Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1947)

MONTREAL A three-month trip through Europe and extending to Egypt, is being undertaken by Fred Tabah, president of Confederation Amusements. He also is president of the Tabah Cousins Drygoods Co., for which he will transact some business. He has already visited France, Belgium, Switzerland and Italy . . . Ameen Lawand, booker for Confederation Amusements, is spending a month’s holiday at Miami. Leo Devaney, Canadian general manager, Toronto, attended RKO’s drive meeting at the Mount Royal hotel, along with his assistant, T. L. Carey, also of Toronto. From New York came Carl Peppercorn, and Len Gruenberg, captain of the drive. Among exhibitors visiting Filmxow were A. Lemoine, owner of the Bijou, Megantic; Armand Veilleux, St. George’s, St. George de Beauce; A. Gingras, Canada, Levis, and Roger Lalonde, Colonial, Plessisville . . . Miss Gwen Cameron, stenographer at Warner Bros, here, has left by plane for a two-week holiday in Newfoundland . . . Johnny Dufour, owner of the Crystal, Montreal, is the father of twins. They arrived a few days ago. Superior court has decided that the rental controller of the Wartime Prices and Trade board has authority to decide the merits of an application to demolish buildings at St. Catherine and Crescent streets to permit erection of a new house by General Theatres, subsidiary of Odeon Theatres of Canada. The tenants have protested that if ousted they will be homeless. Investigation, which was suspended awaiting the court’s ruling, will be resumed by the controller. Marcus Loew’s Theatres, Toronto, will provide funds from its own resources, to redeem its 7 per cent $100 par, preference shares . . . Two new theatres will be erected at Montmagny and another at Chicoutimi. Five new films made their debuts in Montreal first run theatres over the Easter weekend . . . Ross Munro, correspondent for the Canadian Press who now is covering the Moscow conference, attended an exhibition of a three-dimensional film, “Robinson Crusoe.” He did not seem much impressed and found it tiring on the eyes. The National Film board’s production, “Holiday at School,” a color film describing the Banff School of Fine Arts, was shown here . . . Montreal Film council is sponsoring a series of films of interest to social workers, educators and the public, which will be given free in Montreal high school auditorium. 500-Seat Civic Center Planned at Vancouver VANCOUVER — A 500-seat playhouse and civic theatre is planned here, it was revealed by Gordon Hilker at a meeting of the Vancouver Civic Theatre society. It will be ready in a few months. Hilker said the theatre will be available for small drama groups and will not be operated for profit. Western Receipts Drop WINNIPEG — A drop in business as much as 25 per cent below past records was reported by E. A. Zorn, Famous Players western division manager, returning to the city following a tour of the territory. Zorn said business generally has shown a decline in western Canada, with show business suffering as well. Business Leaps Up As Lent Passes TORONTO — The local cinema centers returned to full business glory with the playing of Easter attractions. Even “The Jolson Story,” in its third week at both the Tivoli and Eglinton, returned to above-par figures. Biggest grossers were “My Favorite Brunette,” “It Happened in Brooklyn,” “Song of the South” and “The Egg and I.” (Average is 100) Capitol and Victoria — Ladies' Man (Para) 110 Eglinton and Tivoli — The Jolson Story (Col), 3rd wk 110 Imperial — My Favorite Brunette (Para) 140 Loew's — It Happened in Brooklyn (MGM) M0 S’hea's — Song of the South (RKO) 145 Uptown — The Egg and I (U-I) 135 Boxoffice Takes in Vancouver Reported on the Light Side VANCOUVER — Business was on the light side during Holy week. “The Jolson Story” bowed out of the Orpheum after four bigweeks. Admissions have been increased in all Famous Players downtowners. This did not affect business, apparently. Capitol — The Shocking Miss Pilgrim (20th Fox) Moderate Dominion — Strange Journey (20th-Fox); California (Para), moveover Average Hastings and Vogue — The Overlanders (E-L) ..Good Orpheum — The Jolson Story (Col), 4th wk Good Plaza — White Tie and Tails (U-I); North of the Border (PRC) Average Strand — Trail Street (RKO) Blondie's Big Moment (Col) Good Calgary Business Shows Pickup; Showmen Now More Optimistic CALGARY — Business picked up some after a decided drop in theatre attendance. Exhibitors have blamed poor business on the recent hockey playoffs. With the last year’s Stanley cup winners, the Calgary Stampeders, playing the Kimberley Dynamiters of British Columbia, public interest was high. While the ardent hockeyists go to the Arena, theatre men say, many others sit by their radios. Capitol — 13 Rue Madeleine (20th-Fox) Very good Grand — The Overlanders (E-L) Very good Palace — Calendar Girl (Rep); Strange Journey (20th-Fox) Fair Marcus Loew to Redeem All Preferred Shares TORONTO — Marcus Loew’s Theatres, operating two first run theatres in here, has called all 7 per cent preferred shares for redemption, funds having accumulated for the purpose. The decision was followed by the announcement of the Toronto stock exchange that the shares had been removed from the trading list. Exhibitor Is Really 'Blue' Alter ' Blue Skies’ Run Calgary — Isber Frank Shacker played “Blue Skies” in his Capitol Theatre at Hanna, but skies weren’t blue for Shacker, although the day he played the attraction was a blue one indeed. For the Composer, Authors and Publishers Ass’n of Canada filed a claim against Shacker, claiming damages of $1,000 and costs, on the grounds, according to the complaint, that the association has the sole rights to perform “Blue Skies” in the Dominion, and that Shacker in his theatre “performed or caused to be performed” the musical work of substantial portions thereof “without the consent of the plaintiff.” This is the first such claim filed by CAPA in western Canada for years. ST. JOHN J^orman Smith, a brother of Abe Smith, manager of Regal Films, and a brotherin-law of Maurice Elman (they married sisters), has become maritime manager for Astral Films. Elman recently joined Alliance Films as maritime representative with quarters adjoining PRC. The Jack Bellamys are parents of a baby girl named Joan Linda. The pater is PRC maritime manager. He has moved into a new home at Beaconsfield . . . Art Elliott, Montreal, has joined the RKO staff here as a salesman under Herman McArthur, manager. An unusual switch was the recent one made by Joe Kilpatrick and Beatty Thompson, shippers at Columbia and PRC . . . Sylvia Brownberg, who returned from Red Cross overseas service several months ago, has joined the Columbia staff as bookkeeper and stenographer. Before going to London, she had been in the Mayfair Theatre office about five years. Two St. Johners finished first and second in a Monogram sales drive. Sam Jacobs, now manager at Montreal exchange but previously here, was No. 1, and Lou Michaelson, his successor at St. John, was No. 2 . . . Sam Babb, booking manager for Franklin & Herschorn, is a philatelist who devotes special attention to air mail stamps. Thomas Stephen, promoter of a new theatre, has met financing woes and his project may not get started this spring. Ditto for a new East St. John house he planned. The gross gate for five days of “The Ice Cycles of 1947” at the Halifax Forum was unofficially reported as slightly over fifty thousand dollars at $1 to $2.50, including provincial tax. The advance promotion includes radio blurbs, amplifier announcements at hockey games and ring programs, newspaper and billboard advertising, window cards and paper restaurant napkins. Mel Anderson looked after the praise department and Chris Kelley was company manager . . . For the five days at Moncton, the gross was unofficially estimated at about half that of Halifax. The quality of the show was reported tops for the maritimes. Although no evidence was presented for the defense, a charge of abduction involving two 14-year-old girls, brought against Ray Little, a touring trouper, was dismissed in the county court at Amherst. The presiding judge, J. W. Macdonald, ruled there was insufficient evidence to call for conviction. Little’s real name is Ray Elliott Petit of Chelsea, Mass., and Bangor, Me. He has been heading a western show through the maritimes. Indications are the Casino, Halifax, will be shuttered for about a month for remodeling, redecorating and installation of television facilities . . . Operations at the Family, Halifax, were resumed after about 11 days suspension for construction of a new projection booth. New projection machines and sound apparatus will be installed later. The same construction firm has two Paramount-Famous Players jobs under way within about 250 yards — the new Paramount Theatre and new Paramount exchange here. The contractor is John Flood & Sons, St. John. The exchange site is opposite the currently rented quarters. Between the theatre and exchange is the Capitol Theatre, owned and operated by FPC. The latter will continue to have the biggest theatre seating capacity in New Brunswick, 1,629. The Paramount will seat between 1,450 and 1,500. 116 BOXOFFICE :: April 12, 1947