Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1947)

Holdovers Outgross All in Minneapolis MINNEAPOLIS— The only major newcomers last week were “Sinbad the Sailor” and “Ladies’ Man” and, although both did well, they were shoved rearward by such staunch holdovers as “The Best Years of Our Lives,” “The Jolson Story” and “The Razor’s Edge.” It was the seventh week for “Jolson,” the third for “Best Years” and the second for “Razor’s Edge.” Another holdover was “Suddenly It’s Spring,” in its third week. Two reissues, “Les Miserables” and “Tom Brown’s Schooldays,” got first run play. Aster — Wild Beasts at Bay (Indie); Born to Speed (PRC) 100 Century — Les Miserables (20th-Fox), reissue 120 Gopher — Tom Brown's Schooldays (RKO), reissue.. 80 Lyric — Suddenly It's Spring (Parer), 3rd d. t. wk 100 Orpheum — Sinbad the Sailor (RKO) 130 Radio City — The Razor's Edge (20th-Fox), 2nd wk 150 RKO-Pan — The Best Years of Our Lives (RKO), 3rd wk =. 175 State — Ladies' Man (Para) 125 World — The Jolson Story (Col), 7th d. t. wk 120 'Well-Digger' Again Top Scorer; Shorts Program Aids 'Marriage' KANSAS CITY— The Kimo’s “The WellDigger’s Daughter” again led the local field by several lengths. Product at the initial stanza locations was not outstanding and grosses followed suit. M. D. “Babe” Cohn, manager of the Newman, compiled a group of three shorts and a cartoon from Paramount under the title “Paramount’s 40 Minutes of Daffy Fun.” For this reason, he said, his gross figure for the run of “The Perfect Marriage” was above average. The Tower did below average business with its last double-bill-plus-stage-show program before the opening of “The Best Years of Our Lives” at roadshow prices April 5. No picture was held over downtown although the French attraction at the Kimo will be held for a third week. Esquire, Uptown, Fairway — Trail Street (RKO) 125 Kimo — The Well-Digger's Daughter (Siritzky International) , 2nd wk 180 Midland — It Happened in Brooklyn (MGM); Blondie's Holiday (Col) 100 Newman — The Perfect Marriage (Para), plus four Paramount shorts 110 Orpheum — That Way With Women (WB); Crack-Up (RKO) 95 Tower — The Brasher Doubloon (20th-Fox); The Fabulous Suzanne (RKO), plus stage show.. 90 'O'Clock' on Dual Passes Par In Slow Omaha Trade OMAHA — “Johnny O’clock” and “Child of Divorce” at the RKO-Brandeis scored slightly the best in a mediocre week. Spring-like weather arrived. Omaha — The Dark Mirror (U-I), 2nd d. t. wk.; Flight to Nowhere (SG) 95 Orpheum — Temptation (U-I); Sunset Pass (RKO) 105 Paramount — Love Laughs at Andy Hardy (MGM).. 90 RKO-Brandeis — Johnny O'Clock (Col); Child of Divorce (RKO) 110 State — Kings Row (WB); Wild Bill Hickok Rides (WB), reissues : 105 Town — The Silver Range (Mono), split with She-Wolf of London (U-I), 2nd run; The Spider Woman Strikes Back (U-I), 2nd run 95 Des Moines Theatre Business Reported Slow All Week DES MOINES — Last week’s business was slow here. The Orpheum reported just average business for the double feature, “Johnny O’clock” and “Affairs of Geraldine.” The two TriStates houses drew below par crowds for their films, “Ramrod” at the Des Moines Theatre and “Temptation” and “Dark Horse” at the Paramount. Competing with the movies all week was a sports show at the Coliseum. Des Moines — Ramrod (UA) 95 Orpheum — Johnny O'Clock (Col); Affairs of Geraldine (Rep) 100 Paramount— Temptation (U-I); The Dark Horse (U-I) 90 OMAHA “Qklahoma!” coming up for five days at the Paramount, already has drawn orders from North and South Dakota, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Arkansas. All $4.60 top seats are gone . . . The count is now three for Booker Max McCoy at Paramount with Thomas Michael, the latest arrival. Joan Scott, 10, daughter of 20th-Fox Manager Joe Scott, is in St. Catherine’s hospital doing splendidly following an operation . . . Mr. and Mrs. Carl Johnson, Red Oak, Iowa, exhibitors, are back from Hot Springs, Ark. . . . Ben Marcus, Columbia district manager from Kansas City, spent two days here and will return Monday. Martin Fecht, Community Theatre, Macedonia, Iowa, is doing some remodeling and repainting on the house . . . Bill Harrmann, Paramount office manager, was off work Monday due to illness . . . Don V. McLucas, UA manager, spent the early part of the week in Des Moines. Rollin K. Stonebrook, former manager of the Omaha Theatre, has decided to stick in the film business and with Tri-States Theatres. He is now at the Orpheum pinchhitting for Ted Emerson, manager, who has been ill . . . Carl Reese, UA salesman who has been in the hospital, is out and made a brief appearance at the office. Joe Weiss, Warner booker who has had a broken leg in a cast for a number of months, finally got rid of all the extra weight last week . . . Betty Berndt’s wedding is now set for some time in June. In the same office, MGM cashier Helen Baum has set May 3 for her wedding to Wayne Kennison. Phil Monsky, Universal salesman, underwent an operation at Methodist hospital . . . Frank Simek, Ashland, Neb., exhibitor, is flooding at least one local exchange with post cards from Hot Springs . . . Esther Quaas, Universal inspector who has been out three months due to illness, has been ordered by her physician to take a permanent rest. Norma Nelson, MGM stenographer, is resigning to make her new home at Annapolis, Md. . . . Dee Parks, MGM information girl, is off work due to illness . . . Marjorie Gerlach, Paramount secretary, has returned to work following an illness . . . Bill Miskell, Tri-States Theatres district manager, visited in Sioux City and Falls City theatres during the week. Visitors along Filmrow included: Ralph Falkenburg jr., Lexington; Wallace Johnson, Friend; Carl Johnson, Red Oak, Iowa; Earl Barclay, Stromsburg; Joe Chantry, Osceola; Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Hintz, Tecumseh; Donald C. Henry, Sutherland, Iowa; Mel Kruse, Pierce; Mr. and Mrs. Martin Fecht, Macedonia, Iowa; O. G. Hagna, Rembrandt, Iowa; Herman Fields, Clarinda, Iowa; Brobert Johnson, Logan, Iowa; Bruce and Robert Holdridge, Shenandoah, Iowa; R. V. Fletcher, Hartington, and Howard Brookings, Oakland, Iowa. Jules Wiles, district manager for J. Arthur We DECORATE While You OPERATE — No Need to Close HART THEATRICAL DECORATING CO. 925 21 St. DENVER Ph. Tabor 4962| Rank Organization, was in town . . . Tri-States is inviting each of its out-state city managers and wives in for the “Oklahoma!” production . . . Frankie Carle, holder of the boxoffice record at the Orpheum Theatre, will be here for the week of May 23 aiming at a new mark. Republic screened “Apache Rose” at the Dundee Theatre on a recent afternoon . . . Joseph Kinsky, former Tri-States Theatres district manager here, now is treasurer of the Radiant Valley Development Corp., Landover, Md. . . . Henry Saggau is going ahead with plans for a new 700-seat theatre at Denison, Iowa . . . Mayor Charles Leeman and the city council have given Ralph Blank an okay to stage a parade on opening days of his de luxe Chief Theatre in South Omaha . . . Lent, the weather and Easter buying are credited with dropping local theatre business. Lewis Blumberg, assistant to the general manager of Prestige Pictures, was a visitor here. Other out-of-town visitors at the Universal exchange during the week included E. R. Heiber, district manager from Kansas City; Jules Wiles, district manager for J. Arthur Rank Productions, and F. T. Murray, Universal maintenance supervisor. E. E. Jameson District Chief For National Film Service KANSAS CITY— Earl E. Jameson, Lees Summit and Kansas City, Kas„ exhibitor, and head of Exhibitors Film Delivery, is the new district manager for National Film Service, formerly the Central Shipping and Inspection bureau. His territory includes Denver, Kansas City, St. Louis and Oklahoma City. National Film at present is handling physical distribution of Monogram, Screen Guild, PRC, Film Classics and Eagle-Lion product. The national organization was created in order to facilitate nationwide distribution of Selznick Releasing Organization product. Stars in 'Weep No More' Cary Grant will star in “Weep No More.” This is his second film this year for RKO. P o p c o R N QUALITY HYBRID PRODUCED FROM KANSAS AND INDIANA APPROVED VARIETIES EXCELLENT POPPING CONDITION ASSURED ON ALL SHIPMENTS. WRITE FOR QUOTATIONS ON L.C.L. AND CARLOAD SHIPMENTS. F.A.MANGELSDORF SEED CO. ATCHISON, KANSAS BOXOFFICE : : April 5, 1947 69