Boxoffice (Oct-Dec 1962)

'Cid' Bows Grandly In Milwaukee Strand MILWAUKEE — “El Cid” at the Strand started off with a great 250 per cent to lead local first-run grossers for the week. Unexpected was the sharp drop taken by “The Chapman Report,” which reported a 90 per cent in its second week. “Convicts 4” also was disappointing at the Riverside. Nevertheless, overall attendance shaped up as better than average. (Average Is 100) Downer — The Sky Above — the Mud Below (Embassy), 2nd wk 150 Palace — The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm (MGM-Cinerama), 10th wk 200 Riverside — Convicts 4 (AA); The Savage Guns (MGM) 90 Strond— El Cid (AA) 250 Telenews — A Very Private Affair (MGM), 2nd wk. 170 Times — I Like Money (20th-Fox) 100 Towne — If a Mon Answers (U-l) 150 Warner — The Chapman Report (WB), 2nd wk 90 Wisconsin — Pressure Point (UA); Hero's Island (UA) 100 4 Mill City Theatres Have Excellent Week MINNEAPOLIS — Business was superb at four local theatres this past week, but only average at the other eight. Undoubtedly, the convening here of the state teachers meeting helped grosses considerably. “The Longest Day” went into its second week at the Mann, and again was the leading grosser with 300 per cent, identical to its first week’s business. The Cinerama offering at the Cooper and “Only Two Can Play” at the St. Louis Park both scored 200 per cent, while “Requiem for a Heavyweight” turned in a powerful 180 at the Lyric. Academy — Boceaceia '70 (Embassy), 3rd wk 100 Campus — The Important Man (Lopert) 125 Century — Spartacus (U-l), return run 80 Cooper— The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm (MGM-Cineramo), 13th wk 200 Gopher — Tower of London (UA); The Vampire and the Ballerina (UA) 100 Lyric — Requiem for a Heavyweight (Col) 180 Mann — The Longest Day (20th-Fox), 2nd wk 300 Orpheum^ — The Chapman Report (WB), 3rd wk, ..100 St. Louis Park — Only Two Can Play (Kingsley) . . . .200 State — Lady and the Tromp (BV), reissue; Almost Angels (BV), 2nd wk 90 Suburban World — Corry On, Teacher (Governor) ... .125 World — The Pigeon That Took Rome (Para), 3rd wk. 90 Omaha Attendance Is Stable. Unexciting OMAHA — 'The Orpheum Theatre posted another above average figure as “The Chapman Report” had a successful second week. Most of the first-run theatres came through with totals above average and while the receipts were not tremendous, they were commendable, considering excellent autumn weather and local entertainment competition, including heavy football schedules. Admiral — Sword of the Conqueror (UA) 115 Cooper — Windjammer (Cinerama), 8th wk 110 Dundee — Dream Wife (MGM), reissue 100 Omaha — The Trojan Horse (Colorama); The Mongols (Coloroma) 90 Orpheum — The Chapman Report (WB), 2nd wk. ..110 State — Damon and Pythias (MGM) 110 WB’s “Be Careful How You Wish” stars Don Knotts, Carole Cook, Andrew Duggan, Jack Weston and Larry Keating. The Ronald Peissigs Keep Rib Lake Theatre Open RIB LAKE, WIS.— Operation of the New Lake Theatre, which had been managed since last May by Harold Schlais, recently was taken over by Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Peissig. Schlais had planned to close the theatre in October, due to lack of sufficient patronage, but the Peissigs, who had been employed by Schlais, decided to give the theatre a further trial. The Peissigs are continuing to present one show at 8 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Schlais now has a fulltime position with the Medford school system. MILWAUKEE gtan Foil, secretary for the WisconsinUpper Michigan Florists Ass’n, appears to have a soft spot in his heart for the motion picture industry. At the Wisconsin State Fair, he proposed the film industry for the fair’s floral theme; it was accepted and the exhibits were terrific. The association held its annual convention at the Schroeder Hotel October 20-23 here and again favored the film industry for the theme. Exhibitors interested in securing tieins and cooperation on promotions where flowers would help, might contact Stan at FLagstone 5-7168. Mr. and Mrs. Arnold Jens, Pewaukee resort operators, plan on vacationing in New York about Christmas time, when daughter Salome is to be married. Salome Jens, 27, who starred in “Angel Baby” and made personal appearances here to plug the picture at the Towne Theatre, is engaged to actor Ralph Meeker. Daughter Amette, 25, who is in Hollywood to play in the movie version of “The Balcony,” was married in Balboa Beach, Calif., to actor Anthony Zerbe. When Salome left “The Balcony” to appear in “Angel Baby,” sister Arnette stepped into her role as the “pony girl” in the play. Celeste Holm, star of stage and screen, at the New Swan for a role in “Invitation to March,” does her own shopping for groceries and cooks for the entire company frequently in her kitchen apartment here. She does it because she “loves to cook,” she said. Susan Kaiser, “Miss Teenage Milwaukee,” is in Dallas, Tex., for the finals of the Miss Teenage America contest, hoping she will be chosen to go to Hollywood for the balance of the contest’s rewards. John Aboya, account executive at “KVP” advertising and public relations firm, says he has several accounts which could be called upon for tieins on certain types of promotions. “I can provide ’em with some real glamor,” he said. Walter Bradley, 68, Dies at Neligh, Neb. NELIGH, NEB. — Many film industry folk from Omaha, numerous points in Nebraska and out of state attended the funeral at the First Congregational Church of Walter B. Bradley, 68, who was in the motion pictui’e business here since 1923. The former mayor of Neligh died at Phoenix, Ariz., October 22 as the result of a heart ailment. For several years he had been dividing his time between Phoenix and Neligh. His son William had taken over operation of the New Moon Theatre and drive-in here. The elder Bradley was born in Bradford, Pa., and was with a stock company as property manager when he met Margery Jenkins, whose father, J. C. Jenkins, at one time was a traveling representative for a motion picture trade magazine. Bradley and his wife moved to Neligh, where her parents lived, and started a confectionery, which Mrs. Bradley operated while Bradley served in World War I. After the war he returned and developed the business into one of the most progressive of its kind in the state. In 1923 Bradley took over the Jenkins Auditorium Theatre when Jenkins became state game warden. In 1924 he built the Moon Theatre. When the theatre was destroyed by fire in the mid 1940s, he built the New Moon, with doubled seating capacity and ultra-modern equipment. One of his employes for 13 years was Bill Wink, who went from there into distribution and traveled the territory a number of years before becoming Allied Artists office manager in Omaha. Bradley developed a recipe for chili which became famous in the area. His secret formula grew so popular that he filled orders for Omaha stores. He served as Neligh mayor for two terms and was nominated for a third but withdrew from the race because of a heart attack. He was chairman of the draft board 15 years, chairman of the park board, served on the city council and was a trustee of the Congregational Church. Survivors include his wife and son; daughter Joline, who lives in New Jersey; a brother, Bovard, and sister, Ethel Cox, both of Phoenix, and four grandchildren. BOONTON, N. J. Large Core Greater Crater Area means MAXIMUM LIGHT Evenly Distributed In Minnesota — NATIONAL THEATRE SUPPLY, Minneapolis — Main 8273 in Nebraska — THE BALLANTYNE Co., Omaha — Jaeksan 4444 in WUeonsin— NATIONAL THEATRE SUPPLY, 1027 N. 8th Street, Milwaukee 3, Wiscansin. CHAS. J. BREWSTER, 417 W. HIghlanri Ave., Milwaukee. Wisconsin. Phone BR 1-0100. BOXOFFICE ;; November 5, 1962 NC-1