Boxoffice (Jul-Sep 1947)

SAN FRANCISCO ^Jolden State unfurled its flag over the Elmwood, first postwar house to open in Berkeley. The house, managed by Hugh D. Duke, stands on the site of the old Strand. Retirement beckoned two San Francisco territory exhibitors last week. Alfred Wilkins sold his Oakdale in Oakdale to the Blumenfeld circuit and P. Sprague sold the Quincy, which he has been operating in Quincy since 1911, to Edward B. and Vernon P. Claeys. Wilkins, who came to America from the free city of Danzig in 1938, operated in Oakdale eight years. Mayor Middleton of Kerman asked the city attorney to draw up an ordinance prohibiting smoking in the theatre . . . William Riddell, Stockton city auditor, says the municipal ticket tax there is inadequate . . . Sponsored shows put on by the Chamber of Cammerce in cooperation with Peter Garrette, got under way last week at the Yolo in Woodland. First show drew 750 . . . San Mateo county authorities declined to halt the showing of “Mom and Dad’’ in the Manor despite protests by the Legion of Decency. Claude LaBelle, local drama critic, is conducting a poll on double features. Choice is between, “Down with double features. I hate them’’ and “Double Features are swell. Let’s have more of them.” Irving Levin donated 11,000 sports handbooks to the San Francisco recreation department for distribution at city playgrounds . . . Abe Blumenfeld is vacationing with his wife in the north country . . . Carol Nathan, of El Presidio and the Marine theatres, and his wife are seeing Los Angeles. Visalia from the Barbis Brothers. The change was effective July 1 . . . Clive Church sold the Rio in Rodeo to Thys Winkle, former operator of the Piedmont and Star in Oakland. He will take possession August 1. J. Leslie Jacobs, San Francisco theatre broker, handled the deal. The Paramount’s Inauguration of stage entertainment with the Ink Spots was a happy affair at the boxoffice. Concurrently the Paramount had a 16-piece string ensemble in the lobby, the ensemble striking up when the Ink Spots concluded their stint . . . The Paramount is getting ready for a big opening of “Repeat Performance” and for opening day will have on the stage Tom Conway, Richard Basehart, Chili Williams, A1 Worber and Benny Rubin. The Golden Gate was mobbed opening day of “Honeymoon,” when Guy Madison made a personal appearance. Fans tore his face out of all publicity stills in the lobby . . . Baby Barbara Jean made a visit to see her father, Jesse Wright, at the Warner Bros, office and proud papa’s chest expansion was visible. Arthur Barnett of the Rex, Oakland, and his wife, leave soon for Europe. They’ll tour England, France and Italy . . . Well on his way to recovery from illness, Harry Holland of the Bishop in Bishop expects to saunter on Filmrow again before long . . . Cornell Lanygel of the 49er Theatre, Georgetown, was in town to purchase new sound and projection equipment from the Walter Preddey Co. . . . The Walter Preddeys returned July 5 from their eastern trip. Sam Levin has purchased the Bijou in mm AT’TRACTIVE POPCORN BOXES Top Volume Popping Purdue Hybrid Popcorn. Popsit Plus Popcorn Seasoning Cocoanut Oil In 50-lb. Cans. Popcorn Salt — Scoops — Bags — Seasoning Measuring Cups Best Quality Merchanilise — Quicli Service ARTHUR UNGEH CO. 105 Golden Gate Ave. San Francisco 2, Calif. Hsl GET IT ! ■ fcy OR WILL MAHE IT! M We/dim Jheat/iicaL Co. 337 GOLDEN GATE AVE. SAN FRANCISCO 2. CALIF. ^ 9^hcme hemlock 8302 Howard Schultz of Nasser Bros. Theatres is preparing for an eastern trip with his mother . . . John Payne was in town last week and stopped at several exchanges asking the way to 20th-Fox . . . Helen Dougherty is the new assistant booker at Monogram. She moved over from PRC. Ed Rowden of Ed Rowden Theatre Service has taken a lease on the Studio in Sacramento. Associated with him on the deal is Bert Silvers, formerly of the Golden State circuit Under the new setun, the Studio started off with “The Best Years of Our Lives,” followed by “Duel in the Sun.” 20th-Fox Delays 'Chicken' HOLLYWOOD — “Chicken Every Sunday” has been postponed by 20th-Pox until next year, due to switches in casting and production plans. “Chicken” was to have started late this month with William Perlberg producing, George Seaton directing and Gene Tierney and Dan Dailey co-starred. Perlberg is now slated to go to England to make “Escape” and Dailey has been cast in “The Flapper Age.” Seaton and Miss 'Tierney will be given other assignments. ATTENTIONl : CENTURY Drive-In THE MODERN PROJECTOR Theatre Operators ^ For special trailer copy lor your opening write to Motion Picture Service Co. 187 Golden Gate Ave., 125 Hyde St., San Francisco 2 San Francisco 2, Calif. Producers of Showmanship Trailers [ Phone Underhill 7571 Second July Premiere Crowds Utah Slate SALT LAKE CITY — With one world premiere hardly out of the theatregoing public’s mind, this city soon will have another. It will be “Desert Fury,” scheduled for its first showing at the Utah ’Theatre late this month, probably July 22. The centennial premiere will bring several stars here. Expected are John Hodiak, Lizabeth Scott and Burt Lancaster. 'The other premiere was “Bob, Son of Battle,” which had its opening at the Utah July 2. The picture attracted Lon McCallister, Coleen Townsend, David Street, Kurt Krueger, Randy Stuart and Glenn Langan. 'They made four personal appearances on the stage of the Utah with Gov. Herbert B. Maw as master of ceremonies. In addition Dave, the Utah sheep dog who portrayed Red Wull in the picture, made personal appearances with his master, Wynn Hansen. After their final appearance at the Utah, the stars were taken to the Motion Picture club, where they chatted with members. 'The premiere campaign here was managed by Helen Garrity, Intermountain public relations representative, and Charles Pincus, manager of the Utah. Eddie Yarborough and Prank Jenkins of 20th-Fox’s field staff accompanied the stars. Charles Walker, 20thFox district manager, introduced them at the club. Those present included Tracy Barham, vice-president and general manager of Intermountain 'Theatres; Sidney Cohen Intermountain booker and buyer; C. Clare Woods, district manager, and Jesse Chinnich, legal representative. Michel Kraike-Monte Brice To Make Civil War Epic HOLLYWOOD— Michel Kraike, who recently produced “Indian Siunmer” at RKO Radio, and writer Monte Brice, whose last stint was on Paramount’s “Variety Girl,” have teamed up as an independent producing organization to film the Civil war classic ‘"The Red Badge of Courage.” Kraike and Brice purchased screen rights to the story from William Herndon, local representative of the estate of the author, Stephen Crane. Negotiations are under way for a releasing deal on the picture. Rita Hayworth Organizes Own Producing Outfit HOLLYWOOD — Rita Hayworth has formed her own sharecropping outfit to be known as Beckworth Corp. 'The name was formed by taking last half of her daughter Rebecca’s name and the last part of her own last name. Columbia has entered into a contract for the release and distribution of two films a year for the company for the next seven years. Stars Help Recruiters HOLLYWOOD — Jack Carson, Janis Paige, Doris Day and Don DeFore were set to feature an entertainment program at Lilac Terrace in Elysian park to raise money for the marine and naval reserve recruiting program. Manny Wolfe to U-I HOLLYWOOD — Manny Wolfe, who recently resigned as head of the story and writer department at RKO, has been named assistant to William Dozier, associate head of production at U-I. 56 BOXOFnCE July 12, 1947