Boxoffice (Oct-Dec 1962)

DBS MOINES For the Pheasant It Was Unpleasant. pUmland nimrods took advantage of the opening of the bird' season which hit on the long Veterans Day weekend, and a-hunting they did go! . . . Ralph and Betty Olson, Universal and Paramount, respectively, were out shooting up a few dinners for the larder. Bill Davis of National Theatre Supply went on his annual November safari, as did Dale Belcher of Metro . . . Lloyd Hirstine, owner of the Capitol Drive-In at Des Moines, believes that a bird in the roaster is worth a flock on the wing. So his hunting party of 12 cooked up a fat turkey with giblet stuffing to take along on their search for pheasant in the fields around Clear Lake . . . Meanwhile, back at the stream. Dale Yaryan, Universal shipper, went fishing. Also among the unarmed and unbaited along Filmrow, many took to the road during the three-day weekend . . . Helen Pieart, assistant cashier at Warner Bros., visited her sister in Chicago . . . Diane Grzanich, also of Warners, went to Creston . . . Joyce Brain, Paramount, traveled to Minneapolis for the Iowa Hawkeyes football game . . . And Columbia stay-athome staffers got together Saturday night (10) for a party at the home of Patty Crowse. Willis Warner and associates, who operate the drive-in theatre at Fort Dodge, have opened a bowling alley there. Visitors from Des Moines report that the layout is de luxe . . . The B-17 ballyhooing Columbia’s “War Lover” landed at Des Moines on election day, a very busy time for the local press. Despite the odds, the old Flying Fortress came in for a good publicity story and picture . . . The Hiland Theatre in Des Moines is down to a Friday-SaturdaySunday schedule. Charles Legg, owner of the drive-in at Estherville, has been ill and reportedly will undergo surgery . . . WOMPI Nola Bishop, recently described by Des Moines Register columnist Harlan Miller as “sultry & disturbing & enchanting,” has been in the news as the time draws near for the annual selection of “Miss Des Moines Firefighter.” Nola, a redhead and secretary to Charles lies at Iowa Film Delivery, was the first queen of the firemen’s ball back in 1955 . . . Karen Bitting, Columbia clerk, was feted by coworkers on her birthday. Unfortunately, the late movies on TV seem to be getting better and better. It would take some hard-sell showmanship to fill the theatres when folks could stay at home and see “Solid Gold Cadillac” or “Mister Roberts,” both of which were shown on local stations Saturday night (10) . . . Dorothy Pobst, United Artists office manager, planned to leave November 18 with her family on a week’s vacation in Florida . . . Paramount’s tradescreening of “Wonderful to Be Young,” musical starring Cliff Richard, was well received. Exhibitors on the Row included M. L. Dickson of Mount Pleasant; Ade Mueting, Pocahontas; John Rentfle, Audubon; Bud Nordhus, McGregor; G. H. Maxon, Jewel, and Bob Hutte, Leon . . . Thelma Washburn, Universal booker, is getting ready for Thanksgiving Day dinner guests . . . Also at U-I, Marilyn Smith planned to fly to Peoria for a turkey holiday visit . . . HAPPY THANKSGIVING! And an extra glob of whipped cream on your pumpkin pie to Des Moines area exhibitors, the branch managers, bookers and secretaries on Filmrow, the circuit home office personnel. Variety and WOMPI spokesmen, and all others who have been so gracious when their Friday afternoons and evenings were sometimes nadely interrupted during the past year by the local Boxoffice reporter in search of news. Thanks! WB’s “Not on Your Life” was written for the screen by David Schwartz from an original story by Leo Katcher. se^ef/ne □ 2 years for J5 □ 1 year for $3 □ 3 years for $7 Q Remittance Enclosed D Send Invoice THEATRE STREET ADDRESS TOWN ZONE STATE NAME POSITION THE NATIONAL FILM WEEKLY 52 issues a year 825 Von Brunt Blvd., Kansas City 24, Mo. MINNEAPOLIS paramount really rolled out the welcome mat at a gala “red carpet” sneak preview of Hal B. Wallis’ “A Girl Named Tamiko” Tuesday afternoon at the Westgate Theatre. The event was well attended by both exhibitors and press. Minneapolis film distributors got a wellearned day off last Monday for Veterans’ Day. Most offices were closed or operating with skeleton crews . . . The 13-film Ingmar Bergman Festival, just closing at the Varsity, will be re-run in its entirety across town at the Westgate, starting November 20. Both theatres are Mann units. Also just closing at the Varsity and Westgate is the once-a-week Operetta Festival, which was run concurrently each Tuesday night at both theatres. Apparently the operetta idea was successful as three neighborhood theatres — the Riverview, Hopkins, and Richfield — have picked up the idea and already have started promoting it. Mary Ann Jones, wife of popular Tribune entertainment columnist Will Jones, was defeated in running for a state office in the election. Jones himself has been on an extended vacation (a month) and his absence has undoubtedly hurt business some in the art houses. A Jones review on an art movie, good or bad, is a strong business factor. Star columnist Don Morrison spent a whole column recently writing about Columbia’s promotional device for “The War Lover.” Seems that Columbia had flown in a B-17 for the newsmen to look at and this brought back all sorts of World War II memories to Morrison, who had flown B-24s during the war. Minnesota Amusement has kept the air waves filled with advertisements for “What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?” (Century) and “The Manchurian Candidate.” Almost every time you turn on the television or listen to the radio, you hear an ad for one or the other. The “Baby Jane” ads are extremely funny in the rather ghoulish modem manner of someone like Jonathan Winters, for instance. A glance at boxoffice percentages finds them both paying off. Bowling Tieup by MGM For 'Eddie's Father' From Western Edition HOLLYWOOD — Pivoting on the comedy bowling sequence in “The Courtship of Eddie’s Father,” MGM has arranged with the American Machine & Foundry Co., makers of all types of bowling equipment, whereby its spring sectional promotion campaign will publicize the film in all radio, TV, newspaper and magazine advertising, plus bowling alley display materials. Toplining the cast are Glenn Ford, Stella Stevens, Dina Merrill and Jerry Van Dyke. 'Sunday' Composer Signed From Western Edition HOLLYWOOD — The Academy Awardwinning Gi'eek composer of “Never on Sunday,” Manos Hadjidakis, has been signed by producer-director Elia Kazan to write three songs and the musical score for “America, America,” being filmed on location in Greece for Warner Bros, release. NC-2 BOXOFFICE :: November 19, 1962