Boxoffice (Oct-Dec 1963)

... rnwas Ticket •g Selling Display This striking display in front of the Alameda Theatre, downtown Spanish-language theatre in San Antonio operated by Jack Cane, brought in the ticket-buyers, according to Ignacio Torres, manager. The display was used in advance and during the showing of "El Camino de la Horca" (The Road to the Gallows). Kids Like Lots of Blood Letting in Their Horror Pictures; Westerns Are Too Tame An interesting report on the strong tastes of small children for bloody action in horror shows appears in a well -illustrated story in the Detroit Free Press written by Jean Sharley. Basing her detailed interviews with the small fry on a visit to the Allen Park Theatre, she quoted Manager Arthur F. Brock that the kids aon’t like westerns but want horror. “Besides, they’re fussier than adults; they walk out if they don’t get constant action,” Brock said. “This is a pretty good picture,” said Paul Turchetta, 11, “but there are a lot of queer things in it. Like this creeping arm. A guy’s arm gets about a mile long and the hand crawls around at night and the other guy sets it on fire.” HUGE BIRDS, TOO This seemed like a swell reason for deserting the matinee line at the Allen Park movie house. “You shouldn’t leave, lady,” said another boy. “They got these big birds that drop rocks on the people on the boat.” It was a treat too good to miss. The boxoffice opened at 12:15 p.m. The line of aged 4-to-12 youngsters stretched four blocks. Two kids fainted; one got sick. People trying to find the door of the sausage store next to the theatre decided to go home and have eggs for breakfast. Kevin Sutlick, 12, said, besides his 35 cents for admission, he would spend 15 cents for popcorn (unbuttered), 10 cents for pop and maybe 20 cents for candy bars. “That’s about average for the kids,” Kevin said. “With a bigger eater like me, I’ll probably have another popcorn and another pop.” Mrs. Michael Stapleton stood nearby dropping candy money into a number of outstretched hands. After a time, realizing that some of the hands looked unfamiliar, she announced “I only have four children.” Two hands pulled back. The best movie seat is the one closest to the blood letting. How the blood flows is important to the success of a children’s matinee. Death by whipping is good. Chomping by a two-headed monster is keen. As the sword streaked toward the victim’s neck on the screen, the only adult at the matinee turned away . . . “They don’t show it coming off,” soothed the 8-year-old girl in the next seat. “Just the blood.” “These kids won’t give you 15 cents for 12 westerns,” said manager Arthur F. Brock. “They’re fussier than adults. They walk out if they don’t get constant action.” During periods of storm and stress and monster stalking, the Allen Park was tomb quiet. During dancing, kissing and conversation, it was a mobile ant hill. During dialog, the older ones rooted the little ones in their seats, commanding “Stay here!”, while they went off for lobby refreshment. As a kickoff for the promotion of "Wives and Lovers" at a day-and-date engagement at the Cinema and Amherst theatres in Buffalo, an invitational preview was put on at the Amherst in the afternoon. This screening was promoted on the Jay Nelson show on WKBW radio station eight days in advance. Over 500 women attended. Above, Jay Nelson of WKBW, right, is presenting to Mrs. N. J. Clerc of West Seneca, N.Y., the major door prize, a weekend at the Sheraton Brock Hotel in Niagara Falls, Ont., as Irving Singer, manager of the Amherst, looks on. Some of the tiny ones went too, hoping they wouldn’t have to go back for the movie. Plot is unimportant. The older children want to see the thrills the television and newspaper ads guarantee. The younger ones take comfort in advertisement association, too . . . “It’s a white tornado!” shouted a 5-yearold, as the magician brewed up an evil, spark-shooting storm. CHEER SWORD FIGHTS Sword fights are big, with the cheers and whistles matching those at the beginning. Some kids never find out who was killed. “Who’s the good guy?” asked little brother. “The guy in the blue,” said big brother. “Shut up.” “That guy?” “Naw, the other guy. Shut up.” Sex can’t match sword fighting, even when the Magician tells the beautiful Princess to take off all her clothes before he turns her into a firebird because he can’t grow feathers on satin. Except for one little boy, the scene was received coolly. “Wow,” he shouted. “Look at the diamond in her belly button!” The children say they don’t know why they like monsters or why they like to be frightened . . . “I like the big animals,” said a blond 6-year old. “It’s nice you have your brother along in case you get scared,” said the grownup. “Yeah, and he’s got the money,” said the blonde. Here's Some Scare Copy For a Chiller Program Here’s some horror show copy, taken from a herald, on yellow stock, distributed by the Lakeside Drive-In on Conneaut Lake, Pa. “It’s Frightime ! . . . It’ll be a monsterous experience if you attend the horrifying and blood-curdling GHOSTS & MONSTERS CONVENTION ... 2 Gasp-Provoking Nights . . . You’ll Shiver and Shake, Even Your Goose Bumps Will Have Goose Bumps . . . It’ll Scare the Yell Out of You!!” On the end of the herald was, “Those who can stand it and stay till the end will be given a ticket for a future show.” After the heralds were printed, Elmer Hasley, the owner, came up with a second thought and cut off the bottom two lines. It was good thinking, too, he reports, since 80 per cent of his Thursday and Friday audiences for the five-feature chiller remained for the entire show, and he made no refunds or issued no passes! Delay in 'Birdie Date' Is Reported by Frankie When the opening of “Bye Bye Birdie” at the Saenger Theatre in New Orleans was delayed because of a holdover of “Come Blow Your Horn,” Walt Guarino, manager, made up an ad featuring art of Frank Sinatra saying (in cartoon balloon) : “Sorry ‘Birdie,’ you’ll have to wait . . . in 7 more days you have a date! ... I tell you. Chum, the crowd’s been neat so we’re here another week.” Ads on succeeding days merely changed the number of days as the “Birdie” playdate neared. I ial of A 4 — 17G — BOXOFFICE Showmandiser :: Nov. 4, 1963