Boxoffice (Oct-Dec 1962)

MILWAUKEE ( ^he first annual all-entertainment industry Christmas party, sponsored by the Variety Club of Wisconsin, will be held at the Pfister Hotel Monday the 17th, starting at 8 pjn. The festivities include a floor show, dancing, door prizes, snacks and Christmas cheer. It’s open to all adult members of the industiy and their spouses (boy friends and girl friends included) . The fee is $5 a person, and no tickets will be sold after Friday the 14th. Tickets are available at Variety Club headquarters, 1036 West Wells St., BRoadway 1-6689. — . A group headed by Ben Marcus reportedly offered ‘^\'2 million dollars for the Milwaukee Braves baseball club, but as has been announced recently to the press, another faction headed by club president McHale and associates bid QVz million . . . Eddie Gavin, AIP manager here, is looking forward to the possibility of Nancy Czar, the teenage ice skater, appearing here for the opening of “Wild Guitar.” Nancy, a Hollywood High School senior from Milwaukee, w'as picked for the role after a six -month seai'ch. ^ — Joe E. Brown, here for his lead role in “Harvey” at the Swan Theatre, recalled for members of the press, that he made a talking film for Warner Bros, in 1927, followed by six silents for them. “I made the first all-color, all-talking movie for them in 1929; it was called ‘On With the Show.’ I starred in five of the first seven color movies ever made for Waniers,” he said. Joe has appeared over 1,700 times in “Harvey.” Jack Yeo, who years ago had a circuit of motion pictui'e houses, writes that he is confined to his farm — Route 1, Oak Hill, Palmyra, Wis., and would like to hear from some of his old pals. “I can remember,” he said, “way back when I opened the Miller Theatre (now the Towne) for Tom Saxe (later a circuit owner) . And signing a plaque over at the Milwaukee Press Club 54 years ago.” (The Press Club is the oldest organization of its type in the country) . “I can type with one finger, and will answer all my mail,” he added. And while we’re on the subject of “shutins,” why not drop a line to Frank Fisher at the Margo Hospital, 102 East Wright St. Oldtimers will remember back when Frank had a mighty imposing circuit in the big time. And, ask Frank to tell you about the guy who operates the hospital — another [showman of the Gay Nineties. We have been taken to task from time to time concerning the figures appearing m the first-nin report for Milwaukee. Since we have no ax to grind with anyone, exhibitor, distributor, producer, we turn ’em in as we get them. The following week for example we might hear this from another theatre manager: “Who gave you that figure of ‘200’ on that stinker at the Blank Theatre last week? Why that thing really laid an egg!” Or, from a distributor: “Where’d you get that ‘90’ you showed on Blank picture? Don’t you know they packed ’em in?” Another: “How can we point to such figures and sell pictures?” Well, no one shows US the figures. If a manager or a distributor gives us a “150” for example, we report it as 150, using 100 as a base, with 300 indicating a full house all week. If a theatre’s boxoffice report, according to the manager, is 300, that means this particular house packed ’em in all week and deserves the figure. A new directory of the Detroit Filmrow is being distributed without charge by Dembek Cinema Service under the name of the Film Service Guide. Could work here too. It’s in five sections: 1. General services including sound, concessions, equipment, advertising, printing, trucking, catering to the theatre industry; 2. A list of all exchanges in detail; 3. List of the seven film buying and booking agencies; 4. The business paper correspondents; and the 5th, the available screening rooms. Morrie Anderson, Independent, and Joe Imhof, United Artists, attended the fimeral of Hugh “Doc” Gallup, former president of the Delft circuit, at Munising, Mich. Gallup began his career in show business as a projectionist, moving up the ladder to head the circuit imtil he retired, and succeeded by its present president, John Schuyler. Papers to Pilar Wayne From Western Edition HOLLYWOOD — Pilar Wayne, Peruvianborn wife of John Wayne, has received her American citizenship papers. Join the Widening Circle Send in your reports to BOXOFFICE on response of patrons to pictures you show. Be one of the many who report to— THE EXHIBITOR HAS HIS SAY A Widely Read Weekly Feature of Special Interest Address your letters to Editor. "Exhibitor Has His Soy." 825 S Von Brunt Kansas City 24, I Mo. BOXOFFICE Always in the Forefront With the News NC-4 BOXOFFICE :: December 10, 1962