Boxoffice (Jul-Sep 1963)

II 7Ae THE NATIONAL FILM WEEKLY Published in Nine Sectional Editions BEN SHLYEN 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 Bl«d. Kansas City 24, Mo. Jesse Shlyen, Managing Editor; Morris Schlozman, Business Manager; Hugh Fraze, Field Editor; I. L. Thatcher, Editor The Modern Theatre Section. Telephone CHestnut 1-7777. Editerial Offices: 1270 Sixth Ave., Rockefeller Center, New York 20, N. Y. Donald M. Mersereau, Associate Publisher & General Manager: A1 Steen, Eastern Editor. Telephone Columbus 5-6370. Central Offices: Editorial — 920 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago 11, 111., Frances B. Clow, Telephone Superior 7-3972. Advertising— 5809 North Lincoln, Louis Didier and Jack Broderick, Telephone LOngbeach 1-5284. Western Offices: Editorial and Film Advertising— 6362 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood 28, Calif.. Syd Cassyd. Telephone Hollywood 5-1186. Equipment and Non-Film Advertising — New York Life Bldg., 2801 West Sixth St., Los Angeles 57, Calif. Bob Wettsteln, manager. Telephone Dunkirk 8-2286. London Office: Anthony Gruner, 1 Woodberry Way, Finchley, N. 12. Telephone Hillside 6733. 'The MODERN THEATRE Section is included in tbe first issue of each month. Albany: J. S. Conners, 140 State St. Atlanta: Mary Charles Watts, 205 Walton St., N. W. Baltimore: George Browning, 119 E. 25th St. Boston: Guy Livingston, 80 Boylston, Boston, Muss. Charlotte: Blanche Carr, 301 S. Churcb. Cincinnati: Frances Hanford, UNiversity 17180. Cleveland: W. Ward Marsh, Plain Dealer. Columbus: Fred Oestreicber, 52% W. North Broadway. Dallas; Mable Guinan, 5927 Wlnton. Denver: Bruce Marshall, 2881 S. Cherry Way. Des Moines: Pat Cooney, 2727 49th St. Detroit: H. F. lteves, 906 Fox Theatre Bldg., WOodward 2-1144. Hartford: Allen M. Widem, CH. 9-8211. Indianapolis: Norma Geraghty, 436 N. Illinois St. Jacksonville: Robert Cornwall, 1199 Edgewood Ave. Manchester, N. H. : Guy Langley, P.0. Box 56. Memphis: Null Adams, 707 Spring St. Miami: Martha Lummus, 622 N.E. 98 St. Milwaukee: Wra. Nichol, 2251 S. Layton. Minneapolis: Jon Pankake, 729 8th Ave. S.E. New Orleans: Mrs. Jack Auslet, 2268% St. Claude Ave. Oklahoma City: Sam Brunk, 3416 N. Virginia. Omaha: Irving Baker, 5108 Izard St. Philadelphia: A1 Zurawski, The Bulletin. Pittsburgh: R. F. Klingensmltb, 516 Jeanette, Wilkinsburg. 412-241-2809. Portland, Ore.: Arnold Marks, Journal. St. Louis: Joe & 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 Larochelle. St. John: 43 Waterloo, Sam Babb. Toronto: 2675 Bayview Ave., Willowdale, Ont. W. G la dish. Vaneouver: 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. SEPTEMBER 3 0, 1963 Vol. 83 No. 23 THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COIN THERE are newspapers that extend a cooperative hand to theatres, though not to the extent that is done for television. Some of this cooperation is voluntary and the rest “inspired” by alert and aggressive theatremen. The former generally takes form as an upbeat editorial, the latter as an article in the movie pages. In either case, it is welcomed by the industry and renders a public service as well. Several recent examples are at hand from two metropolitan cities — Dallas and Los Angeles; and one from Topeka, Kas. An editorial in the September 20 issue of the Los Angeles Herald-Express is titled “The Comeback,” which takes note of the upsurge in new theatre construction in California, as well as the increase in Hollywood production. Viz : “Coupled with the rejuvenation of important filmmaking on a broad basis in Hollywood are reports of a great upsurge in theatre building, reversing the trend, which during the past years, had seen large numbers of theatres closing throughout the nation. “This new building has been reflected, for instance, in National General Corp. of Beverly Hills adding five new theatres in 90 days, including the just opened $350,000 Fox Northridge Theatre. “Pacific Drive-In Theatres will open its new Cinerama Theatre on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood in November. United Artists Theatres and Sterling Enterprises are opening new theatres in Torrance next month. “And there are numerous others completed in the last year and under construction in the coming months. “This is gratifying. It reflects both a further population increase in Southern California and the fact that people are more anxious to turn to good theatres for entertainment if they can see good pictures. We are sure Hollywood can furnish the answer to the demand for good pictures and that the combined fields of movie production and exhibition will help in solving the problem of unemployment.” In the September 8 issue of the Dallas Morning News, William A. Payne, amusements editor, devoted nearly two full columns citing the improvement in film product and attendance in theatres during the past summer. And, giving accent to upcoming films, he predicted continuance of the upswing through the fall and winter. In part, Mr. Payne said : “Patronage at motion picture boxoffices in Dallas, Texas, the Southwest and a good part of the nation has been sensational this summer. In fact, it has been good all year. “For an industry which a decade ago was being ‘creped’ by the prophets of doom, the filmmakers and exhibitors are showing a remarkable zest for life in 1963, especially during the summer season of June, July and August. “Even the U. S. Department of Commerce has given an official standing to the motion picture boom with its report that the boxoffices of movie houses across the country took in $1,405,000,000 last year and an even better year is ahead for 1963.” This was followed by statements that Mr. Payne had rounded up from Dallas theatremen, adding substance to the reasons for the business improvement which sums up to “better motion pictures and better release schedules.” In the Topeka Capitol, Ada Montgomery, in her column titled, “Over a Cup of Coffee,” made the following comment: “Frankly, we are tired of hearing people say, 7 haven’t been to a movie for months,’ or 7 just never go to the movies anymore’ or ‘Heavens, I haven’t seen a movie since “ Gone With the Wind’.” We don’t care so much what they say as we do the smugness with which they say it, as though it gives them some sort of status or virtue in not going. First of all, remember the theatre people are just as much a part of your town’s economy as any other merchant. They sell a commodity, the same as the department stores or the supermarkets. Their commodity is entertainment, and if you prefer your entertainment in some other form, that’s your privilege, but don’t consider yourself some sort of special person because you don’t attend the motion picture theatres! “Personally, we’d rather attend a good movie than to hear a lot of vapid conversation that goes on at some of the affairs we attend. At least, the movie conversation is done by professionals, and there is nothing better than expert ‘pro’ dialog. We’ve seen some mighty good motion pictures recently: ‘Days of Wine and Roses,’ ‘David and Lisa,’ ‘To Kill a Mockingbird,’ ‘Hud,’ ‘Spencer’s Mountain’ and ‘Bye Bye Birdie,’ to name some of the best. Yes, indeed, far more entertaining than listening to someone talk about the heat or the new hemlines!” This was reprinted in “The Bright Side,” house organ of the Commonwealth Theatres, edited by M. B. Smith, under the heading of “Does Your Newspaper Help You With Pictures?” and concluded with “We’re sure the compliments are deeply appreciated by an industry that seldom gains a kind word these days! Perhaps you should show this article to your newspaper editor!” That admonition should be widely heeded, which is the reason for our devoting this page to the foregoing excerpts from newspapers that DO help pictures and our business. What they have done is worthy of widespread emulation.