Boxoffice (Jan-Mar 1962)

'Journey,' 'Sgis. 3' Tie Ai 300 in Milwaukee MILWAUKEE — “Sergeants 3” and "Journey to the Seventh Planet” at the Wisconsin and Warner theatres, respectively, were neck and neck down the stretch as the leading grossers for the week. “South Seas Adventure” and “King of Kings” both showed strength in roadshow engagements. (Average Is 100) Downer — Purple Noon (Times) 150 Palace — South Seas Adventure (Cinerama), 8tih wk 200 Riverside — Pinocchio (BV), reissues; The Secret of Monte Cristo (MGM) 175 Strand — King of Kings (MGM), 8th wk 175 Times — The Mark (Cont'l), 2nd wk 150 Tower — One, Two, Three (UA) 125 Town’ — Tender Is the Night (20th-Fox), 2nd wk. 110 Warner — Journey to the Seventh Planet (AIP); Pirate of the Black Hawk (Filmgroup-AlP) . . . . 300 Wisconsin — Sergeants 3 (UA) 300 'West Side' Starts High At Minneapolis Mann MINNEAPOLIS — Despite some of the worst weather of the winter, two new offerings did exceptional business in their opening week. Tops was “West Side Story” at the Mann with a rating of 250 per cent. Not far behind was “Lover Come Back” at the State, which rated 220 per cent. Most other attractions did above average business. Century — Search for Paradise (Cinerama), return run, 4th wk 115 Gopher — The Innocents (20th-Fox), 3rd wk. ..125 Lyric — Sail a Crooked Ship (Col), 5th wk., 5 days 80 Mann — West Side Story (UA) 250 St. Louis Park — One, Two, Three (UA), 9th wk. 135 State — Lover Come Back (U-l) 220 Suburban World — Invasion Quartet (MGM) 175 Uptown — Murder She Said (MGM), 3rd wk., 5 days 90 World — A Majority of One (WB), 2nd wk 110 Derring-Do Reissues Top Omaha Lineup OMAHA — The Dundee Theatre grabbed the grosser lead for the week with the reissue of “Ivanhoe” and “Knights of the Round Table” more than doubling average. “King of Kings” was held for a third week at the State and “Tender Is the Night” showed strength at the Orpheum. Admiral, Chief — Friendly Persuasion (AA); At Gunpoint (Rep-SR), reissues 100 Cooper — Seven Wonders of the World (Cinerama), 12th wk 135 Dundee — Ivanhoe (MGM); Knights of the Round Table (MGM), reissues 225 Cmaha — Bernadette of Lourdes (Janus) 90 Orpheum — Tender Is the Night (20th-Fox) 120 State — King of Kings (MGM), 2nd wk 130 Allen Rivkin, Hal Kanter Head Writers Dinner HOLLYWOOD — Allen Rivkin has been named chairman and Hal Kanter as producer-director of the Writers Screen Awards dinner. The 14th annual affair will take place March 15 at the Hollywood Palladium. Participating in the preparation of the material for the show, which follows the dinner and annual awards for the best written American musical, are: Danny Arnold Herbert Baker Irving Brecher Richard Breen Ernest Chambers Richard DeRoy I. A. L. Diamond Edmund L. Hartman Ernest Lehman comedy, drama and Ben Roberts Jack Rose George Seaton Melville Shavelson Sidney Sheldon George Wells Ray Evans Jay Livingston Paul Francis Webster Myrna Miller will coordinate the event. Columbia’s “The Interns” is being directed by David Swift. $40,000 Goal for Milwaukee Barkers The Milwaukee Variety Club held its annual installation dinner as an event of Variety Week. Shown here, left to right, is Joe Podoloff, Minneapolis, Variety International representative; Hugo Vogel, executive secretary of the Milwaukee tent; Bernie Strachota, chief barker; Glen Kalkoff, IATSE, and Lee Rothman, first assistant chief barker. Jack Dionne is second assistant. MILWAUKEE— The Variety Club Week celebration placed particular stress on the forthcoming fund raising campaign. The goal this year is $40,000, all of which is to be earmarked for the Variety Club's epilepsy clinic at Mount Sinai Hospital, towards which over $125,000 has already been contributed in the past five years. The celebration began Monday ( 12) , with a press luncheon at Fazio’s attended by an overflow gathering of representatives from newspapers, radio and TV stations. Each was provided a presskit to bring them up to date on the club’s humanitarian efforts in behalf of the epilepsy clinic. Short addresses were given by Chief Barker Bernie Strachota; Lee Rothman, first assistant chief barker, and Hugo Vogel, the club’s executive secretary. Each took pains to get the message across, that the members truly appreciate the many kind words and space and time devoted to the interests of the clinic. In the next breath, it was a matter of asking for continued cooperation in the same direction. A simulated Presidential press conference was presented by Bill Taylor, radio announcer from Chicago. Next on the program was the installation dinner and ceremony on the 14th at the Pfister Hotel. Joe Podoloff, Variety International representative from Minneapolis, officiated. Sworn in were Bernie Strachota, chief barker ; Lee Rothman, first assistant; Jack Dionne, second assistant; Don Perlewitz, property master, and Bill Nichol, Boxoffice, press guy. Podoloff wound up his brief talk by reading an editorial from Boxoffice on Variety Week. On hand to render some background music, was organ recording star Bob Karnes. He volunteered his efforts for the evening and helped out during the awarding of prizes by Rothman, who followed Strachota at the mike. If the talk made by Strachota at both the press luncheon and again at the installation dinner is any criterion of things to come, 1962 should be a banner year for the club. Door prizes were awarded a majority of the women, who were assisted on and off the stage by Don Davidson, the Milwaukee Braves’ publicity director. The theatres came through with messages in their marquees, with the Warner Theatre being first to respond. The Wisconsin, Towne, Riverside, Downer, Times and Tosa agreed to follow suit, with many adding lobby cards as well. And as a fitting climax, a three-line message blazed forth in lights from the City Hall tower. It was a very fruitful week. POSITIVELY THE MOST POWERFUL PROJECTION LAMP The NATIONAL VENTARC •Afi| S' National THEATRE SUPPLY COMPANY Brings Indoor Theatre Quality Projection to the Largest Drive-In Call or write your near by N.T.S. branch . . . KANSAS CITY 8, MO.. 223 W. 18th Street MILWAUKEE 3, WIS., 1027 N. 8th Street MINNEAPOLIS 3, MINN., 56 Glenwood Avenue BOXOFFICE ;: February 26, 1962 NO-3