Boxoffice (Jan-Mar 1963)

THE NATIONAL FILM WEEKLY Published in Nine Sectional Editions BEN SHLYEN BRIGHTER PRODUCT OUTLOOK Editor-in-Chief and Publisher DONALD M. MERSEREAU, Associate Publisher & General Manager JESSE SHLYEN Managing Editor HUGH FRAZE Field Editor AL STEEN Eastern Editor I. L. THATCHER. . .Equipment Editor MORRIS SCHLOZMAN Business Mgr. Publication Offices: 825 Van Brunt Blvd. ILaiisas City 24, Mo. Jesse Shlyen. Managing lidilor: Morris Schlozman, Business .Manager; Hugh Froze, Field Editor; I. L. Thatcher, EMitor 'The Modern Theatre Section. Telephone CHestnut 1-7777. Editorial Offices: 1270 Sixth Ave., Itocketeller Center, iNew York 20, N. Y. Donald .M. .Meisereaii, Associate Publisher & (Icnerul Aianager ; Al Steen, Eastern Editor. Telephone COlumbus 5-6370. Central Offices: Editorial — 920 N. Michigan Are., Chicago 11, 111., Frances B. LTom. Telephone Superior 7-3972. Advertising— 5809 North Lincoln, Louis Didier ami Jack Broderick, Telephone LOngbeach 1-5284. Western Offices: Editorial and Film Adverlising — 6362 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood 28, Cal., Syd Cassyd. Telephone Hollywood 5-1186. Equipment and Non-Film .Advertising — New York Life Bldg., 2801 West Sixth St., Los Angeles 57, Calif. Bob W'ettstein, manager. Telephone Dunkirk 8-2286. London Office: Anthony Gruner, 1 Woodberry Way, Finchley, No. 12. Telephone Hillside 6733. The MODEltN TllEATltE Section Is included in the first issue of each month. Atlanta: Jean Mullls, P. 0. Box 1695. Albany: J. S. Conners, 140 State St. Baltimore: Geoige Browning, 119 E. 25th St. Boston: Guy Livingston, 80 Itoylston, Boston, Mass. Charlotte: Blanche Carr, 301 S. Church. Cinciruratl: Frances Hanford, IJNiversity 17180. Cleveland: W. Ward Marsh, Plain Dealer. Columbus: Fred Oestreicher, 52*^ W. Nortli Broadway. Dallas: Mable Gninan, 5927 Winton. Denver: Bruce Marshall, 2881 S. Cherry Way. Des Moines: Pat Cooney, 2727 49tb St. Detroit: H. F. Iteves, 906 Fox Theatre Bldg., WUodward 2-1144. Hartford: Allen M. Wldem, CH. 9-8211. Indianapolis: Norma Geraglity, 436 N. Illinois St. Jacksonville: llobert Cornwall, 1199 Edgewood Ave. .Memphis: Null Adams, 707 Spring St. .Miami: Martha Lummus, 622 N.E. 98 St. Milwaukee: Wm. Nicbol, 2251 S. Layton. Minneapolis: Paul Nelson, 3220 Park Ave. S. New Orleans: Mrs. Jack Auslet, 2268% St. Claude Ave. Oklahoma City: Sam Brunk, 3416 N. Virginia. Omaha: Irving Baker, 5108 Izard St. Philadelphia: Al Zurawskl, The Bulletin. Pittsburgh: It. F. Kllngensmlth, 516 Jeanette, Wllklnsburg. 412-241-2809. Portland, Ore.: Arnold Marks, Journal. Manchester, N.H.: Guy Lan^ey, 320 l*lne street. St. Louis: Joe k Joan Pollack, 7335 Shaftsbury, University City, PA 5-7181. Salt Lake City: H. Pearson, Deseret News. San Francisco: Dolores Barusch, 25 Taylor St., ORdway 3-4813; Advertising: Jerry Nowell, 417 Market St., YUkon 29537. Washington: Virginia R. Collier. 2308 Ashmead Place, N. W., DUpont 7-0892. In Canada .Montreal: Room 314, 625 Belmont St.. Jules Larocbelle. St. John: 43 Waterloo, Sam Babb. Toronto: 2675 Bayvlew Ave., WUlowdale, Ont. W. Gladlsh. Va/tcouver: 411 Lyric Theatre Bldg. 751 Granville St., Jack Droy. Winnipeg: The Tribune, Jim Peters. Member Audit Bureau of Circulations Second Class postage paid at Kansas City, Mo. Sectional Edition. $3.00 per year. National Edition, $7.50. MARCH 11, 1963 Vol. 82 No. 20 THERE’S a brighter look to the product picture today than there has been in a long while. Within the week, three major companies have announced schedules of pictures to be filmed between now and the end of the year, as well as some recently finished and definitely set lists of pictures to he made early in 1964. Of primary interest in this outlook is the announcement this week by Darryl F. Zanuck, president of 20th Century-Fox, that the company’s studios will be reactivated in April, with starting dates set through the end of the year for 14 pictures and that ten others are being prepared for shooting in the first quarter of 1964. This news was welcomed throughout the industry. We got a sample of the interest therein at the convention of the United Theatre Owners of the Heart of America, held in Kansas City this week. Many of the exhibitors in attendance — and they came from 37 states and four foreign countries — had read the story carried in the daily newspapers and reported on radio and asked us for details, which we provided. Of course, some of the titles had been previously publicized in the trade press, hut additional information, such as story sources, some of the stars and directors aligned with these productions gave added promise of the quality and calihre of the product that could he expected. And we have a feeling that even 20thFox’s contemporaries were glad to see this company resuming production activity for the addetl output of high quality product from this integral part of the industry is vital to the hest interests of the business as a whole. There is no gainsaying that the shutdown of the Fox studios last August cast a pall over the industry and, as well, among the moviegoing public. The resumption of the studio operations now, after only seven months, is having an exhilarating effect — in Hollywood, within the trade around the country and everywhere else where there is a strong interest in good motion pictures. Two other companies — Metro-GoldwynMayer and Universal — have issued production announcements that add to the brightness of the product prospects. These announcements also appear in this issue. Robert H. O’Brien, president of MGM, reports that his company will release 36 pictures before the end of this year, 24 of which are definitely scheduled for release through August. Added to this list are four special productions that can be expected to have long lasting value as profit producers, both for the exhibitors and MGM. Milton R. Rackmil, president of Universal, has announced a total of 20 pictures to be produced by the end of this year, 16 of which will be completed by September. Here is another instance of the acquisition of good story properties enhanced by the casting of name-value players and capable producers and directors. Within the past month, other sources of product supply have made known the facts of their plans and the quality of their wares, all of which entail increases over the previous year’s output. Among these companies were United Artists, Paramount, Warner Bros., Buena Vista, Embassy, American International and various independent firms. In recent weeks, too, a considerable number of new producers have been added to the ranks, providing an increasing supply of from one to a halfdozen pictures, many of which are either in final stages of production or completed. In the instance of the larger companies, definite release dates have been set. And they indicate a steady flow of product, even through the so-called orphan periods. If these schedules are maintained, it will give further rise for exhibitor encouragement over the product outlook for the remainder of this year, and a good part of next. Another good sign is evident in the production data we have been compiling for our annual BOXOFFICE BAROMETER Edition, which will be issued soon. This reveals a wide variety of subject matter as source material for forthcoming productions and an obvious pattern of catering to the varied tastes of the mass public — instead of going down a single road that has had a tendency to alienate, rather than attract, patronage. We repeat: There’s a brighter look to the product picture today than there has been in a long while.