Boxoffice (Jan-Mar 1963)

XHIBITOR HAS HIS SAY ■■WMHHABOUT PICTURESHHHH 'Balloon Had Appeal For All Age Groups pound 20th-Fox’s “Five Weeks in a Balloon” to be very well done. Adults and youngsters both like it. Fox’s nice terms enabled me to make a little. Friday night was just average due to local ball game, but Saturday was very good. Play it. JAMES HARDY Crescent Theatre, Jasonville, Ind. COLUMBIA Cowboy (Col., reissue) — Glenn Ford, Jack Lemmon, Anna Kashfi. This oldie came through for average boxoffice. A good cast, beautiful color and scenery. Many good comments. Failed to get a trailer or any advertising material. Played Fri., Sat. Weather: Good. — Leonard J. Leise, Roxy Theatre, Randolph, Neb. Pop. 1,029. Experiment in Terror (Col) — Glenn Ford, Lee Remick, Stefanie Powers. Very well done. It keeps you guessing. However, I would use less sex than was in this. It did below average here. Guess they see too many with the detective or police angle on TV. Played Sun., Mon. Weather: Cooler. — James Hardy, Crescent Theatre, Jasonville, Ind. Pop. 2,500. Interns, The (Col) — Michael Callan, Cliff Robertson, James Mac Arthur, Haya Harareet. This one brought the doctors the second day. I don’t wish to condemn them for coming, but I notice that doctors and lawyers, for all their public dignity, supported greatly by lush wardrobes, big expensive homes and money to burn, have always in all locations, attended better when there is a “good” sexy dance or party sequence. As I said before, I don’t blame them. But it is strange how they turn their backs on some really fine pictm'es, isn’t it? — Art Richards, Marion Theatre, Marion, S. C. Pop. 7,200. METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER King of Kings (^MGM) — Jeffrey Hunter, Ron Randell, Robert Ryan. Big in scope, big in everything except at the boxoffice. The story did not follow the Catholic version, so they failed to patronize it. Terms much too high for our small town. Played Fri. through Mon. — Weather: Rain. — Carl P. Anderka, Rainbow Theatre, Castroville, Tex. Pop. 1,500. PARAMOUNT Hatari! (Para) — John Wayne, Elsa Martinelli. Red Buttons. Superior. One of the most entertaining shows in years. Played Fri. through ’Tues. Weather: Fair. — Lee Brewerton, Capitol Theatre, Raymond, Alta. Pop. 3,000. Rear Window fPara, reissue) — James Stewart, Grace Kelly, Raymond Burr. We received one of the worst prints in the history of the theatre on this reissue. A very good Hitchcock thriller. Well received by all those who saw it. Suspenseful ending. It seems that Grace Kelly has been forgotten by our patrons. Raymond “Perry Mason” Burr’s appearance surprised many people — quite a switch from his TV role as an attorney. Played Thurs., Fri., Sat. Weather: Mild. — Donald E. Bohatka, Catlow Theatre, Barrington, 111. Pop. 5,400. Wonderful to Be Young (Para) — Cliff Richard, Robert Morley, Carole Grey. This is Cliff’s first picture and is British-made, but great. I hope Paramount brings him back in American-made pictures and he will be as good as Elvis. In my theatre the teens thought he was wonderful. So let’s have more like Cliff. And my thanks to Paramount. Played Sun., Mon., Tues. Weather: Cold and bad. — Herman Powell Jr. Joy Theatre, Joaquin, Tex. Pop. 500. 20th CENTURY-FOX Hemingway’s Adventures of a Yoimg Man (20th-Fox) — Richard Beymer, Diane Baker, Susan Strasberg. Another fine picture that just didn’t jell at the boxoffice. Played Thurs., Fri., Sat. — Joe Machetta, Emerson Theatre, Brush, Colo. Pop. 2,300. UNITED ARTISTS Magic Sword (UA) — Basil Rathbone, Estelle Winwood, Gary Lockwood, Anne Helm. Here is a good action programmer that did okay on my action change. Played Fri., Sat. Weather: Cold. — Mel Danner, Ch'cle Theatre, Waynoka, Okla. Pop. 2,018. Miracle Worker, The (UA) — Anne Bancroft, Patty Duke, Victor Jory. A wonderful picture that was enjoyed by myself and the Focus Is Perfect On 'West Side pirst of all, I want to say that in all my years at the Catlow Theatre we have never shown a motion picture that has been in constant perfect focus from beginning to end until “West Side Story” came along. The focus was the sharpest I have ever seen at the Catlow or anywhere. Also, the sound was the most brilliant I have heard (we were unable to secure a stereo print). We received many fine compliments on these two highly important factors in good screen presentation ... A better cast could not have been assembled for this picture. I only wish that Hollywood would make more pictures of this calibre. The vast majority of our patrons comprised the 15-25 age group. This picture is not for children unless they are familiar with modern dance and music, and appreciate these qualities in a motion picture. Give this picture your best playing time. We played it for two weeks beginning on a Friday, but it could easily have been held over for one or two more weeks. DONALD E. BOHATKA Barrington, 111. Catlow Theatre, Try U's Old Stand-bys On New Crop of Kids yniversal has quite a few Kettles, Francises, and Abbott and Costellos in service yet; and they have not been on TV. There is a new batch of kids now that have not seen these. If you have a small town, try one of these. We have used one of each on a single bill and have done as well as with many of the new “supers.” MR. AND MRS. JOSEPH LILQUIST Almo Theatre, Poulsbo, Wash. entire 52 other people that came to see it. A large part of our regular customers were lured away (that is, to stay at home), by our competition. Our competition in this case was United Artists, because one of their outstanding pictures was showing on television. This feature was ‘"The Magnificent Seven.” The picture started on television at 7 o’clock on Simday night, which incidentally is our starting time too. I have played this 1960 release three times, or an average of once a year, because our patrons kept asking to see it again. I would have played it several more times, had it not been shown on TV. I wonder how much film rental United Artists is going to lose on this feature alone, because of this? I am sure there are many more exhibitors that would have played ‘"The Magnificent Seven” over and over again. It looks like the film companies have become the exhibitors’ biggest competitor. I think someone is goofing, because they are also in competition with themselves. — Bill Crosby, Little River Drive-In, Wright City, Okla. Pop. 1,800. UNIVERSAL No Man Is an Island (Univ) — Jeffrey Hunter, Marshall Thompson, Barbara Perez. For a real good solid entertainment picture this has everything. A true story, drama, some comedy and suspense every minute of the way. Many wonderful comments from old and young. More like it, please. With a good story, we have a good picture. Played Sun., Mon. Weather: Fair. — Leonard J. Leise, Roxy Theatre, Randolph, Neb. Pop. 1,029. That Touch of Mink (Univ)— Cary Grant, Doris Day, Gig Young. Here is another comedy from Universal that did aboveaverage business. Played it in the month of December and probably would have done better either before December or after the holidays. Played Sun. through Wed. Weather: Good. — Mel Danner, Circle Theatre, Waynoka, Okla. Pop 2,018. WARNER BROS. Merrill’s Marauders (WB)— Jeff Chandler, Ty Hardin, Peter Brown. Good action picture that will satisfy the Fri. -Sat. patrons. Weather: Good. — Mel Danner, Circle Theatre, Waynoka, Okla. Pop. 2,018. Music Man, The (WB)— Robert Preston, Shirley Jones, Buddy Hackett. If you can pick this up at a decent rental, you’ll do all right. But the sales pitch blinded me when I signed the contract and I hurt. One of the finest musicals in a long time and liked by all who came. Played Sun. through Wed. — Joe Machetta, Emerson Theatre, Brush, Colo. Pop. 2,300. 4 36 — BOXOFFICE Showmondiser : : Mar. 4, 1963