Boxoffice (Jan-Mar 1962)

AB-PT Sells 2 Boston Theatres: $1.3 Million BOSTON — In one of the most surprising moves and one which caught the theatre district unaware was the biggest theatre sale in Boston’s history, involving two theatres— a film house and a legitimate theatre— including an entire block. The Metropolitan Theatre, 4,310 seater, which opened in 1925, and the Wilbur legit theatre of 1,241 seats, and the 14-story Metropolitan office building and parking lot were sold by American Broadcasting Paramount Theatres to the Pratt Clinic-New England Center Hospital for a reported $1,300,000. Several groups are already reported endeavoring to lease the legit theatre for ten years, the period which the hospital plans to leave the theatre undisturbed, it was said. Among the groups were Sack Theatres, E. M. Loew and Blinstrub’s night club. There is no certainty, however, as to what will happen to the Metropolitan, an old time film palace with a marble lobby staircase and gold door knobs. It is also reported that if it should seem best to reconstruct the film house either for films or legit use, and if it can be done at a reasonable cost, the hospital center’s planners would consider alterations. Several plans for the Metropolitan have also been proposed. One would provide for two small theatres, splitting the big theatre in two. Another would convert it into a legit theatre similar to the 3,000-seat Fisher Theatre in Detroit, which was reconstructed from a film theatre. Another plan, which has some backing in Boston, is to make the Metropolitan into a 2,500-seat opera house. The new owners, however, have no intention of razing the Wilbur legit theatre, or of putting it to any other than its present use as a legit house. Memorial Services Held For Kenneth MacKenna HOLLYWOOD — Memorial services were scheduled in New York for Kenneth MacKenna, 62, actor and former MGM story editor and director, who died at St. John’s Hospital, Santa Monica, on January 15, following a long illness. Surviving are his wife Mary; a brother, and his mother. Although MacKenna resigned his position with MGM as head of the story department in 1959 to return to acting on the Broadway stage, he most recently had returned to Hollywood for screen and TV roles, including “Judgment at Nuremberg.” Marilyn Monroe Film Set For Cameras March 15 HOLLYWOOD — Camera work on “Something’s Got to Give,” Marilyn Monroe starrer for 20th-Fox, is slated to go before the cameras March 15, following script changes. The film is Miss Monroe’s last for the Westwood studio under her contract. Henry T. Weinstein, who is set to produce the film, plans to make “The Visit” with Ingrid Bergman, and “Faster, Faster,” toplining Shelley Winters, before starting the Monroe project. Pick Three More Foreign Films for Oscar Ballot NEW YORK — With “Last Year at Marienbad,” French film to be distributed in the U.S. by Astor Pictures, already selected as the official French government entry in the Academy Awards competition, Italy, Switzerland and Sweden have also made their official entries for the best foreign film. Michelangelo Antonioni’s “The Night” (“La Notte”) has been chosen over 11 other Italian entries as the official nominee for Italy in the Academy Award category of best foreign films. “The Night,” which is being distributed in the U.S. by Lopert Pictures, stars Jeanne Moreau, Marcello Mastroianni and Monica Vitti and won the Golden Bear award at the 1961 Berlin Film Festival. Switzerland has selected “Shadows Get Longer,” produced by Lazar Wechsler and directed by Ladislao Vajda. The picture will be distributed in the U.S. by Times Film Corp. in an English version. Sweden has picked Ingmar Bergman’s latest, “Through a Glass Darkly,” starring Harriet Andersson and Gunnar Bjornstrand, which will be distributed in the U.S. by Janus Films. Bergman’s “The Virgin Spring,” also distributed by Janus, won an Academy Award in 1961. Argentina has also named its entry for “best foreign film” in the Academy Awards, Angel Productions “Summer Skin,” directed by Leopoldo Torre Nilsson. The picture will be distributed by the new firm in the U.S. in March. Parade Releasing Names Sales, Exploitation Men HOLLYWOOD — Parade Releasing Organization, recently formed distribution company with headquarters in Hollywood, is in process of appointing representatives to handle sales and exploitation campaigns in their respective territories throughout the country. Operating out of eastern division headquarters in New York and supervising other operations in the east and south is Sanford Weiner. Other appointments are Joe Solomon, Philadelphia; Ellis Gordon, Boston; Harold Levy, Washington; Syd Whiteman, Atlanta; George Pabst, New Orleans; Heywood Simmons, Dallas; Bud Austin, Denver; Frank Rule, San Francisco; Skip Regan, responsible for the Los Angeles territory and the overall national sales and exploitation. Currently being set up are special midwestern representatives. The sales-exploitation corps is currently concentrating on “I Bombed Pearl Harbor” and “Then There Were Three.” To follow is “When the Girls Take Over,” to be released in February. Parade will soon announce additional features which the company will distribute in 1962. London Date for 'Bridge' LONDON — “A View From the Bridge,” which is being released in the United Kingdom by Paramount Pictures, will open at the Plaza Theatre, London, February 22. The picture, which was adapted from Arthur Miller’s stage play was filmed in New York and France and is being distributed in the U.S. by Continental Distributing. Pa. High Court Hears Union Segregation Suit PHILADELPHIA — The State Supreme Court Monday (15) heard arguments in the case of the one-man movie theatre picket. An attorney for a Negro projectionist maintained before the court that his client has a right to picket to protest segregation policies of two unions. The projectionist is Luther Sidberry, who has been enjoined from picketing at the Uptown and Park theatres. His attorney, Cecil B. Moore, is seeking to upset the injunction. Sidberry’s reason for picketing, according to Moore, is the merger or desegregation of the two unions — Local 307 (all white members) and Local 307A (all Negro) of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employes, AFL-CIO. Sidberry, a member of Local 307A until he was dropped for non-payment of dues, started his one-man crusade last May. He carried a sign charging: “This Theatre Will Not Employ Colored Motion Picture Operators.” The four white operators of the two theatres brought a lawsuit against him. They are John A. Kirby, Abe Linn, Julius Needleman and Jules Matusow. Sidberry was enjoined from picketing at the theatres by Judge Gerald A. Gleeson. The judge at the same time ordered the two locals to merge or desegregate under the supervision of the Human Relations Commission. So far nothing has been done. BUY NOW-PAY LATER on FREIGHT PREPAID BALLANTYNE SPEAKERS at LESS than wholesale prices YOU MUST ACT BY FEB. 10, 1962 Take advantage of the Ballantyne Buy Now — Pay Later offer. YOU PAY NO MONEY DOWN AND THERE’S NO CARRYING CHARGE. FREIGHT PREPAID! Immediate delivery on Ballantyne speakers or any other needed sound equipment. Make three equal payments on June 10, July 10 and August 10, 1962. Offer applies to any order totalling $500 or more. A Hk, IB allantyna BALLANTYNE INSTRUMENTS AND ELECTRONICS INC. A DIVISION OF ABC VENDING CORPORATION 1712 JACKSON ST. OMAHA 2. NEBRASKA BOXOFFICE ;: January 22, 1962 19