Boxoffice (Oct-Dec 1963)

Lively 'Palms' Bow Worth 155 in Omaha OMAHA — Jingling cash registers at marts cut into the movie business somewhat but turnstiles still had a merry tune at Omaha first-run theatres last week. Two holdovers slipped below par in their third weeks but others topped average grosses as Old Man Winter clamped a tight grip on the area. “McLintock!” had a strong third week at the Admiral and “Palm Springs Weekend” showed tidy results at the Omaha. (Average Is 1 00) Admiral — McLintock! (UA), 3rd wk 120 Cooper — The Wheeler Dealers (MGM), 3rd wk 95 Indian Hills — How the West Was Won (MGM — Cinerama), 28th wk 140 Omaha — Palm Springs Weekend (WB) 155 Orpheum — Take Her, She's Mine (20th-Fox) 110 State — The Incredible Journey (BV), 3rd wk 90 Severe Cold Chills Boxoffices Throughout Minneapolis Area MINNEAPOLIS — Aided by streets still unplowed from last week’s blizzard and record subzero weather, the pre-Christmas doldrums dealt movie business in Minneapolis a severe blow, making the week a dismal one for theatremen. A small consolation was that the slump hit during a period of holdovers and reissues that had previously done satisfactory business, and exhibitors could look forward to better days in the coming week when the big Christmas features will be opening locally. Century — Cleopatra (20th-Fox), 25th wk 90 Cooper — How the West Was Won (MGM Cinerama), 40th wk 100 Gopher — A Farewell to Arms (20th-Fox), reissue; Marilyn (20th-Fox) 75 Lyric — Fun in Acapulco (Para), 3rd wk 70 Mann — Take Her, She's Mine (20th-Fox), 5th wk. . . .100 Orpheum — McLintock! (UA), 4th wk 70 State — Under the Yum Yum Tree (Col), 4th wk 80 Suburban World — Lord of the Flies (Cont'l), 9th wk. 60 World — The Wheeler Dealers (MGM), 5th wk 70 'Yum Yum Tree' Posts Best Milwaukee Preholiday Mark MILWAUKEE — ’Twas two weeks before Christmas and very few patrons in any house — apparently all engrossed in buying and wrapping packages for Christmas giving. Consequently, as exhibitors have come to expect in weeks shortly before Christmas, Milwaukee had its poorest report in a long time, only the Warner coming up with anything really good — 175 for the third week of “Under the Yum Yum Tree.” Downer — Lord of the Flies (Cont'l), 3rd wk 125 Mayfair — Take Her, She's Mine (20th-Fox) 150 Oriental, Tower — The Secret Passion (SR) 50 Palace — Take Her, She's Mine (20th-Fox), 2nd wk. . .100 Riverside — The Incredible Journey (BV); Tarzan's Three Challenges (MGM) 125 Strand — Cleopatra (20th-Fox), 22nd wk 75 Times — The Conjugal Bed (Embassy), 2nd wk 125 Towne — Fun in Acapulco (Para), 2nd wk 110 Warner — Under the Yum Yum Tree (Col), 3rd wk. . .175 Eon Productions’ “From Russia With Love” is based on the Ian Fleming spy thriller and is a United Artists release. ENDLESS BURNS THE ENTIRE POSITIVE ROD Sava Carbon Cost 'i[»oiuhon»«t PROJECTOR A CIM0NS W«st Cooct Th*otr® S«rvic« ItJJ H.W. KLARMfY — R0RTIAND. ORtGON OMAHA Qutdoor theatre owners generally were fortunate to escape serious damage from the high winds that gusted up to 80 miles an hour in this territory. The only drive-in which suffered loss, according to first reports, was the Golden Spike on the western outskirts of Omaha, where the covering of part of the tower was ripped and some angle-iron twisted. Two conventional theatres in the area were points of fire alarms. Firemen responded to a call at the Stuart in downtown Lincoln, where assistant fire chief Henry Spahn said an overheated motor in the basement filled the theatre with smoke. There was no fire and patrons were evacuated in an orderly fashion. The Astro Theatre in downtown Omaha received damage not considered too extensive from smoke and water when fire broke out during a period when no film was being shown. Damage was confined mainly to the manager’s office, which was badly smoked and records charred. Firemen stretched tarps over the Astro’s beautiful lobby carpeting when water seeped through the ceiling and dripped from light fixtures. Cooper Foundation city manager Jack Klingel announced a new manager at the Cooper Theatre here. He is Everett Kerr, who came here from the Cooper in Oklahoma City . . . Meyer Stern, AIP representative in this territory, entertained Des Moines exhibitors with a Christmas party at Johnny and Kay’s last week. AIP had two pictures going last week in downtown Des Moines, “Summer Holiday” at the Des Moines and “Pyro” at the Paramount. The hunting season has kept Merl Burns, exhibitor at Memo, S. D., on the jump with bangup business at his sports goods store . . . Chief Barker Don Shane presided over a preholiday get-together of Variety Tent 16 Sunday afternoon at the Sheraton-Fontenelle Hotel. The annual Christmas party for members, their wives and guests was not held this year but a party is being planned of similar nature right after the first of the year. The date has not yet been set . . . Mel Kruse, who has the Pierce Theatre at Pierce, visited John Preston at Columbus. Preston, now general manager of the Loup River Public Power District, formerly ran the Coronado Theatre at Humphrey. A belated report of the death of Buzz Thacker came in. A former exhibitor at Pender, Buzz died in California and burial was held at South Sioux City. He was a brother of Bert Thacker, for many years a South Sioux exhibitor . . . Howard Burrus, exhibitor at Crete, is convalescing at his son’s home at Central City. Howard has closed his Isis Theatre during December. Son Larry is administrator of the hospital at Central City . . . Reports on the success of “Lawrence of Arabia” at smaller situations in this territory are heartening. Bill Wink, Allied Artists office manager, had a report from A. G. “Tidy” Miller, Atkinson exhibitor, on his visit to Denver. “Tidy” visited the Cooper Cinerama Theatre there and renewed an old acquaintance with Norm Nielsen, the manager who formerly was RKO branch manager in this territory . . . Russell Smith is working with merchants at Wausa, Neb., for a program of merchant-sponsored matinee movies at the Community Theatre. Earl Kerr of Pine, Colo., was in town booking for his Iowa theatre interests. Other exhibitors on the Row included Nebraskans Charles Thoene, Lyons; Sid Metcalf, Nebraska City, and Phil Lannon, West Point ... It is reported Art Johnson, who formerly had the Dakota Theatre at Yankton, is now running a theatre at Pittsburg, Kas. • Merchant advertising. • Constant date strip projection at bottom Ca,/ or write >,our nearby N.T.S. branch . . . of screen during coming attraction trailers. KANSAS CITY 8, MO., 223 W. 18th Street • Song slide presentation. • Color embellishment of screen during showing of titles and black and white film. • Show pictures of lost children. • Call doctors during show. • Colored screen surround projection during running of shorts. MILWAUKEE 3. WIS., 1027 N. 8th Street MINNEAPOLIS 3. MINN., 56 Glenwood Avenue National THEATRE SUPPLY COMPANY BOXOFFICE :: December 23, 1963 NC-1