Boxoffice (Jul-Sep 1963)

S XHIBITOR HAS HIS SAY ^^■■ABOUT PICTURES^^BH ALLIED ARTISTS Billy Budd (AA) — Robert Ryan, Peter Ustinov, Melvyn Douglas. Peter Ustinov has made a classic of its kind. Anyone seeing the ads on this film might think it just another of those “sea movies" — definitely not — here is one of the finest dramas about men in conflict of this or any year. The acting is flawless, photography in black and white is one of the year’s best and most of all a new star, Terence Stamp, has been found. Stamp is simply great. If Hollywood doesn’t hang on to this guy, they’ll lose a great potential star. We had a lot of fine comments from the few patrons who came to see this. Business has been off these summer days (and they’re boiling) but still it was average. Played Sun., Mon. — Paul Fournier, Acadia Theatre, St. Leonard. N.B. Pop. 2,150. AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL Operation Bikini (AIP)—1 Tab Hunter, Frankie Avalon, Scott Brady, Jim Backus. This has top stars but a very weak story. Not up to AIP’s previous pictures. It has some dark scenes which are very hard to see. Would be better suited as part of a double bill. Advertising on this misleading. Played Sun., Mon. Weather: Warm. — James Hardy, Crescent Theatre, Jasonville, Ind. Pop. 2,500. Tales of Terror (AIP) — Vincent Price, Peter Lorre, Basil Rathbone. Another good small town picture from this company, that did good business. Played Sun., Mon. Weather: Damp and balmy.— Terry Axley, New Theatre, England, Ark. Pop. 2,136. BUENA VISTA Son of Flubber (BV) — Fred MacMurray, Nancy Olson, Keenan Wynn, Tommy Kirk. This was a good grosser and satisfied the big and little patrons. Somewhat like “The Absent-Minded Professor.” Fred MacMurray is excellent any place you put him. Played Thurs., Fri., Sat. Weather: Good. — Mel Danner, Circle Theatre, Waynoka, Okla. Pop. 2,018. COLUMBIA Devil at 4 O’Clock, The (Col) — Spencer Tracy, Frank Sinatra, Kerwin Mathews. This colorful, exciting picture might have done business last year when Columbia pulled it on us after we had already advertised it. It sure let us down now. The people seemed to have forgotten all about it. Played Sat., Sun., Mon. Weather: Light showers. — Carl P. Anderka, Rainbow Theatre, Castroville, Tex. Pop. 1,500. Two Tickets to Paris (Col) — Joey Dee, Gary Crosby, Kay Medford. Again, no story. The singing was poor, acting (if you Swell Family Comedy In 'My Six Loves' A real swell comedy for the family, “My Six Loves” from Paramount, for above-average returns. In beautiful color. It pleased everybody. More like this one — a real A-l in every respect. LEONARD J. LEISE Roxy Theatre, Randolph, Neb. More Changes of Bills Urged by Boothman I’m just a projectionist, but I’ve got to have my say. I read your section, “The Exhibitor Has His Say,” and look forward to it each time. But what gets me is exhibitors writing in and saying movies aren’t what they used to be or they aren’t doing anything at the boxoffice. Such as one exhibitor writes, “This is not an interesting picture. The acting is poor by all. No story. Save your money.” The same man again: “It was a story about so-and-so’s mother. After three days we were sick of it. So was the boxoffice.” Mr. Exhibitor, your population is 1,000 to 1,500 and you run one movie Friday, Saturday and Sunday. What do you expect? You aren’t in the metropolitan area, you know! If you exhibitors would book your movies with less playdates and plenty of advertising, I think you would see a change to the better. And how about a double-bill on Saturday? If you run one “bad” movie three and four days in a 1,500-population town, then you are practically asking your patrons to stay away. As I said before, I’m just a projectionist, and in a small town like yours, but I know what I’m saying, for it’s already happened here. I may not have a job when you read this, for people aren’t coming out anymore (did they ever?) to see a movie twice, when it’s the only one playing that week. Boy, I wish you exhibitors would go back to the double-feature on Saturday with the cartoon, news and maybe a serial, as it used to be! For I was a kid once and they like movies, too, you know. How about it? DONALD W. GRAY Gretna, Va. can call it that) was high school class. They all need more time in acting school. Played Fri., Sat. Weather: Fine. — James Cech, Elsie Theatre, Elsie, Mich. Pop. 1,000. METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER Billy Rose’s Jumbo (MGM)' — Doris Day, Stephen Boyd, Jimmy Durante, Martha Raye. In color with circus background. Doris Day did a great job of acting. Another good family show. Did above average. Played Sun., Mon. Weather: Very hot for a July date. — Elben E. Ingram, Arnett Theatre, Arnett, Okla. Pop. 800. Follow the Boys (MGM) — Connie Francis, Russ Tamblyn, Paula Prentiss, Ron Randell. This really fooled me. It was dead at the boxoffice. Good picture, though. Played Sun., Mon., late show Saturday. Weather: Fair and warm. — Henry Hammonds, Wren Drive-In, Moscow, Tenn. Pop. 2,612. PARAMOUNT Delicate Delinquent, The (Para) — Jerry Lewis, Darren McGavin, Martha Hyer. One fine selling trailer. When they even laugh at the bits from the trailer, it’s selling. But the real nice weekend of spring, a carnival operating a block away and they forgot about “D.D.” and did other things. Boxoffice below normal. Played Thurs., Fri., Sat. Weather: Warm to beautiful. — Ken Christianson, Roxy Theatre, Washburn, N.D. Pop. 968. My Six Loves (Para) — Debbie Reynolds, Cliff Robertson, David Janssen. They love Debbie here. Story is old hat, but it’s what people like to see. Played Sun., Mon. Weather: Rain, cool. — Dave Merrill, Fiesta Theatre, Gillette, Wyo. Pop. 3,600. 20th CENTURY-FOX Lion, The (20th-Fox) — William Holden, Trevor Howard, Capucine. A good picture that didn’t quite do the business that I had in mind for it, but I started to smell it at the boxoffice when Fox told me it was flat. I found it was excellent cast-wise and entertainment-wise, but maybe I played it on the wrong end of the week You won’t have to be ashamed of it, tut I didn’t make any money on it. It was well mounted with all that an African picture should have. Holden did a good job, but I thought the story was a little weak for his kind of picture. Played Sun., Mon., Tues. Weather: Hot. — Oral Ledbetter, Howard Theatre, Monon, Ind. UNITED ARTISTS Beauty and the Beast (UA)— Joyce Taylor, Mark Damon, Eduard Franz. Action, color and everything else the kids want. They eat these up. Double billed it with an oldie, “Fastest Gun Alive.” Gave me one of my top Saturdays. Weather: Good but hot. — Benny Levitan, Capitol Theatre, Homerville, Ga. Pop. 2,000. Dr. No (UA) — Sean Connery, Ursula Andress, Joseph Wiseman. A new star in a different sort of picture, which did fine business on saturation booking. Played Thurs., Fri., Sat. Weather: Hot and dry. — Terry Axley, New Theatre, England, Ark. Pop. 2,136. UNIVERSAL Night Creatures (Univ) — Peter Cushing, Yvonne Romain, Patrick Allen. A nicely made British film in color. Drew a favorable crowd and we made a little money. And after film rent and freight, these days, that’s doing okay. Played Fri., Sat., Sun. Weather: Nice. — A. Madril, La Plaza Theatre, Antonito, Colo. Pop. 1,255. If a Man Answers (Univ) — Sandra Dee, Bobby Darin, Micheline Presle. Best Eastman color I have ever seen. Very cute family picture that will do business for anyone. Played sub-run to above average business. Played Sun., Mon., Tues., Wed. Weather: Good. — Paul Wood, Escambia Drive-In, Century, Fla. Pop. 1,500. WARNER BROS. Chapman Report, The (WB) — Efrem Zimbalist jr., Shelley Winters, Jane Fonda. This could have been a good picture if it was done right, but as it is, it smells. Did poor business here because the word had gotten round. Played Wed., Thur. Weather: Warm. — Larry Thomas, Fayette Theatre, Fayetteville, W. Va. Pop. 2,000. MISCELLANEOUS Hercules and the Captive Women (Woolner Bros.) — Reg Park, Fay Spain, Ettore Manni. Very good movie in color and scope. Did above average business for midweek. These Hercules are good movies for small towns. Played Wed., Thur., Fri. Weather: Good.— Benny Levitan, Capitol Theatre, Homerville, Ga. Pop. 2,000. 4 — 140 BOXOFFICE Showmandiser :: Sept. 2, 1963