Boxoffice (Oct-Dec 1963)

S XH IB IT OR HAS HIS SAY PICTURESHMB AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL Reptilicus (AIP) — Carl Ottosen, Ann Smyrner, Mimi Heinrich. The kids ate this up, but that was about all I had in both nights and very few adults. The color in this w’as very odd. Very hard to get in focus. Played Fri., Sat. Weather: Warm. — James Hardy, Crescent Theatre, Jasonville, Ind. Pop. 2,500. BUENA VISTA Savage Sam (BV) — Brian Keith, Tommy Kirk, Kevin Corcoran. As usual, Disney brought out many people to see this terrific comedy-adventure. Played this Friday, Saturday, Sunday on Labor Day weekend, so many people were still away at the summer resort a few miles away. Business wasn’t as big as it would have been had I played it a little earlier, but still we made enough to pay the light bill and make a trip to the bank. The public here can hardly wait for each Disney picture, because of TV plugging. — Richard Henrick, Cass Theatre, Cass City, Mich. Pop. 1,965. COLUMBIA Barabbas (Col) — Anthony Quinn, Silvana Mangano, Arthur Kennedy. One too many or one too soon in this cycle of pictures of this type, as the moviegoers did not go for “Barabbas” here. Weakest of the lot, but still a good picture. Boxoffice disappointing. Played Sun., Mon. Weather: Fair to warm. — Ken Christianson, Roxy Theatre, Washburn, N. D. Pop. 968. Ring-a-Ding Rhythm (Col) — Helen Shapiro, Craig Douglas, Felix Felton, the Brook Bros. Just a lot of music put together with no story. Result — no boxoffice ! Guess they’re getting tired of this stuff. I know I am. Played Fri., Sat., Sun. Weather: Cold and windy. — A. Madril, La Plaza Theatre, Antonito, Colo. Pop. 1,255. METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER Come Fly With Me (MGM) — Dolores Hart, Hugh O’Brian, Karl Boehm. This is better than “Follow the Boys” and it did fair business. Has some mighty beautiful color photography and an entertaining story, plus fine acting. Not a blockbuster, but a pleasant entry nevertheless. Played Sun., Mon. Weather: Warm. — Paul Fournier, Acadia Theatre, St. Leonard, N. B. Pop. 2,150. Flipper (MGM) — Chuck Connors, Luke Halpin, Kathleen Maguire. If you can’t Broke All Records With ' Hootenanny ' Played “Hootenanny Hoot” on Wednesday through Saturday and broke all records for all times for the four days AND for Saturday only. This is a wonderful example of what people really want, regardless of low budget. W’eather was fine, as usual down here — 75 degrees days, 50 degrees nights. ART RICHARDS Marion Theatre Marion, S. C. Praise for Continental And 'David and Lisa I kicked “David and Lisa” around for a long time, then I got stuck for a picture and set it in. Lots of people were waiting for it. It came through on good playing time and did all right. And Continental’s live-and-let-live terms won’t hurt you. This is a good company to do business with if you can find a place for product that is a little different. Their policies reflect the thinking of people who run theatres themselves and they seem to understand our problems. I hope this company continues to rise to the status it deserves. JIM FRASER Auditorium Theatre Red Wing, Minn. do business on this in a small town, you have a sad situation. This is what my patrons like. They ate this one up. Play it, if you want the business. It was okay at my theatre. Played Fri., Sat. Weather: Good. — Herman Powell jr., Joy Theatre, Joaquin, Tex. Pop. 500. It Happened at the World’s Fair (MGM) — Elvis Presley, Gary Lockwood, Joan O’Brien. Satisfactory business, but story rather thin. Production good. Presley is improving as an actor and is going to need some good story material to keep going. Played Thurs., Fri., Sat. Weather: Good. — Mel Danner, Circle Theatre, Waynoka, Okla. Pop. 2,018. PARAMOUNT Come Blow Your Horn (Para) — Frank Sinatra, Lee J. Cobb, Molly Picon. Very well liked and did average business. Played Sat. through Wed. Weather: Warm. — Jim Fraser, Auditorium Theatre, Red Wing, Minn. My Six Loves (Para) — Debbie Reynolds, Cliff Robertson, Eileen Heckart. Excellent picture. Played Sun., Mon. — S. T. Jackson, Jackson Theatre, Flomaton, Ala. Papa’s Delicate Condition (Para) — Jackie Gleason, Glynis Johns, Charlie Ruggles. Kids thoroughly enjoyed “Papa’s Delicate Condition.” Ran with “Five Miles to Midnight,” which kept the adults wondering. Even in the end they were still confused. Played Fri., Sat. Weather: Good. — Frank Patterson, Mansfield Theatre, Mansfield, La. Pop. 6,000. Who’s Got the Action? (Para) — Dean Martin, Lana Turner, Eddie Albert. Business was rather mild on this one. Just didn’t draw like it should. Played Sim., Mon., Tues. Weather: Good. — Mel Danner, Circle Theatre, Waynoka, Okla. Pop. 2,018. 20th CENTURY-FOX Stripper, The (20th-Fox) — Joanne Woodward, Richard Beymer, Claire Trevor. A very good picture. Paid off at the boxoffice. The teens ate it up. Pack the house on this one. Fox can give me more like this one. Thanks to Fox. Played Fri., Sat. Weather: Good. — Herman Powell jr., Joy Theatre, Joaquin, Tex. Pop. 500. UNITED ARTISTS Revolt of the Slaves (UA) — Ettore Manni, Wandisa Guida, Rhonda Fleming. This is not just another Italian cowboy picture. This one is good. Miss Fleming at her best. Dubbing is fine. Though the title was wrong. Business off. Played Fri., Sat., Sun. Weather: Good. — James Cech, Elsie Theatre, Elsie, Mich. Pop. 1,000. Taras Bulba (UA) — Tony Curtis, Yul Brynner, Christine Kaufmann, Sam Wanamaker. This was one of the so called “biggies” that if an exhibitor knew about in advance UA would be lucky to get the second allocation price for. The picture was good and the acting was excellent, but at the boxoffice it fell flat for me. I believe the public is fed up with the spectaculars, and this further substantiated the long contention of a lot of exhibitors that the public wants comedy and more comedy. Yul Brynner was good again. The failure at the boxoffice was not his fault here. Played Sun., Mon., Tues. Weather: Cool. — Oral Ledbetter, Howard Theatre, Monon, Ind. UNIVERSAL To Kill a Mockingbird (Univ) — Gregory Peck, Mary Badham, Phillip Alford. Played this one first run in our county. We used a lot of extra advertising and it really paid off. Best. Sun., thru Wed. in five years. Weather: Warm. — Larry Thomas, Fayette Theatre, Fayetteville, W. Va. Pop. 2,000. Ugly American, The (Univ) — Marlon Brando, Eiji Okada, Sandra Church. This one did not bring them out as expected. Had more adult appeal. Story very apropos of the present times in the Far East. Had " too much talking for some. More action would have helped a lot. Played Fri., Sat. Weather: Good. — Leonard J. Leise, Roxy Theatre, Randolph, Neb. Pop. 1,029. WARNER BROS. Critic’s Choice (WB) — Bob Hope, Lucille Ball, Marilyn Maxwell, Rip Torn. This is a cute comedy and it did business. People love Bob and Lucille, so how can it miss. I also wish producers would make more comedies. If it needs a little spice, okay, but keep it over the kids’ heads (like this one). Don’t spell it out. The adults will get it, if not, no harm done. I believe if a Hollywood sex writer had just one good night in a bedroom, he wouldn’t write about it. He would treasure it, instead of wasting his time writing a script that should be titled, “Oh, how I wish it were.” Played Fri., Sat., Sun. Weather: Good. — James Cech, Elsie Theatre, Elsie, Mich. Pop. 1,000. What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (WB) — Bette Davis, Joan Crawford, Victor Buono. This did average here. The ones that came were surprised to see Miss Davis and Miss Crawford in these kinds of roles. Played Wed., Thur. Weather: Warm. — Larry Thomas, Fayette Theatre, Fayetteville, West Va. MISCELLANEOUS Mondo Cane (Times) — Documentary. Remarkable grosser. It makes men and women both turn pale, but they talk about it, and they patronize it heavily. Needs special handling, but it deserves it. Played Sun. through Wed. Weather: Mild. — Jim Fraser, Auditorium Theatre, Red Wing, Minn. t 4 — 172 — BOXOFTICE Showmcmdiser :: Oct. 28, 1963