Boxoffice (Oct-Dec 1962)

Milwaukee Filmrow Managers See 1963 As Better Year Than Last Mill City Scores Go 'Wrong Way'-Upward MINNEAPOLIS — Business took an ironic tui'ii and actually improved in many Mill City theatres despite all the Christmas hullabaloo and activity. Again leading the pack was Cinerama’s “The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm,” now in its 20th week at the Cooper, with 175 percent. But even more remarkable were two tenacious holdovers; “What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?” in its sixth week at the Century still continued to do 100 per cent business, while “Period of Adjustment,” fourth week at the Lyric, held firm at 120 per cent. “Operation Snatch” showed an outstanding 135 per cent in a second week at the St. Louis Park. (Average Is 100) Century — Whot Ever Happened to boby Jone? (WB), 6th wk 100 Cooper — The Wonderful World of the Brothers Ckrimm (MGM-Cinerama), 20th wk 175 Gopher — Young Guns of "Texos (20th-Fox); The Doy Mots Invaded Earth (20th-Fox) 100 Lyric — Period of Adjustment (MGM), 4th wk 120 Mann — The Longest Day (20th-Fox), 9th wk 80 Orpheum — The Wor Lover (Col), 2nd wk 70 State — Billy Budd (AA), 2nd wk 100 St. Louis Pork — Operation Snatch (Cont'l), 2nd wk. 135 World — Gigot (20th-Fox), 7th wk 70 Mil-waukee Registers One Of Year's Poorest Weeks MILWAUKEE— With “Period of Adjustment” reporting 180 per cent, stacking up as the best grosser for the week, it can readily be seen that grosses took a nose dive. Figures for the week ranged from a low of 70 per cent to the 180 high mentioned above. Exhibitors were of the opinion that the need for ready cash during the upcoming holidays accounted for the poor business. Downer — Yojimbo (SR) 125 Palace — The Best of Cinerama (Cinerama), 4th wk. 100 Riverside — The Legend of Lobo (BV) 110 Strand — El Cid (AA), 7th wk 100 Telenews — Period of Adjustment (MGM), 3rd wk. . .180 Times — Through o Gloss Darkly (Janus); Brink of Life (Ajay), revivals 125 Towne — Lover Come Bock (U-l); Come September (U-l), revivals 70 Warner — Gay Purr-ee (WB) 75 Wisconsin — Boccaccio '70 (Embassy), 3rd wk 100 Slow Business the Rule In Omaha First Runs OMAHA — The reports from local firstrun theatres last week were generally the same : “Slow.” For this time of the year the Orpheum did well with a 75 per cent figure for the foui-th week of “If a Man Answers.” Cooper Foundation Theatres have two houses shut down, the Cooper and Dundee, temporarily in a change of equipment and policy brought about by the opening of the new Indian Hills Cinerama Theatre. Admiral — The Vikings (UA), reissue 110 Omaha — Roman Holiday (Para), reissue; Forever My Love (Para) 75 Orpheum — If a Man Answers (U-l), 4th wk 75 State — Escape From East Berlin (MGM) 100 Appoints Dick Leander SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — Dick Leander, 19, has been appointed assistant manager of the Hollywood Theatre by Manager Stan Goodman. Leander, a Washington High School graduate, plans to attend Augustana College parttime next year. This is his first theatre experience. Film luminary Van Heflin will be seen in “The Greatest Story Ever Told,” George Stevens’ production for UA release. MILWAUKEE — Distribution offices on Filmrow will be a bit busier in 1963 than last year. The managers’ views on how 1962 turned out and their outlook for the forthcoming year follow: ALLIED ARTISTS : Branch manager Meyer Kahn; “We topped last year’s business. With El Cid packing ’em in all over the country. Convicts, Billy Budd and Day of the Triffids coming up, all good pictures, we anticipate a big ’63.” AMERICAN-INTERNATIONAL: Eddie Gavin: “I presume everybody knows our company had a good year. Our White Slave Ship is doing well, and Warriors Five, Reptilicus, Samson and the Seven Miracles and The Raven are expected to pile up some mighty impressive grosses. I’d say 1963 should be better than 1962 by far.” CAN EXPECT PACKED HOUSES BUENA VISTA: Frank Yablans: “Our business for 1962 was outstanding. Search for the Castaways and Son of Flubber are coming up, and we know we can expect packed houses on them. Our product for 1963 will bring us a banner year . . . You might mention that I am area chairman for the COMPO drive, and while the circuits have come through nicely, the independents have been dragging their feet. It’s about time all film people gave some thought to their own preservation in connection with the Will Rogers hospital. We’d appreciate it if each and every one only gave a buck, it all counts up!” COLUMBIA: Harry Olshan: “We’ve had a very good year. Our Lawrence of Arabia looks like award material, and Barabbas also is expected to do a landoffice business. Yes, I’d say the prospects for 1963 are very good.” 1962 BUSINESS VERY GOOD MGM: John Kemptgen: “Business this year has been very good. Irv Tombach is here beating the drums for Mutiny on the Bounty. Period of Adjustment is doing better than we anticipated, and of course Jumbo is a natural. We look to 1963 with a great deal of pride and joy.” PARAMOUNT: Howard Ross; “We’ve made considerable progress: done better than ’61, and we are optimistic for 1963. Our Girls! Girls! Girls! is doing wonderful all over, and Wonderful to Be Young, It’s Only Money and Who’s Got the Action? is the type of product that will pay off at the boxoffice for ’63.” INDEPENDENT FILMS: Morey Anderson: “Glad to say ’62 was a very good year. I feel there is a wealth of good product for ’63, and believe we’ll exceed our record next year. We are definitely optimistic!” UNITED AR'ITSTS: Joe Imhof : “Best in years!” He cited West Side Story as the standout picture in their portfolio for the year, with possible bonuses as a result of the excellent overall grosses for the yearjust passed. The entire office staff radiated the feeling that is associated with the good boxoffice pictures in the offing. “Just say that 1963 will be a whopper for us,” chimed in Kenny Seim, office manager. UNIVERSAL-INTERNATIONAL: P a t Halloran: “Our books show 1962 as being a very good year and we have the biggest group of fine pictures in years coming up. That Touch of Mink, for example, was a bonanza, and with 'Thrill of It All, Charade and Man’s Favorite Sport to look forward to. we’re in solid for ’63.” TWENTIETH -FOX: Jack Lorentz: “We’ve had a pretty good year, considering. Of course we are all enthusiastic over the prospects for ’63. Sol Gordon is here whooping it up for The Longest Day. We are working on saturation for The Lion. With Sodom and Gomorrah, The World of Marilyn Monroe, Young Guns of Texas, The Day Mars Invaded Earth, The Queen’s Guards and Nine Hours to Rama due for ’63. we look to a great year.” WARNER BROS.: J. C. McCrary: “Good deal better than 1961! As for 1963, we need only point to Gypsy, what with the type of picture it is, the fabulous tieins and exploitation under way, we can’t miss.” From all indications, it will be a busy year for the few remaining salesmen in this area: Dave Chapman, Columbia; Harry Schlar, MGM; Sid Turer, U-I; Carl Lind, Paramount: Jack Dionne, United Artists, and Jack Gilbert, who bounces between Chicago and Milwaukee for various films. MILWAUKEE ■phe Northwest News, a community newspaper, made its debut here on the 5th. It will appear every other week for the time being, but the publisher plans on going to a weekly soon. The president and publisher is Edward D. Bristol, while Manuel Meyers, a newspaperman, is vice-president. Bristol, who also heads an advertising agency, said a recent survey revealed a need for a community publication. Harvey Jacobson, executive vice-president, Film Group Production, was making a tour of all exchanges, and dropped in to chat with Eddie Gavin, AIP manager here . . . “Gabe” Guzman, Warner Theatre manager, has come up with the perfect plan for keeping the theatre’s organ in excellent tune. Couple university students studying music approached Gabe with the idea of keeping the instrument in shape in return for use an hour or two each morning for practicing. The deal was made then and there. That is why passersby hear beautiful organ music so early in the morning emanating from the Warner Theatre. A letter to the editor from an exhibitor suggests we list advance notice of pictures booked into first-run houses. Checking with the first distributor brought the following response: “It would appear in Boxoffice too late to do any good.” Second distributor: “Exhibitors have been changing so often lately, and in many cases last minute booking, the listings might be confusing to your readers.” However, if subscribers are willing to put up with it, we’re willing to have a go at the listings, given cooperation, of course. BOXOFFICE :: December 24, 1962 NC-1