Variety (December 1954)

22 PICTURES TVdneecIay, UecymlKfr I, 1$S4 Clips From Film Row » 4♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦44 4 + 4-4 4+4444444 LOS ANGELES Allan Dowling’s'' “Hunters of Deep” will be distributed in Great Britain by Monarch, Ltd,, and in the U S. and Cahada- by Distrib- utors Gorp. of America; Two film houses were added to . Sherill Corwin’s Metropolitan cir- cuit,, through a. deal with their owner, Earl Calvert. Theatres are 650-seat Lompoc and 750-seat La Mesa, both in Lompoc. They will be operated by Paul Quigley, who resigned as manager of the Wash- ington in Pasadena; Russell Banks . succeeded Quigley at the Washing- ton. Terry O’Neill, appointed.-Ameri- can and Canadian rep of Associ- ated British-Pathe, will make his; headquarters in Allied Artists N.Y. office. V George J. Schaefer, pioneer dis- tributor, Setting up a special or- ganization to release “Day of Triumph,” the bible feature recent- ly produced, by James K. Friedrich- Century Films for theatrical release. . Paul Scherer, of Fox West Coast’s film buying department, moved over to. Natfonal Theatres as assistant to treasurer Alan May; Frank Prince upped to assistant to Jess Elliott, head of ’ real estate department. PHILADELPHIA Stonehurst Theatre, 1,200-seat-. Or, sold to A. M. Ellis chain for $115,000. “Utopia,’' Laurel and Hardy starrer. originally “Robinson Cru- soeland” to be released nationally by EPI, according to Jack,Harris, general sales manager of Exploita- tion Productions Inc. Cooking schools are the new matinee magnet in several houses of the A. M. Ellis chain as well as Stanley Warners nabes. Motion Picture Associates elected Sam Diamond, 20th-Fox branch manager, as pi'exy; Mort Magill,. UA brajnch mariager, veepee; Shep Bloom, 20th-.Fox sales manager here, treasurer, and' Eugene Ganz, BKO salesman, secretary. Robert Adleman, local ad man, named director of publicity for In- ternational Variety Clubs, to co- ordinate the publicity work of ; 45 Variety Tents : with the office of International Press Guy Ben Goff- stein in Las Vegas, William I., Greenfield chai ? opened the redecorated Riviera Theatre in Manayunk. Joe Levine, of Embassy Pictures, Boston, and Jack H. Harris, of Ex- ploitation Productions, Inc., inked deal naming Levine, EPI rep in New England. Embassy will dis- tribute the Technicolor~Boy : Scout pic, “Jamboree” and .aiso “Laurel and Hardy in* Utopia,” first new L&H feature in 10 years. Isadore (Speed) Sley, owner of. the Viking Theatre, recuperating after operation. Mort Magill, branch manager of United Artists, resigning to be- come division „ sales manager* for Buena Vista Productions, Walt Disney company, covering the Philadelphia,.. Washington and Pittsburgh territories, Leonard Mints remains as local UA branch, manager. Inspection of books and records of the Park Theatre over a six-year period ordered by U. S. District Judge John W. Lord, Jr,, on mo- tions filed by eight distribs against I. Edward Kapner and • others operating the Park since Jan.- 1,. 1948. DALLAS Roy Farrar changed name of the" Strand at Talco, which he wns and operates, to the Star. Carl Benefiels installed C’Scope at Victory Theatre, Amarillo, and at the Bronco, Clayton, New. Mexico.' A1 Burks, Warner Bros., exploi- teer, assigned here to cover Dallas, Oklahoma City; and Memphis, Vera-Ellen here to bally “White Christmas” .which opened at the Palace. Bob Reeves Jr., converting a building at Franklin into a theatre which is expected to-be completed by December. Rqwley United Theatres pur- chased Cameron and Milan Thea- tres at Cameron from Stanley H. Swift who had operated the two houses for 25 years.; Dean White, who has been manager of the two houses since 1933, will continue on. Dan Hulse Jr., named new booker at Metro exchange, Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Murphee reonened the Parkway at Iowa Park. IFE Releasing Corp., will stage a "Salute to Texas” with a 20-city saturation of “Thodora, Slave Empress;” its American language Pathecolor spectacle. Sid.. Meslbov \vill- supervisecampaign; * Lee Hobbs- named manager of the Twin Sheppard Drive-In- at Wichita Falls.. MILWAUKEE . Cinema Inc., operators of Fox Bay Theatre, Whitefish Bay, took over operation of ’the Varsity, Downer and the Sherman. Ben Marcus, general manager of Marcus Theatre Management Co., bid $95,000 for shuttered, defunct Century Theatre* and won over the house. The Century shuttered last Aug. 8. .The Zenith sold to Rev. A. C. Valdez Jr., who fronts the Mil- waukee Evangelistic Centre. CALGARY, ALTA. • Famous Players Canadian Corp. will build a 1,000-seat theatre in Red Deer, Alta i with construction to get under way this fall. : » The 36th ozoner in Saskatchewan is the Blue Moon 1 at Foam Lake, Sask. Blue Moon Theatre Co., headed by Theo Hakyk and S. K.A. Kays, is affiliated with the Paragon Theatre Co:, Winnipeg. Latest theatre at Blaine Lake, Sask., is the Empress, owned and operated by M. Szurydky. New drive-in at Edmonton, the Belmont, boasts the only all-steel Cinemascope screen in Alberta. A. W. Shackleford, theatre oper- ator, re-elected. to a sixth term as mayor of Lethbridge, Alta.. He has served as mayor from 1943 to 1946 and agai since 1952. BOSTON George Roberts, Rifkin Circuit exec and head of Sentry Lodge, B’nai B’rith, and exhibitor Michael Redstone, trustee of the Lodge, were presented citati by the Paralyzed Vets of America in re- cognition for the many kindnesses each has accorded the group. Presentation was made by Sy Rosenthal, former Red Sox base- ball player, who has been confined to a wheelchair several years.. Celtic Films. Corp. relighted the Copley Theatre for month’s en- gagement of “Spell of Ireland.” SEATTLE Frank H. Newman, who recently sold his interests in Evergreen Theatres (Washington and Oregon), sails shortly with Mrs. Newman on world cruise.' Will Connor, veepee of Hamrick Theatres, back from N. Y. and Chicago- expressed approval of plan for exhibitor financing of more producers to obtain addi- tional pix. ALBANY The uptown Colonial, last used • for stock in 1952-53, being re- opened as a pic theatre by Dr. Samuel Brown, who runs theatres and sells pictures under the name of Brown Associates. Henry (Dutch) Harris, who has worked backstage at Albany thea- tres since baci£ in 1902, pull*; ropes for the last time at the Stanley Warner Strand Nov. 26. He is re- tiring from show biz to live in Dade City, Fla.. Prexy and busi- ness agent of Local 14, Theatrical Stage Workers Union, IATSE* for years, Harris started as- an appren- tice at the old Leland. Troy Theatre building in ..Troy, N.Y., sold to a Glens Falls man, but Stanley Warner Corporation will continue to occupy it on lease. Sid Summers manages the Troy, -— MINNEAPOLIS For. first time an Allied Artists’ release, “Tonight’s the Night,” makes the Minneapolis Radio City, Paramount’s flagship house, and gets day date booking with St. Paul Par. Minneapolis Colosseum, union of film . salesmen, elected Chet Levoir, Universal, president; Ed- die Stoller, UA, veepee; Mort Eich- enberg, UA, secretary - treasurer; Don Halloran, Universal, entertain- ment committee chairman, and last-named and Paul Weiss, Colum- bia, delegates, to annuril conven- tion, This area’s C’Scope installations now number more than 300 Out of 800 potentialities, North Central Allied again put approval stamp, on holiday theatre collections for Northwest Variety club’s heart hosiptal and asked all exhibitors to participate. ‘Contessa’ Crisp 12G, Indpls.; ‘Xmas* 17G, 4th Indianapolis, NbYi 30r “White Christmas,” .playing jts ; fourth Week at the Circle, still is' city’s top grosser. However, it’s a good stanza* at most spots. "De^ siree” at Indiana and “Barefoot. Contessa” at Loew’s both are run- ning- .strong. Brfsk Thanksgiving* Doy biz helped everybody. Estimates for This Week Circle (C-D) (2,800; 75-$l> — “White Christmas” (Par) (4th wk). : Sock $17,000. .Lafcjf week, $14,000. Total for run approximates $71,000. and fifth week is likely. Indiana (C-D) (3,200; 50-85)^ “Desiree” (20th). Hefty $13,000. Last week, ‘‘Hajji Baba” (20th)., $8,500. Keith’s (C-D) (1,300; 50-80)— “Adventures Robinson Crusoe” (UA). Fair $5,000. Last week, sub- sequent-run. Loew’s (Loew’s) (2.427; .50-86)— “Barefoot Contessa” (UA). Big $12,- 000. Last week, “Last Time Saw Paris” '(M-G) (2d wk), $8,000. : Lyric. (C-D) (1,600; 35-70)—“Tar- get Earth” (AA). and “Deadly Gamb” (Lippert). Modest $5,500. with Little Jimmy' Dickens and stage Show -replacing. second pic at $1.25 Sunday only. Last week, “Steel Cage” (UA), $5,000, same setup. Golden November iss Continued from pace 7 = “Cinerama” (Indie) moved up tq fourth as compared to fifth spot in October. “Sabrina” (Par), third-position winner in October, showed its staminai by taking fifth money last month. “Barefoot Contessa” (UA), a newcomer the latter part of the month, displayed enough to cap? ture sixth spot. “On the Waterfront” (Col), which was fourth in October, con- tinued in the chips to land seventh place. “Drum Beat” (WB), a rtew- comeiv did enough in two stanzas to finish eighth, while “Suddenly” (UA). took ninth spot. “Bengal Brigade” (U), out only two weeks to any extent, copped iOth position. “Rear Window” (Par), high on the list for two months in a row (it was seventh in October) continued displaying strength to lead the runner-up pix last month;. “Brigadoon” (M-G) and “Hajji Baba’’ (20th)- were the other two runner-up films. “Desiree” (20th), which finished second the final week of Novem- ber, looms as one of the brighter newcomers. "Last Time I Saw Paris” (Jl-Cf) also shapes poten- tially strong, based on the first three, playdates. , “Carmen Jones” (20th), also new, looks to be a contender among the fresh entries. "Christmas,” - “Contessa” and “Star” likewise are likely to be heard from considerably in forth- coming weeks. Another new vehicle, - “Phfff t” (Col ) looms promising, based on initial two playdates. _ “Human Jungle” (AA), which Was in 12th place week, also looks to be heard from some more. “She- ;Wolf” <Rep), likewise new, shapes j as an exploitation picture, judging from the first two smash dates. "Athena” (M-G), although a bit uneven the month closed, showed up well on several play- dates late in the month; “Track of Car” (WB), another newcomer, so far has been quite spotty. "Beau Brummeli” (M-G), which never quite measured up to its ini- tial promise hinted late in Octo- ber, managed »to do well enough to finish in 11th place one week. How- ever, later in the month it did not “Woman’s World” (20th), sec-r ond in: October, wound up. eighth Ohq stanza last month. “Black Knight” (Col) was a runner-up pic two sessions. “Betrayed” (M-G) also. Copped a runner-up position one week. “High and Dry” (U) continued to impress as arty boxoffice favor- ite. “Sitting Bull” (UA) grabbed several profitable dates during the month, “Reap Wild Wind” paired with ‘‘Appointment With Danger” for a Paramount oldie package, did unusually well in L. A. “Four Guns to Border’’ (U) showed up nicely on several engagements. “Passion” (RKO), a newie, failed to impress on many dates. ‘-The Detective’’ (Col) scored heav- ily on its first three weeks in N.Y. “Mr. Hulot’s Holiday” (GBD) con- tinued to rack up some great fig- ures in a number of arty houses. "Vanishing Prairie” (Disney) still is registering big money playing in mialler theatres. * BOSTON |' ’• (Continued from page 8) pagiie Safari” .(Indie) (2d; wk), $ 12 , 000 . Metropolitan (NET) (4,367; 50- $ljrrfr!‘Desiree” (20th) and “Bowery To,Bagdad” (Indi^). Fine $30,000. list week, “Star Is Bom” (WB) (5th wk). $15,000. Orpheum (Loew’s) (3,000; 65-$l) —“Barefoot Contessa” (UA). Solid $23,5001 ' Last . week, “Suddenly” (UA) arid “Her 12 Men” (M-G), $18,500. Paramount (NET) (1,700; 70- $1.25)—“White Christmas” (Par) :(5th wk). Longest holdover in the- atre’s history, sock $19,500. Last . week,. $19,000, Pilgrim CATC) (1,800; 65-95)— “Down 3 Dark Streets” (UArand “Khyber Patrol” (UA); Oke $11,- 000. Last week, “Black Knight” (Col) and “Convicted” (Indie) (re- issue) (3d wk), $7,500. . State (Loew’s) (3,500; 65-$i)— “Barefoot, Contessa” (UA). Nice $14,500, Last week, “Suddenly” (UA) and “Her - 12*Men” (M-G), $12,500. ; Louisville, Nov. 30. Xmas shopping doldrums have ’not set in yet even though crowds of shoppers are giving department stores a strong play. All houses did excellent biz Thanksgiving Day, and pace looks to continue strong. Big grosser is “Last Time I Saw Paris” at the State where 1 fine total looms;» Kentucky is catching great session with “Sa-! brina.” “Drum Beat” at Mary Anderson is solid. “Desiree” loom§ good at Rialto; Estimates for Tbis Week Kentucky (Switow) (liOOO; 50-75) —“Sabrina” (Par), : Fast $9,000 looms. Last week, “Knock on Wood” (Par), same. Mary Anderson (People's) (1,000; 50-75)—“Drum Beat” (WB). Sturdy $7,500. Last week, “Human Jun- gle” (UA). $5,000.- Rialto (Fourth Avenue) (3.000; 50-75)—“Desiree” (20th)> Feeling some letup at wicket due from heavy pre-Christmas . spending in stores. Good at $12,000. Last week, “Naked Alibi” (U) and “4 Guns.to Border” (U), $1.1,000. State (United Artists) (3,000; 50-75)—“Last Time Saw Paris” (M-G). Fine $15,000. Last week, “Barefoot Contessa” (UA) (2d wk), $ 6 , 000 . BALTIMORE (Continued from prige 9), Mild $3,500.. Last week, “Passion” (RKO), $2,800. ' New (Fruchtman) (f,800; 35-75- $1.25)—“Barefoot Contessa”. (UA) (3d wk). Still drawing at oke $8,000 aifter. $10,000 second. . Playhouse (Schwaber) (420; 50- $1)—“Rear Window” (Par) (6th. wk). Okay $3,800 after $4,000 i fifth. Stanley (WB)" (3,200; 30-$l)— “Drum Beat” (WB). Mild $11,000. Last week, “Track Of Cat” (WB), $6,500. Town (Rappaport) (1,600; 35-80) —“Phffft” (Col), . Stout $12,500. Last week. “Black Widow” (20th) (4th wk), $5,000. ST. LOUIS (Continued from page 8) wk). Fine $17,000 after $19,500 last W60k. Fox (F&M) (5,000; 75)—“Track of Cat” (WB). Opened today (Tries.). Last week, “Cattle Queen Montana” (RKO) arid “Saint’s Girl Friday” (RKO). firm $15,000. Loew’s (Loew’s) (3,172; 50-75)— “Barefoot Contessa” (UA). Swell $18,000 or near. Last week, “Wa- terfront” (Col) (3d wk), $14,000. - Orpheum (Loew) (1,500; 50-75) -r-“Waterfront” (Col) (m o ). Nifty $10,000. Last week, "Caine, Mutiriy” (Col) (2d wk), $6,000. Pageant (St. L. Amus.) (1,000;. 82)-* “Little Kidnappers” (UA). Good $3,000. Last, week, “Scotch on Rocks” (Indie), $2,000. Richmond (St. L. Amus.) (400; 82)—"Man oil Tightrope” (20th) (2d wk). Okay $2,000 after $2,500 opening frame. St. Louis (S. L. Amus:) (4,000; 75-90)—-“Star Is Born” (WB). Sock $25,000. Last week, “Black Widow” (20th) (3d wki, $7*5Q0. * Shady Oak (St. L. Amus:). (800; 82)—“Vanishing Prairie”. (Disney) (2d wk). Big $3,000 following $3,- 500 first stanza. Tans’ Torrid $14,000, Mpls.; ‘Desire’ Hefty 15fi ‘Karamoja 8G, 2d Minneapolis;-; Nov. 30. Thanksgiving..' and -w e e k e n d school holiday .proved *a - boxofiice stimulant and biz shows it. A snow* storm' hit grosses later, Two such newcomers as “Desiree”! arid “Last Time I Saw Paris”; helped con- siderably ' to. bring • the crowds dowritown. Both are- headed for big figures. Another entry, "Cattle Queen of Montana,” is a magnet for small fry and action fans. Otherwise, it’s the 33d week for “Cinerama,” . the fourth for "Van- ishing Prairie” and second for “Karamoja” and “Black Widow.” Estimates for This Week \ Century (S-W)\ (1,140; $1.75- $2.65) ^ “Cinerama” (Indie) (33d wk). Stout $18,000. Last week, $ 20 , 000 . Gopher (Berger) (1,600; 65-85)— “Karamoja” (Indie) and “Halfway to . Hell” (Indie) (2d wk). Tall $8,000. Last week, $9,800. Radio Ciiy (Par) (4,100; 85-$l )— “Desiree” (20th). Big campaign paying off. Hefty $15,000: Holds. Last week, “Black Widow” (20th), ; $12,500., K^O-Orpheum (RKO) (2,800; 65- 85) — “Cattle Queen Montana” (RKO). Hefty $8,000. Last week, .“Human Desire” (Col), $5,000. State (Par) (2,300; 65-85) -~ "Last Time I Saw Paris” <M-G), Socko $14,000. Last wgek, “Drum Beat” (WB) <2d wk), $5,500. World (Mann) (400; 65-$1.25) — “Vanishing ^Prairie”' (Disney) (4th wk.). School holiday.’’great help for this. Good $4,000, Last week, $4,200. Seattle, Nov. 30. “Track ot< Cat” is proving un- usually, strong here this round, and is landing a great take at Coliseum.. “Desiree” also is fine at the Fifth Avbnue while “Last Time I Saw Paris” looms solid at Music Hall. Estimates for This Week Coliseum (Evergreen) (1,829; $1- $1.25)—“Track of Cat” (WB) arid “Jungle Gents” (AA). Big $13,000 or close: Last week, "Human Jungle’’ (AA) * arid “Bob Mathias” (AA), $7,200. Fifth Avenue (Evergreen) (2.500; $1-$1.25)—“Desiree” (20th): Nice .$12,000. Last week, “Phffft” (Col) arid "Outlaw Stallion” (Col) (2d wk-6 days), ,$6,300. Music Box (Hamrick) (850; 90- $1.25)—“Sabrina” (Par). (4th wk). Great $7*500. Last week, $6,800’. Music Hall (Hamrick) (2,300; 90- $1.25)—“Last Time Paris” (M-G). Solid $11,000. Last week, “White Christmas” (Par) (4th wk), $10,300. Paramount (Evergreen) (3,039; $1-$1,25)—“Black Widow” (20th) and “Return from Sea” (AA). Mild. $8,000. Last week, “Drum Beat” (WB) and “Diamond Wizard” (UA) (2d wk),!$6,000. CLEVELAND (Continued from page 9) Last week, “Black Widow” (20th) (2d wk), $9,500. Hipp (Telem’t) (3,700; 90-$l.25)— “Desiree” (20th) (2d wk). Fine $14,000 following $21,000 • last week. Palace (RKO) (3,287; 90-$1.25)— “Carmen Jones” (20th). Power- housing to lofty $21,000. Last week, “Drive Crooked Road” (Col) and “Private Hell 36” (Col), $8,500. State (Loew’s) (3,500; 60-$D— Last Time Saw Paris” (M-G). Good $15,000. Last week, “Bare- foot Contessa” (UA) (2d wk), $10,- 000 . Stillman (Loew’s) (2,700; 90- $1,25) — “White Christmas” (Par) (5th wk). Great $15,000. Last week, same. PROVIDENCE (Continued from page 6) “World for Ransom” (AA) (2d wk), $ 8 , 000 . Majestic (Fay (2,200; 70-90)— “Desiree” (20th). Smash $18,000. ! Last w'eek, “Hajji Baba” (20th) and “Outlaw’s Daughter” (20th), ! $ 12 , 000 , State (Loew’s) 3,200; 50-75)— “Last Time Saw Paris” (M-G). Fine $15,000 or over. Last week, "Sit- ting Bull” (UA) and “Return Treas- ure Island” (UA), $13,000. fStrarid (Silyerman) (2,200; 50-$l) —"White Christmas” ' (Par , (4th wk). Still hot at $13,000 or near. Last week, $14,000.