Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1944)

10 Motion Picture Daily Thursday, October 5, 1944 $21,000 Gross For 'Casanova' Is Over Double Chicago, Oct. 4. — Top box-office grosser of the week is "Casanova Brown," at the Woods, hitting $21,000 for the first stanza of an extended run. The figure is more than double the house average. "Dragon Seed" continues strong at the State Lake, gathering a fine $34,000 in its second week. Estimated receipts for the week ending Oct. 5 : "Gaslight" (M-G-M) APOLLO— (1,200) (55c-65c-95c) 2nd week. Gross: $16,000. (Average: $11,400). "Seventh Cross" (M-G-M) CHICAGO— (3,850) (55c-85c-95c). Stage: Perry Corao and Revue. Gross: $45,000. (Average: $51,500). "The Last Ride" (WB) DOWNTOWN— (1,600) (44c-55c-85c-95c). Stage : Duke Ellington and band. Gross : $26,000. "Mr. Winkle Goes to War" (Col.) "Secret Command" (Col.) GARRICK— (1,000) (55c-65c-95c), 2nd week. Gross: $9,500. (Average: $9,100). "They Made Me a Criminal" (WB reissue) "Tiger Shark" (WB reissue) GRAND— (1,250) (5Oc-60c-85c-95c). Gross: $7,000. (Average: $9,100). "Storm Over Lisbon" (Rep.) ORIENTAL — (3,200) (44c-55c-85c-95c). Stage: Peter Lorre and Revue. Gross: $31,000. (Average: $24,000). "Christmas Holiday" (Univ.) "Moonlight and Cactus" (Univ.) 6 days, 2nd week "Heavenly Days" (RKO) "The Singing Sheriff" (Univ.) 1 day . PALACE— (2,500) (55c-65c-95c) 7 days. Gross: $24,000. (Average: $24,000). "Wing and a Prayer" (20th-Fox) 5 days, 3rd week "Janie" (WB) 2 days ROOSEVELT — (1,500) (55c-65c-95c) 7 days. Gross: $21,000. (Average: $20,000). "Dragon Seed" (M-G-M) STATE LAKE — (2,700) (35c-65c-95c). Gross: $34,000. (Average: $29,000). "Two Girls and a Sailor" (M-G-M) UNITED ARTISTS— (1,700) (50c-65c95c) 2nd week. Gross: $23,000. (Average: $20,000). "Casanova Brown" (RKOIntel-national) WOODS— (1,200) (55c-65c-95c). Gross: $21,000. (Average: $10,000). Boston Tribunal in Clearance Award A clearance complaint filed against the five consenting companies by National Theatre Co., operator of the National Theatre, Boston, has been dismissed with reference to Paramount, Loew's and Warner Bros., by George E. Gordon, arbitrator in the Boston tribunal, the American Arbitration Association has reported here. At the same time, Gordon ruled that the clearance of the Rivoli Theatre, Roxbury, over the National with reference to RKO and 20th CenturyFox product shall be 30 days. Existing clearance accorded the Rivoli by Warners is 21 days ; by Loew's, 30 days. On 20th-Fox product, the Rivoli previously held clearance of 60 days over the National. New Republic Unit Starts in Mexico Republic's new subsidiary, Republic Pictures de Mexico, Inc., will begin operations in Mexico City next Monday. As recently announced, Carl Ponedel, formerly manager of the" company's branch in Puerto Rico, will manage the Mexican office. WPB No Barrier to Equipment Repairs . Hollywood, Oct. 4. — Although considerable buying of technological equipment is expected to follow the eventual relaxation of WPB controls, there is no dammed up backlog of orders based on crying needs of studios, according to W. F. Kelley, manager of the Research Council of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Broadly speaking, he said, WPB regulations have been no barrier to keeping needed equipment in good working order throughout the war to date, with necessary replacements obtainable when warranted. On the other hand, routine turnover in mechanisms has been slowed somewhat. The probable outcome is some companies will be disposed to replace them with new and possibly improved models when these become available, although the buying will be selective and motivated rather by the normal wish to modernize than by pressure of necessity. Kelley said it was not practical to estimate in advance the amount of this kind of buying that will be done. $22,000 for 'SYWA', $20,000 for 'Lace9 Baltimore, Oct. 4. — Business is better here this week. New openings were strong, and weekends at capacity for the newcomers. In the lead are "Since You Went Away" $22,000 at the Century and "Arsenic and Old Lace" $20,000 at the Stanley. Estimated receipts for the week ending Oct. 5 : "Since You Went Away" (UA) CENTURY— (3,000) (3Sc-44c-55c) and 60c weekends) 7 days. Gross: $22,000. (Average: $15,000).. "Going My Way" (Para.) KEITH'S— (2,406) (3Sc-40c-50c-60c) 7 days, 5th week. Gross : $11,500. (Average : $15,000). "Wilson" (2»th-Fox) NEW — (1,581) (76c-$1.70) 7 days, 3rd week. Gross: $18,000. (Average at regular prices: $9,000). "Arsenic and Old Lace" (WB) STANLEY — (3,280) (35c-44c-55c-65c) 7 days. Gross: $20,000. (Average: $18,000). "Heavenly Days" (RKO) HIPPODROME — (2,205) (35c-44c-55c-65c) 7 days. Stage show: Coley Worth, Olive White, Jerry Lewis, Robert Sisters & White, Carleton Emmy and his Pets. Gross: $18,000. (Average: $18,500). "Louisiana Hayride" (Col.) MAYFAIR — (1,000) (35c-54c) 7 days. Gross: $8,000. (Average: $7,000). Australia Thanks WAC The industry was accorded praise by the Australian Red Cross this week through Capt. Alfred Brown, secretary general of the organization, who presented his country's thanks for the industry's help in raising funds for the Australian Red Cross, to Francis S. Harmon, executive vice chairman of the War Activities Committee. At WAC headquarters when Capt. Brown visited were Jack Haney of 20th Century-Fox ; Albert Deane of the WAC foreign division, and Dorothy Stewart, American representative for J. C. Williamson Theatres in Australia. WAC Is Honored The theatres' division of the War Activities Committee of Alabama has been awarded the Office of Civilian Defense service award for mobilizing the civilian population for the war effort. Gov. Chauncey M. Sparks, chairman of the Alabama state defense council, and Haygood Paterson made the award. 20th Set Through Dec. for 1st Time For the first time in several years the 20th CenturyFox sales force is enabled at this time to negotiate playing time through the holidays and into January. Set for October are: "Big Noise", "In the Meantime, Darling" and "Irish Eyes Are Smiling"; for November : "Laur a", "Something for the Boys" and "The Way Ahead"; for December: "Keys to the Kingdom", "Winged Victory" and "San Demetrio — London" ; for January: "Sunday Dinner for a Soldier" and "Thunderhead— Son of Flicka." "Wilson" and "The Song of Bernadette" are available as specials. 'Pine* Reissue Tops With 'My Rhythm' Omaha, Oct. 4.— "The Trail of the Lonesome Pine" and "Pardon My Rhythm," the former the first reissue ever tried by the Orpheum Theatre, easily swept box office laurels here with an $11,300 gross. Estimated receipts for the' week ending Oct. 4-5: "Heavenly Days" (RKO) "Secrets of Scotland Yard" (Rep.) BRANDEIS— (1,200) (44c-60c) 7 days. Gross: $6,200. (Average: $6,500). ■ "Janie" (WB) "Twilight on the Prairie" (Univ.) OMAHA— (2,000) (44c-60c) 7 days, 2nd week, on a moveover from the Paramount for "Janie." Gross: $8,400. (Average: $8,400). "Trail of the Lonesome Pine" (Para.) "Pardon My Rhythm" (Univ.) ORPHEUM— (3,000) (44c-60c) 7 days. Gross: $11,300. (Average: $9,800). "The Seventh Cross" (M-G-M) PARAMOUNT-(2,900) (44c-60c) 7 days. Gross: $10,100. (Average: $11,700). Richey, Crook er to 'Romance' Premiere Two more M-G-M home office executives will attend the preview of "An American Romance" in Cincinnati on Oct. 12. Herbert Crooker, publicity manager, will leave Oct. 10 with Howard Dietz, Si Seadler, William R. Ferguson, E. C. Carrier and William Danziger, while H. M. Richey, exhibitor relations director, will leave over the weekend for Detroit, where he will attend an exhibitor meeting before going to Cincinnati. The premiere will be held at the Albee Theatre, in cooperation with station WLW. A premiere banquet will be held at the Netherlands Plaza Hotel. Ned Depinet Lauds Dembow of NSS Ned E. Depinet, president of RKO, in a personal letter to all RKO accounts, has called their attention to the current National Screen Service "George Dembow Tribute" drive, asking for cooperation to insure success of the drive for National's sales manager, and paying tribute to him. Depinet asked RKO's accounts to help the drive by ordering additional advertising matter from NSS which, "in these lush times will produce proportionately more business." Dembow is not in New York, but Herman Robbins, president of NSS, declared the tribute unheard of in the industry. Films 1st to Resume As Allied War Aid The motion picture industry was the only American industry permitted to resume private operation in French North Africa because of its "value to the war effort," it was learned from the New York Office of War Information overseas film bureau. Priority was given to the film industry, it was said, because th~ people need entertainment and, al / by selecting the right type of film\is hoped to counteract the distorted view of America that those people got from the Nazis. The OWI overseas film bureau is keeping complete records detailing the operation of all OWI and its psychological warfare branches in exhibiting films in the liberated areas. Playing time, rentals, and expenses incurred in operation are but some of the subjects contained in periodic reports given to the film companies here, it is understood. Lissim* s Parents Lost in France Vladimir Lissim, division manager in RKO's foreign distribution department, has received word that his father and motlTer died 'somewhere in France' during the last days of the German occupation. No details accompanied the notification from the Red Cross. Lissim had made repeated efforts to locate his parents but without result. Prior to the invasion, he was RKO's assistant European manager with headquarters in Paris. Pursued by the Gestapo, he eluded them as Paris fell and made his way to New York via Portugal, joining the home office staff upon arriving here. Services Today for Henry MacRae Hollywood, Oct. 4. — Funeral services for Henry MacRae, Universal producer, who died Monday, will be held at the Church of the Recessional, Forrest Lawn, Glendale, tomorrow afternoon at 2 P.M. Among the 50 honorary pallbearers will be : Ben Pivar, David Garber, Ford Beebe, Jack Gross, Carl Laemmle, Jr., John Mack Brown, Jerry Ascher, Lewis Collins, Norman Lacey, William Desmond, Maurice Pivar, Frank Lloyd, Robert Z. Leonard, John Ford, Frank Borzage, Alfred E. Green, Allan Dwan, King Vidor, William Seiter, Eddie Sedgwick, Walter Lantz and B. Reeves Eason. Joel, Oldest Owner In South, Dies Jacksonville, Fla., Oct. 4. — L. D. Joel, reputedly the oldest exhibitor in the South, and owner and manager of the Casino Theatre here, died suddenly at his home yesterday. He had been operating theatres in the South for 30 years. Harry Beresford Dies iiollywood, Oct. 4. — Harry tferesford, 77, who played major roles in "The Sign of the Cross," "The Fleet's In" and other films, died today of a heart attack at his home in the Toluca Lake district. Surviving are his wife, the former Edith Wyle, and aj daughter, Mrs. Dorothy Brewer.