Boxoffice (Oct-Dec 1963)

"5. XHIBITOR HAS HIS SAY ■i^^HBABOUT PICTURESnn AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL Warriors Five t.AIP)— Jack Palance, Jo Anna Ralli. Another big goof-off from American-International. Good paper and previews, but the picture just doesn’t live up to it. Can’t make money this way. Played Thur., Fri. Weather: Warm. — A. Madril, La Plaza Theatre, Antonito, Colo. Pop. 1,255. Young Racers, The (AIP) — William Campbell, Mark Damon, Luana Anders. A disappointment at the boxoffice as well as in the picture. Why can’t somebody make a good racing picture? — O. B. Hancock, Princess Theatre, Whitesboro, Tex. Pop. 1,854. BUENA VISTA In Search of the Castaways (BV) — Maurice Chevalier, Hayley Mills, George Sanders. This is the first Disney since “Parent Trap’’ that I have played sub-run that drew the family people out better than most first runs. A vex-y pretty and entertaining, happy film. Terms high as always from BV, but so was the gross, so I’m happy. Played Sun.-Wed. Weather: Good. — Paul Wood, Escambia Drive-In Theatre, Century, Fla. Pop. 1,500. COLUMBIA Bye Bye Birdie (Col) — Janet Leigh, Dick Van Dyke, Ann-Margret. The young people liked this very much. I played it over the Labor Day weekend and it held its own. If Ann-Margret is given the right roles in the future, she will develop a real following and she was very good in this one. Played Fri. through Tues. Weather: Warm. — Jim Fraser, Auditorium Theatre, Red Wing, Minn. Jason and the Argonauts (Col)— Todd Armstrong, Nancy Kovack, Niall MacGinnis. This isn’t a bad picture, but the foreign actors and actresses, plus a poor title, didn’t bring many customers through our doors. Played Sun., Mon., Tues. Weather: Clear. — C. D. Simmons, Grace Theatre, Grace, Ida. Pop. 725. METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER Come Fly With Me (MGM) — Dolores Hart, Hugh O’Brian, Karl Boehm, Pamela Tiffin. This was “top shelf” with the public. All agreed this picture was very good. We like to play this type of product. Happy patrons; happy management. Even the projectionist was happy with this one. Just think, we made a couple of dollars. These are the pictures that BUILD theatre business. If it would be possible to have all pictures that made my people happy again we would have it made — Right Combination Makes 'Birds' Delightful Hitchcock, Universal, kids and teenagers all made “The Birds” delightful for me. What more could you ask? Excellent business. TERRY AXLEY New Theatre England, Ark. 'King Kong vs. Godzilla ' Pleases Floridans The battle of all times, “King Kong vs. Godzilla,” raged across the CinemaScope screen to the delight of my many hundreds of patrons who turned out to see this action picture, along with “Parrish,” just to fill in the time. Played Sunday and Monday and did a good business also on Monday night. If we could only get more pictures of this sort the people would leave their TV sets more often. To Universal, for such good product, three cheers. To you, my fellow exhibitors who haven’t played this, grab it. You won’t be sorry. JIM AND WILLIAM TOSTO Goulds Theatre, Goulds, Fla. and they don’t have to cost a small fortune to produce, either. Just give us good product and we will cure our ailments, boys. Played Fri., Sat., Sun. Weather: Good. — W. A. Windschitl, Comfrey Theatre, Comfrey, Minn. Pop. 642. It Happened at the World’s Fair (MGM) — Elvis Presley, Gary Lockwood, Joan O’Brien. Elvis is always boxoffice for me and he did it in this one too; but it will be a long time before he will make another picture like “Blue Hawaii.” The shots of the World’s Fair were good, but I don’t think the Presley fans came out to that part of the picture particularly. They just wanted to see Elvis again. My people are always satisfied with a Pi’esley picture. Played Thur., Fri., Sat. Weather: Warm. — Oral Ledbetter, Howard Theatre, Monon, Ind. PARAMOUNT My Six Loves (Para) — Debbie Reynolds, Cliff Robertson, Eileen Heckart. The cast members play their best in a wonderful comedy. This picture is in color. It did okay for us. It had people smiling as they left the theatre. We heard comments like, “The cutest thing I have ever seen,” “Disney’s not done anything any better,” “It’s wonderful,” “Hollywood should make more like this.” Mr. Producer, why can’t we have more like this? Played Sun. through Wed. Weather: Fair. — Harold J. Smith, Clifton Theatre, Newport, Tenn. Pop. 6,250. Papa’s Delicate Condition (Para) — Jackie Gleason, Glynis Johns, Charlie Ruggles. Light entertainment, weak in story and shy on comedy, just so-so were the comments. But we did make a little “jack” with Jackie, as he draws. Boxoffice near normal, rental right. Played Sun., Mon. Weather: Cool and rain. — Ken Christianson, Roxy Theatre, Washburn, N. D. Pop. 968. 20th CENTURY-FOX Satan Never Sleeps (20th-Fox) — William Holden, Clifton Webb, France Nuyen. I should have let him sleep. I thought a good show, but pictures with Oriental backgrounds simply don’t do any business for me. Played Sun., Mon. Weather: Hot and dry. — Terry Axley, New Theatre, England, Ark. Pop. 2,136. UNITED ARTISTS Dr. No (UA) — Sean Connery, Ursula Andress, Joseph Wiseman. This was another well-liked production that will draw and build business. We can use bushels of this type and quality productions. Played Fri., Sat., Sun. Weather: Good. — W. A. Windschitl, Comfrey Theatre, Comfrey, Minn. Pop. 642. Geronimo (UA) — Chuck Connors, Kamala Devi, Pat Conway. Booked this one for our Fourth of July holidays and figured on lots of competition. I was surprised. They came from all around to see this one. Best weekend we’ve had in many a moon. And in spite of heavy opposition from neighboring drive-in, baseball games, picnicking, etc. Rained hard first night, but they still came. My hat is off to Chuck Connors and UA. Let’s have another one like it and soon. Played Thur., Fri., Sat. Weather: Warm and raining. — A. Madril, La Plaza Theatre, Antonito, Colo. Pop. 1,255. Two for the Seesaw (UA) — Robert Mitchum, Shirley MacLaine, Edmon Ryan. An absolute waste of film for small towns. Played Sun., Mon. Weather: Hot and dry. — Terry Axley, New Theatre, England, Ark. Pop. 2,136. UNIVERSAL Gathering of Eagles, A (Univ) — Rock Hudson, Rod Taylor, Mary Peach, Barry Sullivan. An action picture that you can be proud to show. Universal’s terms on this were fair. You can advertise this with confidence. Played Thurs., Fri., Sat. Weather: Clear.— C. D. Simmons, Grace Theatre, Grace, Ida. Pop. 725. King Kong vs. Godzilla (Univ) — Michael Keith, Harry Holcomb, James Yagi. Played Thursday, Friday and Saturday — average to better on Thursday and Friday, but almost as big as “Hootenanny Hoot” on Saturday. Single features often pull better than doubles, but doubles, with action, MUST be had if the single is not a big grosser in earlier showings. Weather was a wee bit rainy Saturday, but it came after the kids got here and stopped before the teenagers came. — Art Richards, Marion Theatre, Marion, S. C. Pop. 7,200. WARNER BROS. Gay Purr-ee < WB) — Voices of Judy Garland, Robert Goulet, Red Buttons, Hermione Gingold. Very cute cartoon feature but too artistic and highbrow for small towns, definitely for the “high-class” set. Might do as part of a double-bill, but still its chances are pretty slim unless you can get the kids in. Had many walkouts and “hisses.” Too bad people can’t appreciate the finer things in life. Played Thur., Fri., Sat. Weather: Nice. — Paul Fournier, Acadia Theatre, St. Leonard, N. B. Island of Love (WB) — Robert Preston, Tony Randall, Georgia Moll. A fairly wellreceived comedy in beautiful color and gorgeous scenery. Did below average, but should have done better. Had very little singing; the patrons are plain sick of singing in pictures. They want less talk and more action — the nuttier and cornier the better. Played Sun., Mon. Weather: Good. — Leonard J. Leise, Roxy Theatre, Randolph, Neb. Pop. 1,029. Ha ving 5m 4 — 188 — BOXOFFICE Showmandiser : : Nov. 25, 1963