The Exhibitor (May-Oct 1945)

6 THE EXHIBITOR In This Issue Section One Editorial Legion of Decency Arbitration News . Picture Page Production Release Dates Television . The Tip-Off Trade Screenings 3 16 16 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 14 21 20 Inside Back Cover . 20 22 18 Section Two REVIEWS (THE EXHIBITOR'S PINK SECTION) SS-l-SS-12 V-J CELEBRATION BOOSTS B'WAY GROSSES New York — Led by the Radio City Music Hall, Roxy, Capitol, and Republic, week¬ end business in the Broadway first-runs continued at a merry clip following a hectic V-J Day week. According to usually reliable sources reaching The Exhibitor, the break-down was as follows: “OVER 21” Columbia). Radio City Music Hall, with stage show, had $79,000 from Thursday through Sunday, with the opening week heading toward $125,000. “CAPTAIN EDDIE” (20th Century-Fox) . Roxy, with stage show, garnered $72,000 from Wednesday through Sunday, with the second week sure to top $90,000. “THE GREAT JOHN L” (UA). Globe did $3,800 on Saturday and Sunday, with the week estimated at $11,000. “WHY GIRLS LEAVE HOME” (PRC). Gotham had $3,500 on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, with the week heading to¬ ward $8,000. “THE CARIBBEAN MYSTERY” (20th Century-Fox) . Victoria opened to $4,300 on Saturday and Sunday, with the first week anticipated 'at $15,000. “RHAPSODY IN BLUE” (Warners). Hollywood rang up $26,000 from Wednes¬ day through Sunday, with the eighth week likely to do $38,000. “CHRISTMAS IN CONNECTICUT” (Warners). Strand, with stage show, totaled $30,000 on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, with the fourth week expected to hit $60,000. “PINOCCHIO” (RKO -Disney). Re¬ public did $8,000 on Saturday and Sun¬ day, with the week estimated at $22,000. “JUNIOR MISS” (20th Century-Fox). Rivoli reported a $5,000 Saturday and Sun¬ day, with the 10th week heading toward $19,000. “WONDER MAN” (RKO Goldwyn) . Astor chalked up $20,000 on Friday, Satur¬ day, and Sunday, with the week heading toward $38,000. “ANCHORS AWEIGH" (Metro). Capi¬ tol, with stage show, did $58,000 from Thursday through Sunday, with the fifth week sure to top $98,000. “ALONG CAME JONES” (RKO-International). Palace did $12,000 on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, with the week ex¬ pected to reach $25,000. “BEWITCHED" (Metro). Criterion had $17,000 from Thursday through Sunday, with the week estimated at $28,000. Keep Up With the Headlines In the World Of Television Weekly In This Publication. Mcl Konecoffs News Was Grand, Glorious _ Ted Gamble Presents the Figures N E W YORK Grad Sears Puts On Old Uniform LAST WEEK was one that the civilized world won’t soon forget, for it was during that week, as all of you ere more than aware, that organized killing became a thing of the past in most areas of the world and the sweet smell of peace began to permeate the earth. Official word that the war was over reached the populace when President Harry Truman made his announcement on Tuesday evening, Aug. 14, at 7 P. M., and the people who had been rehearsing their celebrations for a number of days prior to the official surrender announcement really went to town. Theatres in the midiown areas might just as well have shut down for the amount of business that they did on that memorable evening, with the crowds so thick as to make an entry into one of these houses a hazard¬ ous operation. Business at neighborhood houses fell off mightily as block parties came into being on minutes’ notice, and people just wanted one another’s company rather than screen entertainment. The two days that followed saw the celebration continuing, with most places of business being closed (not theatres), along with a wider leaning toward theatre entertainment. Wednesday saw a spurt in midtown receipts. Thursday receipts were higher than usual in both first runs and local nabes. Very little damage was sus¬ tained by this city’s theatres during the celebration, according to a survey of reports. Most home offices were dosed on Wednesday and Thursday, with only a skeleton staff in effect at exchanges. Jubilation was the keynote of the week, and deservedly so. FUTURE, PAST AND FIGURE DEPT.: We attended a meeting of the National Mag¬ azine Editors’ Council last week at the Waldorf-Astoria at which Ted Gamble, national director, War Finance Division, Treasury Department, presented a financial picture of our nation at war, and we would like to pass on to you some, of what we heard, inasmuch as a a great many of you are concerned. During the period from May, 1941, to July, 1945, the Treasury was called upon to pay out 314 billion dollars, of which 95 per cent was directly concerned with the war. Exactly 128 billions came from income taxes and other revenue tariffs, and 206 billions was bor¬ rowed by the Government through sale of war bonds, which, when broken down, shows that 86 billions came from financial institutions, 71 billions came from non-financiaP institutions, 16 billions came from insurance companies, six billions came from mutual savings banks, five billions came from state and local governments, 27 billions came from the corporations of America, and 49 billions came from the sale of bonds to indi¬ viduals. The last mentioned figure of 49 billions is the most interesting as far as we are con¬ cerned, for these represent the combined efforts to a large degree of the theatres of the United States, and that figure represents 900 million individual sales. This figure also means that 65 per cent of all the individual funds of the people of this nation was invested with the Government, and that, according to Gamble, was the greatest contribu¬ tion in keeping our economy stable. The wise investment of the populace in the Gov¬ ernment must be continued until there is a sufficient quantity of present-scarce commo¬ dities available for sale. He also stressed that the Government must continue to pay off its obligations, and continue to finance the war. He recalled that the highest spending spree took place in the six months that followed the last war, and he stated that this won’t happen now because a better all-around job has been done at present. There will be an eighth war loan, to be known as the Victory Loan, and the bonds will be termed Victory bonds. This will probably be the most difficult of all to put across. The maintenance and pay alone for the armed forces has been estimated at 22 billions per year, and this does not include rehabilitation, mustering out pay, hospitaliza¬ tions, etc., and that alone is reason enough for another loan drive, to say nothing of the officially estimated deficit, predicted for the first six months of 1946. Anyway, hats off to all of the theatre people who have done a fine and outstanding job in the past, and we glory in the knowledge that, if and when you are needed, you will come through in the future as you have in the past. We would also like to acknowl¬ edge the high rating contribution to the war effort of Gamble, who has been on the job night and day for the past four years, and publicly praise the creditable offerings of this former exhibitor. By the way, Government bonds similar to war bonds will be available for all who want them after the eighth and final war loan drive. PROMOTION DEPT.: Harry Kapit, vice prexy, International Theatrical and Tele¬ vision Corporation, was host at a luncheon recently in honor of the promotion of Orton A. Hicks, a former business associate, from major to lieutenant colonel in the Army. Among those present were: Joe Seidelman, Universal; George Hirliman, I. T. and T.; Major Jack Hubble, Overseas Motion Picture Service; Stewart MacDonald, Warners, and George Weltner, Paramount International. SHOWMANSHIP OR SOMETHING DEPT.: Following along the general lines that this is an industry of showmen, leave us relate a leetle incident. It seems that a veteran was returning home to the town of Harrison, N. Y., as is typical in many places today. Well, the town also happens to be the residence of UA vice prexy Grad Sears, and since ( Continued on page 14) August 22, 1945