Boxoffice (Jan-Mar 1962)

£. X HI B I TOR HAS HIS SAY HB^HABOUT PICTURE Smunmma Write — YOUR REPORT OF THE PICTURE YOU HAVE JUST PLAYED FOR THE GUIDANCE OF FELLOW EXHIBITORS N. D. Theatreman Finds Indie Worth Boosting "Flight of the Lost Balloon" from Woolner Bros, is o very well-made picture that can go it alone, full of action and very good color and 'Scope. Everyone here who saw it liked it very much, so it did good business for four days. I think every theatre should ploy it and help the independent filmmakers give us more pictures. ROBERT TABBERT Star Theatre, Jamestown, N. D. ALLIED ARTISTS George Raft Story, The (AA) — Ray Dantan, Jayne Mansfield, Julie London, Barrie Chase. A well done and interesting picture that will do good business wherever it plays. We played it five days to good results. Ray Danton is well liked here, as well as most places I am sure. Be sure to play it while it is still new. — Robert Tabbert. Star Theatre, Jamestown, N. D. Pop. 15,163. COLUMBIA Cry for Happy (Col) — Glenn Ford, Donald O'Connor, Miiko Taka, Miyoshi Umeki. Excellent comedy, but business poor. With pictures like "East of Eden," "The Searchers," "A Star Is Born" and "Me and the Colonel" being shown free on TV, business is about over here unless some kind soul stops these companies from doing this to us. — Paul Fournier, Acadia Theatre, St. Leonard, N. B. Pop. 2,150. Jazz Boat (Col)— Anthony Newley, Anne Aubrey, Lionel Jeffries. This was good as port of a doublebill. Good trailer on it. Teenagers seemed to like it. Played Sat. — S. T. Jackson, Jackson Theatre, Flomatan, Ala. Pop. 1 ,480. Scream of Fear (Col) — Susan Strasberg, Ronald Lewis, Ann Todd. We are screaming! The lowest gross in 1 5 years. A good picture, but extreme cold, new bowling alley and an over-selling job on this really put theatre-business "fear" in me. This is an English-made thriller. Played Fri., Sat. Weather: Below zero. — Ken Christianson, Roxy Theatre, Washburn, N. D. Pop. 968. METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER Ben-Hur (MGM) — Charlton Heston, Haya Harareet, Stephen Boyd. A screen classic — more favorable comments than any other picture has received. Color, Saspe, cast excellent. Worthy of oil awards. Boxoffice wonderful: three S.R.O. houses out of five. The percentage hurt, but still made money. Played Fri. through Mon. Weather: One good day, followed r,a,ln or|d sleet. — Ken Christianson, Roxy Theatre, Washburn, N. D. Pop. 968. Honeymoon Machine, The (MGM) — Steve McQueen Brigid Bazlen, Paula Prentiss, Jim Hutton. This was good, but didn't do the business expected.— Played Sun., Mon. — S. T. Jackson, Jackson Theatre, Flomaton, Ala. Pop. 1,480. Morgan the Pirate (MGM) — Steve Reeves, Valerie LaGrange, Chelo Alonso. A beautiful picture with a poor title. Held up one day, we wotched it the other hyo. Played Sun., Mon., Tues. Weather: Nice on Sunday. -P . B. Friedman, Grand Theatre, Lancaster, Ky. Pop. 3,000. . °t, Ba9hdad (MGM) — Steve Reeves, Georgia Moll. We .lopped on this one and without any competition from the school — the picture just didn't draw the kids ct all, so it was another date wasted Our Soturday nights are hurting, with the old movies rnoved up to prime time on TV, the people aren't showing up in town. Played Fri., Sat. Weather* Nice — Mayme P. Musselman, Roach Theatre, Lincoln, Kas. Pop. 1,636. PARAMOUNT On the Double (Poro) — Danny Kaye, Dana Wynter. Diana Dors. Nothing on this. Danny Kaye no real draw, although the film was quite amusing. Perhops it was better for the "orty" type, but for neighborhoods it just didn't have the punch. — Ray Boriski, Al Zarzona, Galena Theatre, Galena Park, Tex. Pop. 11,000. ' PL®0511'® of ”is Company, The (Para)— Fred Astaire, pebbie Reynolds, Tab Hunter. Good comedy-drama in beautiful color which did good business and en{?y<ir,-5y oM* plaVed Sun., Mon., Tues. Weather: Good. B. Widmork Berglund, Trail Theatre, New Town, N. D. Pop. 1,200. White Christmas (Para, reissue) — Bing Crosby Danny Kaye, Rosemory Clooney. Wow! What a beau f i L P!9ture bowling, dances and New Yea celebrations gave us the lowest grosses of the pas year. Played Sat., Sun., Mon. Weother: Cold. — Car 1500 erk0' Ra,nbow Theotro, Castroville, Tex. Pop 20TH CENTURY-FOX Battle at Bloody Beoeh (20th-Foxl— Audie Murphy, Dolores Michaels, Gory Crosby. This was a good program picture. Did only fair business on a double bill. Played Sat. — S. T. Jackson, Jackson Theatre, Flomoton, Ala. Pop. 1,480. Hustler, The (20+h-Fox) — ’Paul Newman, Piper Laurie, Jackie Gleason, George C. Scott. Academy award talk helped us on this. A fine picture with good acting. For once we think television helped . . . Bob Hope's takeoff on Minnesota Fats, several good comments by Jack Paar, etc. By the time we got it the film had more power than when it first hit. — • Roy Boriski, Albert Zarzana, Boulevard Theatre, Houston, Tex. Marines, Let's Go (20th-Fox) — ©avid Hedison, Tom Tryon, Linda Hutchins. This is a swell picture in beautiful color and CinemaScope. Realistic action and comedy. Played Sun., Mon., Tues. Weather: Good. — B. Widmork Berglund, Trail Theatre, New Town, N. D. Pop. 1,200. Pirates of Tortuga (20th-Fox) — Ken Scott, Leticia Roman, Dave King. A rather good adventure story about pirates. It did very well here. Played Thurs., Fri., Sat. Weather: Rain. — Paul Fournier, Acadia Theatre, St. Leonard, 'N. B. Pop. 2,150. UNITED ARTISTS Alamo, The (UA) — John Wayne, Richard Widmark, Laurence Hairvey. Here's a dandy. Our fans are clamoring for comedies and outdoor action pictures. We usually manage to make a little on. westerns in color if we get 'em before the "glass eye" does. Played Thurs., Fri., Sat. Weather: Clear and cold. — C. D. Simmons, Grace Theatre, Grace, Ida. Pop. 725. Young Doctors, The (UA) — Fredric March, Ben Gazzora, Ina Balm. Something different for a change besides sex, sex, sex. The acting is superb. Short trailer, but served its purpose. Did about average. Played Sun., Mon., Tues. Weather: Cold. — Kenn Spaulding, Bijou Theatre, Morrisville, Vt. Pop. 3,450. UNIVERSAL-INTERNATIONAL Come September (U-l) — Rock Hudson, Gina Lollobrigida, Sandra Dee, Bobby Darin. Very good comedy. Business up on this. Should go over big in any situation. Played three days over Christmas. Weather: D cold. — Bill Brooks, Liberty Theatre, Hailey, Ida. Pop. 1,165. Tommy Tell Me True (U-l) — Sandra Dee, John Gavin, Charles Drake. Here is a very good small town picture. Business was somewhat slow on it. If you haven't played it, it is well worth your very best time. One thing, watch your terms from Universal; I thought mine were a little steep, considering the age of the picture. Played Sat., Sun. Weather: Cold. — Harry Hawkinson jr., Orpheum Theatre, Marietta, Minn. Pop. 380. WARNER BROS. Fanny (WB) — Leslie Caron, Horst Buehholz, Maurice Chevalier, Charles Boyer. A beautiful love story and award performances by Maurice Chevalier and Charles Boyer. Played during snowstorm and zero weather. Not much business. Played Sun., Mon., Tues. — ’Mel Danner, Circle Theatre, Wayrvaka, Okla. Pop. 2,018. Searchers, The (WB, reissue) — John Wayne, Jeffrey Hunter, Natalie Wood. A repeat that is businessworthy. Hope this is kept in the theatre family, not discarded as old clothing to TV. When is the distributor going to wake up? TV still is keeping our potential customers out of the movie habit. Played Fri., Sat. Weather: Cold. — Ken Christianson, Roxy Theatre, Washburn, N. D. Pop. 968. (Editor's note: This film has already been released to TV in some areas. In fact, in the midwest it played on TV and in local drive-ins simultaneously in at least one large metropolitan area.) MISCELLANEOUS Choppers, The (Fairway Int'l-States Rights) — Arch Hall jr., Marianne Gaba, Tom Brown. Booked this without expecting much — for in most cases these unheard of pictures looK as if they might have been made bv a high school group and their parents. However, "The Choppers" was a pleasant surprise. Acting okay, with a little comedy, plus action and an ending that made sense. Also it did above average. With the industry crying for new young blood with know-how I would suggest keeping an eye on Arch Hall who mode this picture. He seems to know what he's doing. — Victor Weber, Center Theatre, Kensett, Ark. Pop. 1 ,000. Nary a Walkout During 'Guns of Navarone' Are you looking for a superb engagement? Something different, exciting? Then, Mr. Exhibitor, I suggest you call Columbia today and ask for "The Guns of Navarone." We played to above average houses on a Wednesday through Saturday date. Usually we have walkouts on long pictures, but not one did we hove. It's great. Keep them coming, Columbia, it does us good. KENN SPAULDING Bijou Theatre, Morrisville, Vt. — Right Now TO: The Exhibitor Has His Say BOXOFFICE, 825 Van Brunt Blvd.. Kansas City 24, Mo. Title Company Comment Days of Week Played Weather Title Company. Comment Days of Week Played Weather Title Company Comment Days of Week Played Weather Title Company Comment Days of Week Played Weather Exhibitor Theatre Population City State 10 BOXOFFICE BookinGuide :: March 12, 1962