Boxoffice (Jan-Mar 1941)

CINCINNATI "Wind” Doubles Pitt Par; "Story” a Swell 185 % Pittsburgh — “The Philadelphia Story” was told to the tune of a very happy jingle at Loew’s Penn boxoffice. Opening an extended run here, the M-G-M hit scored at close to double average for the deluxer. “GWTW” and “This Thing Called Love” continued as strong attractions in their respective third weeks here. The Selznick epic had been moved into the Warner after two big weeks in the Penn, and the Columbia comedy roared ahead in the Senator. “East of the River” was a weak attraction at the Fulton. Ritz showed one of its best grosses in the presentation of a new double bill with Paramount’s “Texas Rangers Ride Again” and “A Night at Earl Carroll’s.” Weather was miserable, cold, slippery, dark and smoggy. The details: (Average is 100) Barry — Devil Bat (PRC) ; Chamber of Horrors (Mono) 95 Fulton — East of the River (FN) 60 Penn — Philadelphia Story (M-G-M) 185 Ritz— Texas Rangers Ride Again (Para’t) ; A Night at Earl Carroll’s (Para’t) 110 Senator — This Thing Called Love (Col), 3rd wk 125 Stanley — Four Mothers (WB), plus Larry Clinton orchestra on stage 95 Warner — Gone With the Wind (M-G-M), 3rd d. t. wk 200 ", Back Street " Stands Out In Spotty Cincy Week Cincinnati — “Back Street,” after an exceptionally good opening, settled in for a second week. Business was well above average. Other features suffered from lack of interest. The weather was open and mild. Shubert’s went over the top with their stage show and film fare, which is increasing steadily in popularity. Detail for week ended February 13: (Average is 100) Albee — Back Street (Univ) 120 Held over and shifted to Capitol. Capitol — Mr. and Mrs. Smith (RKO) 100 Second week, held for third. Grand — Four Mothers (WB) 90 Keith’s — Tall, Dark and Handsome (20th-Fox). 70 Lyric — Honeymoon for Three (WB) 60 Palace — High Sierra (FN) 90 Held over, shifted to Keith’s. Shubert — Play Girl (RKO), plus stage show... 120 Dopesters Given Setback By Detroit First Runs Detroit — Local wiseacres who have banked on the theory that a picture with strong feminine interest is a surefire boxoffice attraction got a minor jolt when two of the strongest bids of the season in this class failed to stay at their big opening houses for more than one week, although both “Kitty Foyle” and “Back Street” switched to other theatres for a continued first run. Aside from a prevailing slump, attributed to flu and a puzzling atmosphere of industrial uncertainty locally, the lowdown on the double shift appears to be that both pictures were excellent draws for openers, but exhibitors felt it best to switch them to the smaller supporting houses and bring in fresh film fare, rather than risk another week in the largest theatres. Thursday opening of “GWTW,” which set the all-time record of 21 y2 weeks here a year ago, at the United Artists, was another important factor making readjustment of booking schedules necessary. Film is considered likely to last several weeks at this writing. Detail for week ending February 13: (Average is 100) Adams — This Thing Called Love (Col); Night Train (20th-Fox) after week at the Fox 90 Cinema — The Villain Still Pursued Her (RKO); Pm Still Alive (RKO) 80 Fox — Back Street (Univ) ; Youth Will Be Served (20th-Fox) at matinee only 105 Michigan — Kitty Foyle (RKO); Saint in Palm Springs (RKO) 115 Palms-State — South of Suez (WB) ; Here Comes the Navy (WB) 90 United Artists — Philadelphia Story (M-G-M); Maisie Was a Lady (M-G-M) 100 "Philadelphia Story" New Cleveland Exemplar Cleveland — It’s getting to be an old story, but again “GWTW” was the top percentage picture of the week. In cold cash, however, it was “The Philadelphia Story” that was the winner. The picture caused a mild furore, and fans compared it with “GWTW” in terms of entertainment. The town’s only stage show, “Folies Bergere” with “Tall, Dark and Handsome” on the screen made an excellent showing. “This Thing Called Love” runs on and on and in its third week downtown, taking in more admissions than many new pictures do in a first week. “Mr. and Mrs. Smith” also clicked and wins a move-over run. The Hanna, only legit house was dark so that the only unusual competition was the A1 Sirrat Grotto Circus. First run business, while not as big as in some recent weeks, was still in the high brackets. Neighborhoods, however, are not getting any tangible results, as yet, from increased employment. Detail for the week ended February 14: (Average is 100) Allen— This Thing Called Love (Col) ...110 Third week downtown. Hippodrome — Mr. and Mrs. Smith (RKO) 80 To the Allen for another week. Palace — Tall, Dark and Handsome (20th-Fox) . . 90 Folies Bergere on the stage was the big draw, although the picture was unanimously praised. State — The Philadelphia Story (M-G-M) 135 Moves to the Stillman for continued run. Stillman — Gon© With the Wind (M-G-M) 160 Fourth week. (> ■ a Cause of "Decency" Hampered by Radio Pittsburgh — The “Catholic” on February 13 stated editorially: “A sharp decline in radio listening interest is reported, as a result ol the broadcasters' decision to inflict upon their customers the sort of music they can get most cheaply; plans for ’a quiet evening at home' are being changed to ’let's go to the movies' after work, with the dials proving hopeless in finding the kind of entertainment that was once available. “Good fortune for the film houses; but it is a matter of grave concern that this situation finds more objectionable movies being offered than in several years." V* ■ V ROBERT SMELTZER, division manager for Warner, spent several days in Cincy with Robert Dunbar, local manager, rounding out plans on the current Sears drive . . . West Virginia friends of Bill Kerr will welcome him as new sales representative in that territory for Warner’s. Kerr, formerly with RCA, succeeds George Dillon, resigned . . . West Virginia exhibitors calling this week included Mannie and Louie Shore, from Williamson and War; Eddie Salzberg of Union; J. Crissman, Barboursville, and Gene and Jack Custer, Charleston. Also, Messrs. Keesling and Newbold. Report comes that W. H. Rogers, Community, Keystone, W. Va„ is at the Welsh Clinic for a checkup . . . Mrs. Fon Sexton and her son, A. J. jr„ visited. They report an uptrend in business in their Ashland, Ky., houses . . . Maury White, LibsonWhite interests, returned from a business trip over the weekend in New York . . . Mrs. John Crone is remodeling the Ideal, Columbia Parkway, Cincy, for an early reopening. This marks her return to exhibition after a lapse of several years. Virgil Jackson is rumored planning a new neighborhood house in the new housing project district at Dayton, Ohio . . . Ralph Kinsler announces the new Shard to be opened in memory of Elmer Shard, prominent Cincinnati exhibitor, and which will be erected in Lockland, Cincinnati suburb, will get under way in April. Kinsler was formerly branch manager for Warner . . . Warren Shafer is adding to his Morehead and Grayson, Ky., houses with a new theatre at Olive Hill. J. Frank Carnahan is expecting to open his new house at Ervine, Ky., in April. Warner Publicist Bill Bromberg is filling quite a few radio engagements in Cincinnati and Dayton . . . Universal rings the bell again with two salesmen having made 100 per cent sales possibilities in the Bill Scully Drive. Nate LaVene and George Gomersal are leading the nation. For the first time in the history of the company, two leaders come from the same office. Harry Young was awarded a pen and pencil set for the greatest number of sales on “Fugitive” and the reissue, “Next Time We Love.” Columbia bows in “The Exhibitor’s Goodwill Campaign, to Do the Damndest Best Business in Thirteen Weeks You Ever Dreamed Of,” to quote their attractive folders . . . Lloyd Johnson is constructing a new house at Hyden, Ky., the first theatre for this town . . . Mrs. Carolyn Ducker is the new owner at Butler, Ky., having acquired the house from Max Goldberg . . . “Western Union” opened to terrific business at the RKO Albee. Metro’s Woody Bressler is passing the Perfectos. It’s a valentine in the form of a baby girl . . . M-G-M Pep Club entertained with an office social and buffet luncheon . . . Mr. and Mrs. Joe Miller are the proud parents of a boy. Mrs. Miller is the daughter of Jack Goldman, proprietor of the Lincoln and Roosevelt theatres, Cincinnati. 60 BOXOFFICE :: February 22, 1941