Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1950)

2 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Tuesday, February 21, 1950 Personal Mention OSCAR A. DOOB, Loew's general theatre executive, and Mrs. Doob are vacationing in Key West, Florida. • Louis Kanturek, Eastern Europe supervisor for the Motion Picture Export Association, arrived here yesterday from Europe on the 5\ S. Queen Elizabeth. • Ned E. Depinet, president of RKO, will leave here Friday for the Coast, the Coast. David Golding, 20th Century-Fox publicity manager here, has returned from the Coast. L. J. Kaufman and Daniel Triester, Warner Theatres executives, have left here for Pittsburgh. 167 More 'Stromboli9 New York Bookings "Stromboli," which had a 100-theatre premiere in Greater New York last week, will open in more than 167 additional theatres in the area this week. Loew's, Century, Reade, Randforce, Skouras and Interboro circuits are represented in the new bookings. 16 from MGM (Continued from page 1) year, compared to last year, is that four pictures will be released in May, 1950, whereas only one was released in the same month last year. The schedule from April to the end of August follows : April, "The Yellow Cab Man," "Side Street," "The Outriders" ; May, "The Reformer and the Readhead," "Please Believe Me," "Shadow on the Wall," "The Big Hangover" ; in June, "Dink Stover," "Father of the Bride," "The Skipper Surprised His Wife" ; in July, "The Asphalt Jungle," "Summer Stock," "Mystery Street," and in August, "Duchess of Idaho," "Devil's Doorway" and "The Miniver Story." Take Salary Cut (Continued from page 1) executives took voluntary salary cuts which still are in effect. Goetz, whose title is executive in charge of production, will draw this year in consequence of the cut $130,000 instead of $260,000, his weekly salary to be $2,500 instead of $5,000. Spitz, production executive, this year will receive $80,000 remuneration rather than $104,000, his weekly salary to be $1,500 instead of $2,000. NY Lights Dimout Fails To Affect Box-Office No Paper Tomorrow Motion Picture Daily will not be published tomorrow, Washington's Birthday, a legal holiday. The coal-conserving dimout of theatre fronts which started on Sunday, giving a grim reminder of the war years, failed to produce any noticeable effects on business in the Broadway area, according to numerous first-run operators. They said the reduction of marquee illumination to a scant 200 watts, as ordered by the state, might hurt evening trade over a long period, but they failed to see how it could mean anything so early. Gross estimates for the current week, additionally, reflect no unusual influences. The mild income is continuing with a few exceptions. Extra performances and holiday scales tomorrow, Washington's Birthday, along with the appearance of several new programs this week are expected to be helpful. "The Outlaw" finally made Broadway, and with spectacular results. The film's opening at the Globe was unusually strong, indicating a first week's gross of $45,000, representing the biggest business at the house in many months. "Chain Lighting" with the Latin Quarter revue at the Strand got off to a good start, with $55,000 estimated for the first week. "When Willie Comes Marching Home" with Allan Jones on stage is a strong newcomer at the Roxy, where the initial week's take is figured at $90,000. "Paid in Full" with Johnny Johnston and Boyd Raeburn's orchestra on stage is fair in its debut at the Paramount, where $59,000 is apparent for the first week. Constituting the best opening the Park Avenue has had on regular admission scales, "The Astonished Heart" is likely to bring in $11,000 in its initial week. "Samson and Delilah" still is doing fairly well at the Rivoli, where $28,000 is in prospect for the ninth week. Continuing strong, "Third Man" should give the Victoria about $35,000 in its fourth week. Competing with close to 100 neighborhood theatres on the same run, the Criterion's engagement of "Stromboli" brought rather sluggish business after a big opening day. The film will wind up a single week s run tomorrow with an estimated gross of $18,000, and it will be replaced tomorrow by "Woman in Hiding." "Young Man with a Horn," with a stage show promises to give the Music Hall about $118,000 in a fair second and final week. Next at the Hall will be "Stage Fright," going in on Thursday. "Mrs. Mike," with Gordon Jenkins topping the stage bill, might reach $33,000 in a slow second week at the Capitol and will be replaced by "Malaya" tomorrow. "Key to the City" should give the State about $15,000 in a poor third week. "Sands of Iwo Jima," winding up a highly successful run, should give the Mayfair about $12,000 in its final five days, two short of a full eighth week. "Cinderella" will bow in at the Mayfair tomorrow. "Battleground" concluded a big 15-week engagement at the Astor last night with about $12,000 in the final week, which is fair enough. "Three Came Home" opens at the Astor today. "Tight Little Island" has $8,000 in view for a good eighth week at the Trans Lux. Paramount's Robert Weitman and Jack Mclnerney have devised a gag trailer heralding Bob Hope's appearance at the Paramount Theatre starting March 1. The clip associates the Hope appearance with other standout news events of the past half century, such as the atom bomb explosion. 'Stromboli' Average {Continued from page 1) sensus of executives of circuits that played the film. The highly-exploited Roberto Rossellini-Ingrid Bergman picture opened powerfully in many of the 100 houses, and less than that in others. As the week progressed the picture's business declined steadily until, according to reports received here yesterday, "the bottom fell out" in several of the situations. It was not certain yesterday whether the Reade circuit would run the picture today, the final day of the week run at four of its New Jersey houses. Other circuits contacted reported, however, that the picture would be continued at their houses for the full week, "in accordance with the contract." Cincinnati, Feb. 20. — Estimated gross for "Stromboli" at the RKO Palace here for the week is $16,000, against a house average of $13,000. Atlanta, Feb. 20.— RKO Radio's "Stromboli" has been passed by Atlanta's censor board and will open at the Rialto here on March 16. Miners Strike (Continued from page 1) replenished, "holds the power under a law enacted last week to order closing of theatres and other establishments. He was said yesterday to be considering the issuance of such an order.. Few New York City theatres are heated by coal, however. New York City underwent its fourth post-war dimout Sunday night. So cooperative were the Times Square theatres that extra police have been assigned to the section to prevent any disorders in the darkened streets. It is understood that cooperation by nightime businesses in general in other sections of the city has been only fair. $14,000 for 'Wall'atPhila. Universal-International's home office claims that its "Outside the Wall," which had its world premiere at the Aldine Theatre in Philadelphia last Friday, set an all-time threeday high for regular admission price pictures at the theatre on its first three days ending last Sunday night. It is understood the picture grossed $14,000 in the three days. Flexer Will Build Drive-ins Abroad Memphis, Feb. 20.— Back from a trip to Europe, David Flexer head of Flexer Theatres, Inc., operating out of Memphis, says companies have been formed in Britain, France and Israel to build and operate drive-ip'; }^tres. Flexer said two fe*' "three would be in operation this summer. Flexer will return to Europe in the spring to check on progress and discuss motion picture production plans. TO A and 9 Members Filed with FCC The Theatre Owners of America and nine of its members have filed with the Federal Communications Commission for appearances at theatre television hearings. Among them are Interstate Circuit, Wometco Theatres, American Theatres, Neighborhood Theatres, Comerford-Publix, Jefferson Amusement, Mundo, Mundo Enterprises, United Theatre Owners of Illinois and the Theatre Owners of Oklahoma. Other TOA members who have filed individually are Fabian Theatres, United Paramount and individual circuits, and Fox West Coast Theatres. NTFC to Meet Thursday National Television Film Council will hold its regular monthly meeting Thursday evening at the Brass Rail here. Owing to a lengthy business agenda, no guest speaker will appear. NEW YORK THEATRES RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL — Rockefeller Center KIRK LAUREN DORIS DOUGLAS . BACALL . DAY IN "YOUNG MAN WITH A HORN" Directed by MICHAEL CTJRTIZ A Warner Bros. Picture t SPECTACULAR STAGE PRESENTATION ROBERT CUMMINGS LIZABETH SCOTT DIANA LYNN in HAL WALUS' production Midnight Feohn* Nightly CMH 1. OtM $attisot C«l«r kjr mi mm < mm ANSEL* LANSIO iiH** aasttrtiM* t«rf0elilali TfCNNICOlOlt ! WflU IEJME SAHKIt IT * KMT meoMR Sn V* distraction of t!» Tampli on the MAGIC ClCLORAMIC SCREEN! ' | WAT AT V MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Editor; Terry Ramsaye, Consulting Editor. Published daily, except Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address: "Quigpubco, New York." Martin Quigley, President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Martin Quigley, Jr., Vice-President; Theo. J. Sullivan, Vice-President and Treasurer; Leo J. Brady, Secretary; James P. Cunningham, News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Gus H. Fausel, Production Manager. Hollywood Bureau, YuccaVine Building, William R. Weaver, Editor. Chicago Bureau, 225 North Michigan Avenue, Editorial and Advertising; Harry Toler, Advertising Representative; Jimmy Ascher, Editorial Representative. Washington, J. A. Otten, National Press Club, Washington, D. C. London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq., London Wl : Hope Burnup, Manager; Peter Burnup, Editor; cable address, "Quigpubco, London." Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald; Better Theatres and Theatre Sales, each published 13 times a year as a section of Motion Picture Herald; International Motion Picture Almanac; Fame. 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