Boxoffice (Oct-Dec 1962)

• ADLINES & EXPLOITIPS || • ALPHABETICAL INDEX ^ • EXHIBITOR HAS HIS SAY ^ • FEATURE RELEASE CHART • FEATURE REVIEW DIGEST || • SHORTS RELEASE CHART ^ • SHORT SUBJECT REVIEWS ' • REVIEWS OF FEATURES • SHOWMANDISING IDEAS THE GUIDE to: BETTER BOOKING AND B U S I N E S S B U I L D I N G Saucy Comedy Given Fine It's Here Promotion “Waltz of the Toreadors,” English-made film starring Peter Sellers and Frenchbom Dany Robin, concerns a frolicsome general who decides to consummate his 17year affair with a beautiful Frenchwoman. It treats the sex theme in the light, humorous manner which the English do very well. R. G. Honeyman, manager of the Odeon Theatre in Ayr, got two weeks out of the film by a campaign designed to let everybody know that “Waltz” was in town. First was a contest in the Ayrshire Post in which entrants were asked to point out seven small differences in two look-alike drawings of Sellers, the general in the film. A camera was the first prize. Entries had to be on forms which appeared in the Post three consecutive weeks. Quad cards (40x30) were set at gas stations, garages, a niunber of shops, hotels, factories, bus and railway stations and in several pai-ks. Imprinted bags were distributed at six gi'ocery stores. i Newspaper ads featured this copy, with ) a head of “General” Sellers; “Goodness Gracious, they’ve slapped an ‘X’ certificate on me memoirs! . . . SELLERS at his sauciest and funniest.” 14 California Showmen Win 'Venus' Citations Newton P. Jacobs, president of Crown International Pictures, announced the 14 exhibitors who won showmanship citations for their campaigns in behalf of “First Spaceship on Venus.” The citations read: “For his active participation and valuable contribution toward the successful blast off, from count down to orbit of Crown International’s ‘First Spaceship on Venus.’ ” The awards went to Bill Srere, Cabrillo Theatre: A1 Dumont, Aero Drive-In; Gene Burgoyne jr.. South Bay Drive-In; James Caskey, Big Sky Drive-In; George Zischank. Frontier Drive-In, and Sam Russo, Campus Drive-In, all of San Diego, and Robert Apple, Fox, San Francisco; John Fredericks, Fox, Fresno; Jack McDougall, Fox, Oakland; Phil Phillips, Crest, Reno; Max Brodie, Fox, Sacramento; Jack Gimsky, Fox, San Jose; Donald Crook, California, Stockton, and Ken Kucera, Fox, Visalia. National 'Money' Promotion A national promotion for “It’s Only Money” has been arranged by Paramount with National Comics, publishers of the Jerry Lewis comic book. Filmmaker Sheds Magic off Beaten Track; Benefit Works Both Ways Appearances in the smaller cities off the beaten metropolitan track by Hollywood executives and producers are a beneficial practice which works both ways, and there should be many more of them, George Peters, manager of Loew’s Theatre in Richmond, Va., declares. “Hollywood’s lack of contact with people outside the big metropolitan centers has been a tragic loss in recent years to the industry as a whole, and especially to exhibition on the local level,” he believes. “If more producers and Hollywood executives could only see for themselves the tremendous interest generated in press, radio, and TV circles and among local officials and just plain people by a visit from a personality of ‘The Magic City,’ we would have not just one but several visits a year.” BUSY DAY SET UP Peters’ observations were occasioned by a visit of producer Joe Pasternak to Richmond in behalf of his “Billy Rose’s Jumbo.” Peters set up a full schedule beginning at 9:30 a.m. following his arrival at Byrd airport, until 5 pjn. when he left his hotel to catch a plane to Washington, D.C. During that day he met important representatives of the city’s business and cultural fields, besides all the working information media people. Pasternak gave eight-odd interviews, taped and live, for radio, television and the newspaper entertainment pages; he spoke at a luncheon for the drama — entertainment editors and program managers. Chamber of Commerce officials, the mayor and civic representatives, and addressed the combined English and drama classes of William and Mary College at the school’s Playhouse Theatre. Producer Pasternak also called on Gov. Albertis Harrison at the capitol building in Richmond. A GREAT JOB! As can be seen, Peters and his aides worked Pasternak hard, and the former sums it up as follows: “Pasternak did a great job of salesmanship ; left a lot of the old magic behind and took with him added information to help prove that these visits are not a one-way street . . . He is an excellent ambassador from Hollywood; his belief in the future of our industry, his sincerity, and his faith Joe Pasternak addresses students at the William and Mary College extension in Richmond, Va. His talk came at the end of a busy day of radio and television appearances, meetings with press folk and Governor Harrison of Virginia on behalf of "Billy Rose's Jumbo." Pasternak was on a 25-city tour. in the quality of his own product impress even the cynics and disbelievers in the magic of Hollywood.” Stanley Chatkin of MGM worked with Peters on the appearance of Pasternak. Reaches Italian Groups For “The Pigeon 'That Took Rome,” Ray McNamara of the Allyn Theatre, Hartford, Conn., mailed letters to two score Italianreligious groups and veterans organizations, reminding them of the occupied-city theme. In addition, through Allen M. Widem’s Coast-to-Coast Hartford Times column, he extended an invitation to all area veterans who participated in the liberation of Rome to identify themselves at the boxoffice for free admission when accompanied by an adult ticket-buying patron. Pipe Tieup for 'Answers' Bobby Darin, an “If a Man Answers” star, has been selected as “Pipe Smoker of the Year” by the Pipe and Tobacco Council. A national promotion, arranged by Universal and Romick’s Tobacco Co., has been built up around him in behalf of the film. BOXOFFICE Showmandiser : : Dec. 17, 1962 — 201 — 1