in "Aida” parlicu^ sales v-ji.,' will preside.- DETROIT (Continued from page 9.) (Par) (2d.wk). Sturdy $32,000, Last vveiek. wow $41,000. . Palms (UD) (2,961; 80-$l)— “Sitting Bull” (UA) and "Africa Adventure” ;(RKO). Good $18,000. Last ; week, "Human Desire” (Col) and, ‘‘Bullet Wilting” (Col), $17,000. Madison (UD) (1,900; $1.25-$1.50) . — ‘Star. Is Born” (WB) (6th wk). Nice $12,000. Last week, $14,000; Broadway-Capitol (UD) (3,500; 80-$l)-—"Shanghai Story” (Rep) and "Outcast” (Rep). Mild $10,000,. Last week, "Jesse James' Women” (UA), $» } 000. United Artists (UA) (F.938; 80- $1)—“Beau Brummell” (M-G). Un- exciting $11,000. Last week, "Wom- an’s World” (20th) (3d wk), $8,000. Music Hall (Cinerama Produc-- tions) (1,194; $1.40-$2.65)—"Cine- rama” (Indie) (86th wk). Good $15,800. Last week,. $15,500. < Baba ? Stout $12,000, Denver; -Xmas- 18G, 2d Denver, Nov. 9. "White Christmas” is .still lead- ing the city although now in its third session at the Denham. It is staying on, "Black Widow” looks good in second frame at the Cen- tre, and holds again. "Hajji Baba” shapes okay at .the Denver while "Passion” is rated mild at. Or- pheuni. Estimates for This Week Centre (Fox) (1,247; 6Q-$1V- "Black Widow” (20th) (2d wk), Good $11,000. Holding. Last week, $18,0001 Denham (Cockojll) (1,750;. 70- $1.25) —* "White Christmas” (Far) (3d Wk). Big $18,000. Stays on. Last week, $25,000. . Denver (Fox) (2,525; 50-85) .— "Hajji Baba” (20th) and. "Racing Blood” (20th)., Okay $12;000. Last week, "Star Is Born” (WB) (3d wk), . $12,000. Orpheum (RKO) (2,600; 50-85)— “Passion” (RKQ) and "River Beait” (Lip). Mild $7,500. Last week, "Brigacloon” (M-G) and “House of Blackmail” (Indie), $7,000. Paramount (Wolfberg) (2:200; 60- $1 (—"Barefoot Contessa” (UA) (2d wk). Fair $9,000 or over. Last week. $16,000. Tabor (Fox) (1,967; 50-65)—"Un- holy Fbur” (Lip) and "Silent Raid- . ers” (Lip). Good $3,500. Last week, on subsequent run. BOSTON (Continued from page 9) ’ Still sock at $11,000. Last week, record $15,000, Memorial (RKO) (3',000; 50-$l)-r- "Bengal Brigade” (U) and "Turn Key Softly” (Astor); Fair $10,000. Last week, "Passion” (RKO) and "Queen Sheba” (Lip), $10,500. Metropolitan (NBT) 14.367; 80-. $1.50)—"Star Is Born” (WB) (3d wk). Okay $22,000. Last week, - $32,000. Orpheum (Loew’s) (3,000; (65-$l) —"Brigadoon” (M-G). Fancy $28,- 000. -Last. week,. “Betrayed” . (M-G) and "Yellow Tomahawk” (UA) (2d wk), $12,000. Paramount (NET) (1,700; 70- $1.25)—"White Christmas” (Par) (2d wk). Wow $25,000 after new high of $35,000 opener. Pilgrim (ATC) (1,800; 65-95)— "Black Knight” (Col) and "Con- victed” (Indie) (reissue). Fast $15,- 000. Last week; “Four Guns Bor- der” (U) and "City To Cross” (U), $10,500. . State (Loew’s) (3,500; 65-$l)— "Brigadoon" (M-G). Big $15,000. Last week, "Betrayed” (M-G) and "Yellow Tomahawk” (UA) (2d wk), $6,500. PORTLAND, ORE. (Continued from page 8) Brigade” (U) arid "Ricochet Roi - dnee” fU), $5,900. Fox (Evergreen) (1,536;) $1- $1.25)—"Hajji Baba” (20th) and "Neighbor’s. Wife” (Indie). Fine $8,000. or near. Last Week, "WOm- an’s World” (20th) ■■('■3rd wk), $8 r - 506. Guild (Indie)' (400; $1)—"Vanish^; ing Prairie” (Disney); (6th wk). Pushed up to fine $3,000. Last week, $2,600. Liberty (Hamrick) (1,875; 75-SI) !. —‘‘Barefoot Contessa” (UA) and “Man In Hiding” (UA) (2d wk), Torrid $7,500. Last week, $11,000. Orpheum (Evergreen) (1,600; 65-90)—“Do)vn 3 Dark' Streets” (UA) and "Dragon’s Gold” (Indie). Okay $6,500. Last week- "Star Is Born” (WB) (4th wk), $5,500. Paramount (Port-Par) (3,400; 65- 90)—"Her 12 Men” ; (M-G.) and "Crest Of Wave” '(M-G). Modest $6,000. Last week, "Rear Window” . (Par) and ‘‘Hot News” (AA) (3d wk), $6,000. ‘BULL’ BRISK $13,000 IN L’VILLE; ‘BEAU* 10G Louisville, Nov. 9. Town’s two big seaters, the Rialto and State, are the only houses with fresh product this week.; Rialto, with "Sitting Bull,” shapes hangup but "Beau Bruihmell” at State looms fair. "Holdovers of "Rear Window’ 1 ; at. the , Kentucky and "Star Is Born” at- Mary Anderson are in third and fourth weeks:, respectively, arid both are fine; Estimates for This Week Kentucky (Switow). (1,000; 50-75) —‘‘Rear Window.” (Par) (3d wk). Solid $7,000 after last week’s $ 8 , 000 . Mary Anderson. (People’s) (1,000; 75-$l)—"Star Is Born” (WB) (4th wk). A winner for this house, fine $6,000. Last* week, same. Rialto (Fourth AveriUe) (3,000; 50-75)—"Sitting Bull” (UA) and "Khyber Patrol” (UA), Patrons like this Indian stuff, and respond- ing with neat $13,000. Last week, "Pushover” (Col) and "Bullet Is' Waiting” (Col), $11,000. State (United Artists) (3,000; 50- 75)*-r‘‘Beau Brummell” (M-G) and "Diamond Wizard" (UA). Fair $10,000. Last week>.. ‘‘Brigadoon” (M-G), $7i000. ‘Hajji- Smart $14,000 r Cleve.; ‘Xmas’ 23G, 2d Cleveland, Nov. 9, Not much new product, here this session, and none shapes, as big as the holdover fare arid extended- runs. "White Christmas,” on second round at the Stillman, still is smash enough to easily pace the city again this week. “Sabrina” looms good in nine days at the State. "Hajji Baba” is rated smart at Hipp. Estimates for This Week Allen .(S&W) (3,000; 90-$1.25)— "Star Is Born” (WB) Wth wk). Nice $10,500. Last week, $17,500. Hipp (Telem’t) (3,700; 60-90)— "Adventures Hajji Baba” (20th). Smart $14,000. Last week, "Bengal Brigade” (U), $10,500. Ohio (Loew’s) (1,200; 60-90)—^- "Rear Window” (Par) (m*o.); Neat $9,000 in 9 days. Last week,“Tar- zan Escapes” (RKO) and “Tarzan and Apeniari” (RKO) (reissues), $4,000 in 4 days. Palace (RKO) (3,287; 60-90)— “This Is My Love” (RKO). Slight $9,000 or less. Last week, "Passion” (RKO), $8,500. State (Loew’s) (2,700; • 60-90)— "Sabrina” (Par) (2d wk). Good $18,- 000 in 9 days. Last week, "Rear Window” (Par) (. . ..wk-4 days), $7,000; >, Stillman (Loew’s) (2,700;. 90- $1.25)—-"White Christmas” (Par). (2d wk). Terrific $23,000. Last week, $25,000. KANSAS CITY (Continued from pagp 9) (4th wk). Satisfactory $6,000. Holds. Last week, $7,000. Paramount (United Par) (1,900; 75-$l)—"Star Is Born” (WB) (3d wk). Nifty $8,000 to wind up run. Last week, $12,000, Roxy (Durwood) (879; 70-90)— "Brigadoon” (M-G) (3d-final. wk). Good $4,000. Last week, $5*000. Tower, Uptown, Fairway, Gran- ada (Fox Midwest) (2,100; 2.043; 700; 1,217; 65-85)—"Human Jun- gle” (AA) arid "Casanova Brown’ (Indie) (reissue). Good $14«000. Last week, "Bengal Brigade” i-U) and "Trent’s Last Cace” (Reph same. . Vogue (Golden) (550; 75-$lj— "Madame De” (Indie). Mediui $1,800. Last week, "Man Between” (UA) (2d run), $1,500. PHILADELPHIA (Continu'ed from page 8) (2d wk); Neat $16,000. Last week, $26,000. Randolph (GOldirian) (2,500; 74* $1.49)—"white: .Christmas” (Par) (2d wk). Smash $34,000 or better; Last Week, $40,000. Stanley (SW). (2,900; 74-$1.30)— "Drum Beat” (WB). Nice $18,000. Last week, "Human Jungle” (AA), $15,000. Stanton (SW). (1,473; 50-99)— "Westerner” (UAVand "Dead End” (UA) (reissues. Mild- $6,500. Last week, "Shanghai!’ (Rep) and ‘Thun- der Pass” (Lip), $8,500. Trans-Lux (T-L) (500; 80-$1.50)— ; "Sabrina” (Par) . (3d wk). Brisk $10,000. Last week, $11*500. Viking (Sley) (1,000; 75-$1.30)— l "Brigadoon” (M-G) (5th wk). Thin ; $6,000 or near. Last week, $6,500. Traiis-Lux World (T-L) (604; 99* [ $1,50—"Suddenly” (UA) (4.th wk). Fast $8,000. Last week, $10,500.