Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1947)

Kill Those Who Come Late to Shows! Cries Winnipeg Newspaper Critic WINNIPEG — Habits of a certain type of theatregoer aroused the wrath of the Tribune columnist, Ted Schrader, who reports his sad plight when viewing “The Jolson Story.” Schader writes in his column, I Write What I See: “They say ‘The Jolson Story’ was terrific. It built up to a moving climax. I was there, but I don’t know. For 25 minutes by the clock, seeing the screen was like watching a parade through a string of passing freight cars. THEATRE IS “HAUNTED” “The show was haunted by the type of persons who read the last chapter of a book first. They decided that the best time to enter the theatre was toward the end of the film. For 25 minutes they jammed the aisles, poked people in vain effort to find empty seats, and made customers stand up as they crowded past. “Each time I gathered my coat and hat together, stood up and let someone crowd by. Each time the patron would get settled when he or she would spot a seat with a better view. I was jumping up and down so much I felt like a fan at a baseball game. “A woman and a small boy sat behind me. I had always assumed talking pictures eliminated explanations. Not so. The woman babbled constantly. And when the child didn’t ask, ‘What’s happening now?’ the woman talked anyway. All Larry Parks had to do was walk across the screen. The woman would say: ‘Look, he’s walking across the room.’ Maybe she had never seen a movie before. SHOW IS IN THE BAG “Her conversation was punctuated by a candy bag. It put in every comma, period and exclamation mark. “If these view blockers had been at a wrestling match, the crowd would have let off steam.” Schrader concludes with the observation that theatre pests are of a breed with people who block the aisles in buses. He ends with the observation: “All inconsiderate people should be shot. Then the world could be given back to the apes with instructions to make a better job of evolution.” Canadian Beaver on Television MONTREAL — Films showing beaver in Prince Albert National park, Saskatchewan, were televised from Washington, D. C. Some of the beaver shown were “little brothers” of the late Gray Owl who occupied a cabin on the shores of Ajawaan Lake in the park. Ontario Ticket Levy Limited to Sports Toronto — Ontario province will impose an amusement tax, but only on sports events. Following a vigorous campaign by theatres and organized labor against the revival of the levy on admissions to cinemas. Premier George Drew introduced a resolution in the Ontario legislature to amend the athletic control act to provide for an assessment on sports patrons. The revenue will go to a new account known as the physical fitness and recreation fund to finance physical education camps and community centers. Provision is made for a tax of from 1 to 5 per cent on boxing and wrestling and a maximum of 2 per cent on all other athletic events. Two Theatres in Works In Minneapolis Territory MINNNEAPOLIS — Plans have been drawn here for two new theatres and several improvement projects in the territory. The Benfield-Schenecker company will build a $65,000, 650-seat house at Webster, S. D. A new 400-seat theatre at Clinton, Minn., will cost $40,000. The improvement programs are for the Rivoli, La Crosse, Wis., and the Ideal, Bloomer, Wis. Plan Kamloops Expansion; FPC and Odeon to Build KAMLOOPS, B. C.— Famous Players has purchased property next to the Capitol for expansion purposes. Odeon Theatres has bought the McDonald estate, which includes a home and three stores opposite the Strand, now closed. Odeon will build as soon as the present leases expire and building restrictions are lifted. FPC has had Kamloops exclusively for the last 18 years. Woman Declines Perfume OTTAWA — In exploitation for “Song of Scheherazade” at the downtown Centre one woman patron declined to accept a bottle of Scheherazade perfume offered her as a free gift when she entered the theatre. A quantity of the perfume had been secured by Manager Gord Beavis to present to the woman who stepped through the entrance each hour on the hour. Three Drive-Ins Probable At Toronto This Season TORONTO — Three drive-in theatres may be erected in the vicinity of Toronto during the coming summer. The tentative site of one automobile arena is at Wilson avenue and Dufferin street in the northwest part of the city; the second is north of town at Sheppard avenue and Dawes road, and the third is east of the city in Scarborough township. The only open-air theatres operated last year in Ontario were near Hamilton and Windsor. The Dawes road project is planned by a Cleveland syndicate headed by Herbert Oaks. His application to the North York municipal council for a permit was laid over in order to hear the views of district residents. A majority of the property owners approved the proposal on the ground that a theatre would boost local business. James M. Brandon, representing the Canadian Drive-In Theatre Co., has announced that 20 acres has been acquired at Kingston road and McCowan avenue for the Scarborough township theatre which, with land, is expected to cost $125,000. No loudspeakers are to be used so that nearby residents will not be disturbed. The screen will measure 50x40 feet. Film Attendance in 1946 Over 1 1 Million in N.S. HALIFAX, N. S.— Of the 13,501,357 who paid amusement taxes during the 1946 fiscal year in Nova Scotia, 11,101,696 were theatregoers and 1,284,540 attended other amusements. Attendance at Saturday afternoon and statutory holiday matinees at which no tickets were used totaled 1,124,121. Of the $421,605 gross income of the provincial board of censors, $294,009 came from theatres, an increase of $6,315 over 1945. Screening of films brought $20,140. Pari-mutuel betting produced $19,732. The income from other than film theatres was $56,988. Presented for censoring were 2,455 film subjects. Only three of all these were rejected as “poor entertainment.” Scenes and dialog were eliminated from 14 subjects. The tag, “Not Suitable for Children,” was placed on 30 subjects. Of the 2,455, the number produced in the U.S. was 2,414. Although the gross income of the censor board increased; the number of theatre admissions was below that of the preceding ytear. ' The figures appeared in the annual report of the board to the annual session of the provincial assembly in Halifax by Stephen A, Doane of Halifax, chairman. Marcus Loew's Will Pay $15 Premium, Interest TORONTO — In the retirement by Marcus Loew’s Theatres of the 6,539, 7 per cent preferred shares, a premium of $15 is being paid on the $100 par stock, plus accrued interest. The amount required, $763,428, is being paid out of liquid assets and no additional financing will be necessary. In its last financial statement, the company, which operates two theatres in Toronto, showed current assets of $936,194 including cash of $430,777 and government bonds of $502,500. To Build at Lake Cowichan LAKE COWICHAN, V. I— J. Whittingham, who operates a theatre at Youbou, says construction will start soon on a modern theatre to seat 440 at Lake Cowichan. It will be air conditioned and have a soundproof nursery. 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