Motion Picture Daily (Apr-Jun 1948)

6 Motion Picture Daily Tuesday, April 20, 1948 Key City Grosses E1 OLLOWING are estimated picL ture grosses for current engagements in key cities as reported by Motion Picture Daily correspondents. Estimates omit admission tax. BALTIMORE With newcomers at most first-runs, and weather more appropriate to theatre-going than outdoors, box-offices were busy. As a result, most grosses are better than in recent weeks. "Strawberry Roan," with Gene Autry in person is tremendous at the Hippodrome. Estimated receipts for the week ending April 22 : I REMEMBER MAMA (RKO Radio)— TOWN (1,450) (29c-37c-56c) 4th week. Gross: $7,750. (Average: $10,500) NAKED CITY (U-I)— VALENCIA (1,466) (29c-37c-45c-54c, and 56c weekends) 3rd week. Gross: $5,500. (Average: $5,000) SITTING PRETTY (20thFox)— NEW (1,800) (29c-40c-50c-56c). Gross: $13,250. Average: $11,750) STRAWBERRY ROAN (Col.)— HIPPO DROME (2,205) (29c-37c-50c-58c). With, a stage show. Gross: $21,000. (Average: $17,000) THE BIG CLOCK (Para.) — KEITH'S (2.406) (25c-37c-44-54c, and 56c weekends). Gross: $13,000. (Average: $12,000) THE BRIDE GOES WILD (M-G-M)— CENTURY (3,000) (29c-37c-45c-54c, and 56c weekends). Gross: $16,500. (Average: $14,500) THE INSIDE STORY (Rep.)— MAYFAIR (1,000) (21c-29c-54c). Gross: $6,000. (Average: $5,000) THE SAINTED SISTERS (Para.)— STANLEY (3,280) (29c -37c -50c -58c). Gross: $15,000. (Average: $14,500) TO LIVE IN PEACE (Italy-Times)— LITTLE (328) (29c-37c-56c). Gross: $3,000. (Average: $3,000) CINCINNATI Most grosses are better than in the preceding week, but the RKO Albee, with Art Mooney's orchestra on stage and "Blondie's Anniversary" on the screen, is doing only fair, due to absence of Mooney, who underwent on emergency appendicitis operation. Estimated receipts for the week ending April 21 : BLONDIE'S ANNIVERSARY (Col.) — TWA Constellations set new winter performance record On its coast-to-coast and New York-Chicago routes, TWA's Constellations flew 4,377,000 miles, carried 117,000 passengers—completed 97% of scheduled mileage during one of worst winters in history! For reservations, call your TWA office or your travel agent Reviews "The Woman in White" (Warner Brothers) AS a psychological nerve-exciter, "The Woman in White" maintains a steady, cumulative hold on one's attention. The plot is a sturdy one, enhanced by handsome settings. As it develops, however, a good deal of the story becomes all too familiar, thus sapping some of its fresh appeal. Among the picture's best selling aspects are an exploitable title and an excellent cast that includes Alexis Smith, Eleanor Parker, Sydney Greenstreet and Gig Young. Based on the Wilkie Collins novel, the film is set in a town near London in the middle of the last century. It presents Greenstreet as one of the evil masterminds who sent a young girl to an insane asylum to avoid a family scandal. This "woman-in-white" flees the asylum, but when she dies, the screenplay delves deeper into melodramatic sordidness, by calling for the plotters to send an heiress to the asylum in order to get control of her wealth. Through the activities of Miss Smith, who fits into the family tree as a cousin to the heiress, and Gig Young, a drawing teacher, the compounded villainy is finally redressed. Miss Parker assumes a dual role as the heiress and the "woman-in-white." Outstanding vignettes are offered by Agnes Moorehead and John Abbott. Stephen Morehouse provided the screenplay from which Peter Godfrey directed and Henry Blanke produced. Running time, 109 minutes. Adult classification. Release date, May IS. Mandel Herbstman "The Strawberry Roan" (Columbia) \\7 ITH Gene Autry in the saddle, and a variation of the usual Western VV theme in the plot, "The Strawberry Roan," in Cinecolor, generously meets the requirements for a popular film in its classification. The story is about a wild stallion headed for trouble when it throws and injures a ranchers son. Autry saves the horse from being killed, and as a consequence, finds himself an outlaw charged with rustling. As the tale gallops along to its happy ending, it is punctuated with intermittent gunplay and fisticuffs. Jack Holt assumes the role of a hard and arbitrary rancher, while Dick Jones portrays the son, with pretty Gloria Henry, the rancher's daughter, in the slight, romantic groundwork. A Gene Autry production, Dwight Cummins and Dorothy Yost wrote the screenplay, from a story by Julian Zimet. Armand Schaefer produced and John English directed. Running time, 79 minutes. General audience classification. Release date, not set. M. H. RKO ALBEE (3,300) (55c-95c) 7 days. On stage, Art Mooney's orchestra. Gross: $20,000. (Average: $30,000) THE FIGHTING 69TH (WB reissue)— RKO GRAND (1,500) (50c-55c-60c-65c-70c75c) 7 days. Dualed with "Valley of the Giants" (WB reissue). Gross: $9,000. (Average: $8,000) I REMEMBER MAMA (RKO Radio)— RKO SHUBERT (2,150) (50c-55c-60c-65c70c -75c) 3rd week, following an opening week at the Albee and a moveover week at the Capitol. Gross: $6,500. (Average: $5,000) THE LADY FROM SHANGHAI (Col.)— RKO PALACE (2,700) (50c-55c-60c-65c-70c75c) 7 days. Gross: $16,000. (Average: $15,000) THE MATING OF MILLIE (Col.)— RKO CAPITOL (2,000) (50c-55c-60c-65c-70c-75c) 7 days. Gross: $9,500. (Average: $10,000) NAKED CITY (U-I)-KEITH'S (1,500) (50c-55c-60c-65c-75c) 7 days, 3rd week. Gross: $7,500. (Average: $7,500) SITTING PRETTY (ZOtb-Fox) — RKO LYRIC (1,400) (50c-55c-60c-65c-70c-75c) 7 days, 4th week, following an opening week at the Palace and two weeks at the Shubert. Gross: $6,500. (Average: $5,000) ATLANTA Business is mostly above average with fair and warmer weather. Estimated receipts for the week ending April 21 : THE BRIDE GOES WILD (M-G-M)— LOEWS GRAND (2,446) (12c-54c). Gross: $13,500. (Average: $14,000) THE NOOSE HANGS HIGH (E-L)— PARAMOUNT (2,446) (12c-50c). Gross: $11,000. (Average: $5,800) SITTING PRETTY (20>th-Fox) — FOX (4, 446) (30c-50c). Gross: $12,000. (Average: $14,000) THE SMUGGLER (U-I)-ROXY (2,446) (30c-50c). Gross: $7,000. (Average: $5,800) Bob Kelly to Dixie New Orleans, April 19. — R. A. Kelly has been appointed branch manner of Dixie Films by Jenkins and Bourgeois of Astor Pictures, Dallas, who have purchased Jack Auslet's interest in the Dixie exchange. 'Arch' Has Premiere For Children's Drive "Arch of Triumph," EnterpriseUnited Artists, will begin its regular run at the Globe Theatre here today following a benefit opening last night, sponsored by the American Overseas Aid-United Nations Appeal for Children. The premiere was attended by city officials, diplomatic and society leaders, stage and screen stars, and others. Activities were broadcast over WINS and television station WNBT. N. Y. Grosses Heads 'Appeal' Show Earl Wilson, columnist, heads the executive committee of "Command Performance" to be presented at Madison Square Garden here on May 25 in behalf of the American Overseas Aid and United Nations Appeal for Children. Others on the committee are Sam Rauch, Harry Mandel, Carl Erbe, Mrs. Arthur Gray, Jr., and Morton Sunshine, coordinator. Spyros P. Skouras is chairman of the New York, committee and Daniel P. Woolley is vice-chairman. Harry Brandt is chairman of special events. To Aid Children's Drive San Francisco, April 19. — A drive to aid the United Nations Appeal for Children has been launched by Northern California Theatres. Rallies will be held April 24 in key theatres. Pittman Brothers Build New Orleans, April 19. — Pittman Brothers are building a new first-run at Baton Rouge. (Continued from page 1) 000 in a fourth week at the Astor, and "Miracle of the Bells," bringing $20,000 (still mild) for a fifth week at the Rivoli. "To the Victor," with Cab Calloway's orchestra on stage, is heading for a very good $58,000 in a first week at the Strand. At Loew's State the double bill of "Duel in the rfeii1" (regular admissions) and '> \e Comes Trouble" is having a sat?i-^ctory first week with f 30,000 anticipated. The Roxy, however, is having a very mild initial week with "Scudda Hoo! Scudda Hay!" plus a stage bill headed by Ed Wynn ; $66,000 is foreseen on the basis of $56,000 for the first five days. 4 New Buns This Week Third and final week of "Saigon/' with Buddy Rich's band on stage at the Paramount, is expected to produce a _ good $60,000 ; "The Big Clock" will take over tomorrow. "Arch of Triumph" bows in today at the Globe, where the final two days of "CloseUp" brought $3,000. "Kings of the Olympics" will open at the Gotham on Thursday. "The Damned" will take over on Saturday at the Rialto, where a fourth and final week of "The Smugglers" is seen bringing a satisfactory $6,000. "Are You With It?" got off to a pleasing start at the Winter Garden, where $23,000 is expected for a first week. At the Criterion, "All My Sons" is holding up, with the fourth week expected to bring in $22,000. Second week of "Winter Meeting" at the Warner is expected to be a good one, with $22,000 anticipated. The 23rd week for "Gentleman's Agreement" is due to bring the Mayfair a satisfactory $17,500. $7,000 for 'Farmer's Daughter' "The Farmer's Daughter" (revival) continues poorly at the Palace, where only $7,000 is seen for a second week ; it will remain another, however. At the Sutton, "The Pearl" brought $4,000 for a ninth week ; "The Brothers" will move into that house on May 4. First week of "The Mikado" (reissue) is expected to bring the Park Avenue a very good $10,000. Fourth week of "The Search" is expected to bring the Victoria a satisfactory $17,000. At the Bijou, "The October Man" looks like $12,500 for its first week. $1,350,000 Hospital Dedicated by Fund Hollywood, April 19. — Motion Picture Relief Fund yesterday dedicated a $1,350,000 hospital at Calabasas, supplemental to its Motion Picture Country Home, with Mayor Fletcher Bowron, MPRF president Jean Hersholt and AMPP board chairman Y. Frank Freeman presiding. Funds were derived from the Screen Guild Players radio program. Louisville 'Cancer Show' Louisville, April 19. — The National Theatre here, owned by Vance Schwartz, will be the scene of a "Fight Cancer Show" beginning midnight April 29, staged with the cooperation of top entertainers, Harry F. Poynter of the American Legion post and local theatrical unions.