The Exhibitor (Nov 1944-May 1945)

6 THE EXHIBITOR IN THIS ISSUE Section One Editorial Page 3 News 5, 6, 7, 10, 12, 14, 15, 16, 18, 31 Legion of Decency . 22 Picture Pages . 13, 30 Production . 20 Release Dates Inside Back Cover Television . 20 The Tip-Off 32 Trade Screenings 29 Section Two REVIEWS (THE EXHIBITOR’S Pink Section) SS-1 — SS-8 "WITHOUT LOVE'' NEARS RADIO CITY M. H. RECORD New York — Led by the Radio City Music Hall, Roxy, Strand, and Rivoli, most of the Broadway first-run spots had top business over the Easter week end. According to usualy reliable sources reaching The Exhibitor, the break-down was as follows: “WITHOUT LOVE” (Metro). Radio City Music Hall, with Easter stage show, re¬ ported $80,000 from Thursday through Sun¬ day, with the week expected to hit $133,500. “A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN” (20th Century-Fox). Roxy, with usual stage show, claimed $65,000 from Wednes¬ day through Sunday, with the week due to go to $82,000. “PRACTICALLY YOURS” (Paramount), with stage show headed by Benny Good¬ man, had $60,000 from Wednesday through Sunday, with the week estimated at $85,000. “THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY” (Yfetro) . Capitol, with stage show, did $40,000 from Thursday through Sunday, with the week heading for $55,000. “GOD IS MY CO-PILOT” (Warners). Strand, with stage show headed by Cab Calloway, garnered $28,800 from Friday through Sunday, with the week’s gross up to $58,000. “THE CORN IS GREEN” (Warners). Hollywood said it did $18,500 from Wed¬ nesday through Sunday, with the week estimated at $30,000. “THE THREE CABALLEROS” (RKODisney) . Globe had a $5,900 Saturday and Sunday, with the week set for $18,000. “COLONEL BLIMP” (UA). Gotham did $6,700 on Friday, Saturday, and Sun¬ day, with the week expected to tally $15,000. “EARL CARROLL VANITIES” (Re¬ public) . Republic had $2,500 on Saturday and Sunday, with the week estimated at $6,800. “BETWEEN TWO WOMEN” (Metro). Criterion reported $20,000 in the till from Wednesday through Sunday, with the week headed for $25,000. “THE AFFAIRS OF SUSAN” (Para¬ mount). Rivoli claimed $35,000 from Wed¬ nesday through Sunday, with the week due for $50,000. “THUNDERHEAD, SON OF FLICKA” (20th Century-Fox). Victoria reported $8,100 from Thursday through Sunday, and with the week expected to do $13,900. For Up to the Minute News On What Pictures Are Being Released, Consult the National Release Date Guide. MEL KONECOFF’S NEW YORK THIS MONTH will see 20th Century-Fox celebrating its 30th anniversary, practically the entire span of the specialized motion picture industry itself. The period of celebration will not only be limited to April, but will, instead, be diffused over the entire year with special good-will gestures, release of outstanding product, special public relations cam¬ paigns, etc. Also celebrated will be the first decade of one of the most fortunate mergers in film history, that of the Fox Film Company with Joseph M. Schenck and Darryl F. Zanuck’s 20th Century Pictures in 1935. The first 20 years of the 30 were replete with pioneering, consequently reaching high stature in the industry. The next 10 were crowded with rich achievement. A celebration is only successful if host and guests are happy, and have a good time. Well, company executives feel that the nation’s theatres and the public, showing and seeing the company’s current films, as well as those forthcoming from the studios, will enjoy themselves as much as they do. These executives also believe that good will and good pictures go hand-in-hand, and the company believes in the combination fervently and strongly, and that one without the other is unsatisfactory. Good will is not only national, but international, and since American industry in all its phases will play a tremendous role in the post-war era, 20th Century-Fox stands prepared to do its part in the great task of mental rehabilitation of the masses. We have been assured that 20th Century-Fox will never be content to rest on its laurels, at least not with its present leaders. Thirty years have elapsed since William Fox produced his first picture, and, with the passing years, some of the greatest films produced have carried the 20th Century-Fox trademark. Thirty years have elapsed, and many important years are ahead. The determined statement has been made that the company will continue to strive for even greater deeds ahead, for, according to company officials, they do not live in the past. Although in speaking of the past, they are really looking at the future, and they intend to be prouder of the future than the past. Happy Birthday. CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE DEPT: “Final Report,” a 35 page booklet covering completely the successful participation of the War Activities Committee, New York area, in the Sixth War Loan, has been published by the executive committee, Malcolm Kingsberg, chairman. The booklet augments Kingsberg’s over-all report with those of the various territories that comprise the New York area. The theatre performance was 31 per cent better in the Sixth War Loan than in the Fifth, and, besides the complete reports of all the territories, there are also to be found a listing of The ‘Honored Hundred’ man¬ agers in the area, based on the greatest number of bonds sold per seat. CARNATION DEPT.: Our mail last week included a “Colonel Blimp” carnation from the greenhouses of Peter Beuerlein’s Sons, Westwood, N. J., and it brought a beautiful scent into the office. The accompanying communique read: “We had the pleasure of introducing the “Colonel Blimp” carnations at the 1945 Annual Spring Flower Show sponsored by the Horticultural Society of New York. The lovely Beatrice Lillie sponsored the presentation at a showing of these flowers for the benefit of the Red Cross. “The carnation is named in honor of the great Technicolor motion picture, ‘Colonel Blimp,’ (as if you didn’t already know). As American representatives of the J. Arthur Rank organization, producers of ‘Colonel Blimp,’ The Lawrence Organization joins with us in our compliments to you. “It might be interesting to note that the American premiere of ‘Colonel Blimp’ takes place at the Gotham, New York, on March 29.” Say, this couldn’t be what is known in the trade as a tie-up, could it? And the communique only mentions “Colonel Blimp” five times, tsk, tsk. How about a dozen roses next time to really pep up the office??? RED CROSS SHOW DEPT.: The Skouras Academy of Music on 14th Street was the scene of a mammoth stage show put on by the Skouras Theatres War Effort Department under Nick John Matsoukas last week for the Greek division, American Red Cross. Lew Lehr emceed the first portion of the show, which consisted of a million dollar fur fashion show by a group of Powers models, with Vivian Donner, Fox Movietone News, as com¬ mentator. Next a dance by the pretties of a Greek society followed, as well as a Greek song. Two Red Cross officials thanked the large audience for their excellent support,, and the show went on to feature: Sigmund Spaeth, “The Tune Detective’; Carl Ravazzi and bis orchestra in some novelty numbers; Henny Youngman; Carole Landis, the* Zanzibar Cafe Revue with Pee Wee Martel, Bill Thomas, Maurice Rocco and the Peters Sisters; Kitty Carlisle, Corporal Harvey Stone, Mary Margaret McBride and three inter¬ viewees — Katina Paxinou, Glenway Westcott, and Guthrie Janssen; Peter Lorre, Pola Negri, William Harz, Jay Jostyn (‘Mr. District Attorney’), Jackie Miles, Paul Asch and his Roxy Orchestra, the Roxyettes, Joan Edwards, Herb Sheldon, NBC announcer; Spyros Stamos, Maggie McNellis, and a group of sailors from the Greek Navy in a sea ditty. A Konecoff chrysanthemum goes to everyone connected with the excellent offering including Matsoukas, Daphne Skouras, Sam Rausch, the directors, and producers, and last, but certainly not least, Nat Simon, theatre manager, for his splendid cooperation and effort. Simon and his staff are to be commended for their handling of the crowds, the last minute arrangements, etc. ( Continued on page 18) April 4, 1945