Boxoffice (May 17, 1952)

‘Belles Grosses 115 As Toronto Leader TORONTO — Attendance held up nicely here in the face of continued fine weather. The leader among the holdovers was “The African Queen” in its third week at Loew's. Avatye Is 1 at Eglinton—The Elusive Pimpernel (London), Aral Wc igh gaskin Mieie Wiseco'e ¥ Wieie: wie mine B's: C416, 0 100 Hyland—Encore (Para), Sth Whe can scvrecveens 95 imperial and Se en Ines LUS A. (2OtH-FOx) ccccvacccccvesccesnsnvesacacecs 105 Loew’s—The African Queen (UA) ‘3rd ve Tek vee 100 Odeon—My Six Convicts (Col), dnd wk.w eee es 95 Shea‘’s—With a Song in My Heart (20th-Fox), 4, University and Tivoli—Belles on Thelr Toes DINSEOX) iwi viel Nop nly seine eare ete ae oa Sew ee Uptown—tThe Belle of New York (MGM) ....5. 110 Victoria and Capitol—Viva Zapata! (20th2) 2nd d.t. wk.; The Big Lift (20th-Fox) ........ 05 Vancouver First Run Houses Battle Stiff Opposition VANCOUVER—First runs are battling a combination of stiff opposition which includes the first springlike weather, opening of drive-ins and night baseball, which all adds up to an off week. The best were a second week of “The Wild North” and a moveover of “A Streetcar Named Desire.” Copitol—Belles on Their Toes (20th-Fox)....... Fair Cinemo—lIt’s a Big Country (MGM); Shadow in the Sky (MGM Dominion—A Streetcar Named Desire (WB); Jopanese War Bride (20th-Fox), 2nd d. t. wk..Good Orpheum—The Wild North (MGM), 2nd wk... ..Good Poaradise—Two of a Kind (Col); The Barefoot. Maltmien: (Col) i guise oct ws 6s slaves dice Average plore cue of Danger (JARO); The Torch State—City Across the River (U-1), plus stage BIOW ice ac clonic « cinin vis wie wibie wipe idre's/s ws Crias Moderate aronacarast This Once (MGM)...........Moderate Studio—II Trovatore (Alliance), 2nd wk......... Fair Vogue—Ma and Pe Kettle at tho Fair CUGD) ez a Wiese igiets cecal alc twieiaim amas Siore s\oistaie a Fair M. H. Nathanson Dies TORONTO—Dr. Morris H. Nathanson, 60, who died recently in Los Angeles following a heart attack, was a brother of Henry L. Nathanson of Toronto, president and managing director of MGM Pictures Corp. of Canada. Another brother, the late Nathan L. Nathanson, was the central figure in the Canadian film industry for many years prior to his death a decade ago. Myer L. Axler Visits OTTAWA—Myer L. Axler, head office supervisor of theatre operations with 20th Century Theatres at Toronto, was in for a conference with Ernie Warren, Ottawa and eastern Ontario chief. The circuit, headed by N. A. Taylor, has made considerable expansion in this district and has acquired some drive-in units. Parcel-Checking Service WINDSOR—When merchants in this city adopted the policy of remaining open until 9 p. m. Fridays, the Vanity Theatre got into the act. The house, a unit of 20th Century Theatres, established a parcel-checking room for patrons, using the advertisement: “Late Shopping Friday? Parcels checked free. Last complete show 9 p. m.” Censors Reject Four CHICAGO—The motion picture censor board reylewed 102 pictures, (542,000 feet of film), Idst month, rejected four foreign pictures and classified for adults eight forelgn pictures. 46 Exploitable Indie Films Discussed by Fuller NEW YORK—A highly exploitable subject for his story is the chief guarantee that an independently produced picture will be successful, according to Samuel Fuller, writerproducer-director of “Park Row,” his first independent picture which will be released by United Artists. The only other ingredients which will make an independent picture successful are either a big boxoffice name, which few independents can afford, or what Fuller terms a “circus attraction.” Fuller, who has ‘a one-a-year picture contract with Darryl F. Zanuck, for whom he made “Fixed Bayonets,” in 1951, also plans two other features under his own banner in the next 12 months. The first of these, ‘“Verboten,” from an original story he has owned for some time, will go into production in Germany in September, after he completes his next for 20th Century-Fox. This is tentatively titled “Blaze of Glory” and will star Richard Widmark and Lauren Bacall. Fuller also plans to produce a Broadway play next fall and will make it into a film whether or not it is a Broadway success. Fuller rarely uses name players in his own films and employs many continuous scenes, filmed without breaks, which cut down his costs. His first picture, “Steel Helmet,” was made in 18 days, cost approximately $100,000 and is expected to take in over $1,000,000 for Lippert, the distributor. “Park Row” cost approximately $400,000. Gene Evans has played in all three of his pictures, “Steel Helmet,” “Fixed Bayonets” and “Park Row” and, for the latter, Mrs. Fuller discovered a young Broadway stage actress, Mary Welch, to play opposite Evans, Fuller was in New York for conferences with United Artists executives on distribution and promotion plans for “Park Row,” and hopes to distribute his other independent features through UA. To exploit “Park Row,” a film dedicated to the early days of journalism, Fuller displayed an exhibit of American newspapers from 1776 to the present for the interest of publishers gathered at the annual convention of the American Newspaper Publishers Ass’n at the Waldorf Astoria hotel. Newspaper Contest Makes Readers Guess Theatres SEATTLE—The gravure magazine section of the Seattle Times recently featured a twopage spread and quiz on the identities of six major Seattle first runs. Readers were asked to check their memories against photos of the elaborate and distinctively different interiors and identify them. : Included were the auditoriums of the Coliseum Theatre with its smart, modernistic proscenium and drapery; the Fifth Avenue, whose interior features Chinese decor; the Orpheum, predominantly Italian in decor; the Paramount, which is essentially French in design, with fleur de lis atop the proscenium; the Liberty, which features ship paintings, and the Music Hall, which was originally to be called the Mayflower and features nautical architecture with foyer tile and columns suggesting Moorish design. In 1951 the export of Japanese films to Formosa and Brazil was considerably increased. RESEARCH BUREAU for MODERN THEATRE PLANNERS ’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . « . . " s s . . . s s s . . . . « rt 2 2 . . * ° 2 s s s . . . es s s s . ] . s . e e . s s s ® . . . . . e ° s s : ENROLLMENT FORM FOR THE INFORMATION : 5-17-52 3 ? The MODERN THEATRE : PLANNING INSTITUTE = 825 Van Brunt Blvd : Kansas City 1, Mo. : Gentlemen: = Please enroll us in your RESEARCH BUREAU = to receive information regularly, as released, on H the following subjects for Theatre Planning: = DJ Acoustics D Lighting Fixtures H O Air Conditioning O Plumbing Fixtures : SRE. Servico iiEroleclors * OD “Black” Lighting Projecti Building Materia 7 a ee pores [i Carpels 0 Seating (Coin Machines 0 Signs and Marquees (J Complete Remodeling (1 Sound Equipment ft Decorating O Television O Drink Dispensers 0 Theatre Fronts (J Drive-In Equipment {J Vending Equipment (e)'Other ‘Subjects hoes, ssscsnsnpson iene cine =a i. y Theatre Prrrrireeeer teri iit tit tre tee eee eet er ch Seating Capacity Tortie erie errr t eee tet et tt eee tet ere ii irri ii irr) Address RARE REESE Ree R NMR E eee eRe N wena eee Ee BEE HEES EO UREEEEEEEEEEEE EERE HIE EOEOER HOOe A HARERN CORRE ROO HOE HONOR en eRR eee wren ree anne eeeeneeen sre etemneesenetneeneeeeseeeet Postage-paid reply cards for your further convenience = in obtaining information are provided in The MODERN ? THEATRE SECTION every month, BOXOFFICE :: May 17, 1952