Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1951)

6 Motion Picture daily Friday, July 6, 1951 MOT Policy I Grosses Show Improvement ( Continued from page 1 ) admirably suited for the new medium." According to Larsen, the March of Time's three closing issues will cover current developments in Morocco, Iran and Formosa. The production and distribution of special theatrical films such as "The Golden Twenties" and the feature film, "Modern Arms and Free Men," will continue as will the production of documentary pictures for commercial sponsors. WB Directors ( Continued from page 1 ) to the Guaranty Trust of New York, agent for the corporation for this purpose, will be 30 days thereafter. It is expected that the stock purchased as a result of the invitation to tender, together with other stock held in the treasury, will be cancelled and retired at a future stockholders meeting. The move, which had been reported in trade circles previously, is considered part of Warner's consolidation and in preparation for reorganization under the consent decree. Other moves have been the liquidation of real estate not actually needed for production and distribution. Mexico, Venezuela Pact Mexico City, July 5. — The Mexican and Venezuelan film industries have effected a reciprocal trade pact which gives equal rights to both countries. (Continued from page 1) tion Picture Daily's correspondent in Cleveland likewise indicated that theatre attendance generally is picking up. This week, all downtown houses are hitting average or better. Even moveovers are doing well. Denver reports pretty much the same. Kansas City's key runs are grossing heavily. Among the many worthwhile productions to which the increase in business is attributed are "The Great Caruso," the gross of which has exceeded $1,150,000 in its eight weeks at New York's Music Hall, and where it may run at least a tenth stanza; also, "The Frogmen,". "Excuse My Dust," "He Ran All the Way," "Ace in the Hole," "Hard, Fast and Beautiful," "Kon Tiki," "Dear Brat," "14 Hours," "Strictly Dishonorable," "Strangers on a Train," "Take Care of My Little Girl," "Go for Broke," "On the Riviera," "Fabiola," "The Prince Who Was a Thief," "Apache Drums," "Half Angel," "Mr. Lucky" and "Night Into Morning," to mention but a few. For the first time in several weeks, grosses are scoring a slight improvement in Baltimore where matinee business at some houses is getting a much-needed boost. In Atlanta, business in most downtown theatres and at drive-ins in the area are somewhat better than average. The drive-in improvement in the Atlanta area is pretty much the same seasonal story in most territories throughout the country. The week's grosses were helped in many places by the July 4 holiday, while in Buffalo that, coupled with Dominion Day, the Canadian holiday just across the border, brought satisfactory results, gross-wise. Grosses are somewhat improved in Cincinnati, too, where "Strangers on A Train" went $3,000 over average to mark up "the best all-film figure at the RKO Albee in quite sometime. A better line of product is attributed by many showmen in the Indianapolis area to the best all-around week in many. While receipts are not unusually high, they are frequently well distributed. Canada, too, appears to be heading for a more favorable box-office position. With the help of Dominion Day, grosses perked up a bit at Toronto and in other key cities. While business is by no means out of the doldrums in many areas, the overall picture looks a bit brighter. Heiber With Souvaine Edward Heiber has been named Western division manager of Souvaine Selective Pictures by Charles Amory, vice-president of the company. Heiber was formerly division manager for Universal. ■4; With Parents' Magazine's "Picture of the Month" Award it's pre-sold, painlessly! Manager Award (Continued from page 1" 'Caruso': Bigger on 56th Day Than 1st The $25,500 Fourth of July gross for "The Great Caruso" at the Music Hall exceeded the picture's opening day by an even $5,000. The holiday was the seventh day of the eighth week of the M-G-M film's recordbreaking stand. Higher prices for the holiday accounted for much of the 25 per cent increase over the opening day figure, but nevertheless as many or more people went to see the film after the eighth week as did the first day. Holiday Grosses (Continued from page 1) be one Better Theatres "Manager of the Month" Award each month, expressed in a Certificate signed by Mar tin Quigley, president and editor-inchief of Quigley Publications. Additionally each month, "Citations for Excellence in Theatre Manage ment" will be awarded managers who have submitted evidence of skill and enterprise meriting honorable mention Exhibits submitted for an Award may be in any form that clearly sets forth to the judges the methods, procedures, achievement of the candidate. It is not necessary that a manager enter an exhibit on his own behalf. Another person — even a theatre supply dealer or an equipment manufacturer — may do so for him, with adequate authentication ; or the other person may merely nominate a manager, specifying the activity upon which the nomination is based, whereupon the nominee will be notified, with a request for an exhibit. Besides circuit house managers and owner-managers, city and zone or district managers are eligible. All Awards will be determined by the Better Theatres Editorial Board in consultation with leading executives in motion picture exhibition. Exhibits should be addressed to Better Theatres Manager of the Month Award Committee, Quigley Publications, Rockefeller Center, New York 20, N. Y. edly chalk up an all-time gross record there before the week is out. Martin and Lewis fans admittedly account for most of the crowds at the. Paramount, where "Dear Brat" is the feature film. Yesterday the line extended around the corner and nearly a full block, with an increased scale at the box-office doing little to deter the patrons. Another standout was "The Frogmen" at the Roxy, where $16,000 was taken in on the holiday, a figure reported to be 20 per cent above last year's Fourth. Also doing excellent -business was the former Strand, reopened as the Warner. "Strangers on a Train" drew more than $10,000 on Wednesday, the first full day of the picture, which is playing without benefit of a stage show. Two other houses reporting exceptional holiday business are the Globe, where "Ace in the Hole" grossed $5,200 for the day, and the Criterion, which took in $4,500 with "The Prowler." French Film Firm Loses Color Suit The French Keller Dorian Film Co. lost a claim for about $28,000,000 damages against the Eastman Kodak Corp. for alleged suppression of the Keller Dorian color film process in America, according to press dispatches from Paris. L. B. Mayer Sells (Continued from page 1) The picture that has all that delighted you in "Tom Sawyer" and "Huckleberry Finn"— and more! thru UA consisting of 600, 300, 100 and 500 shares, between June 2 and June 10. As of June 10; he had 10,400 shares. An amended report of various 1949 and 1950 transactions in Republic Pictures Corp. stock by Douglas T. Yates and Tonrud, Inc., showed that at the start of this year Yates held 1,860 shares of common in his own name and 103,560 shares of common and 12,200 shares of preferred through Tonrud. UNITED offers you 10 DC-6s DAILY to CALIFORNIA! LOS ANGELES 10 firs. 55 mfn. onesfop SAN FRANCISCO 1VA hrs. onesfop It's the finest service in United's entire history, and includes such famous flights as "the Hollywood" and "the San Francisco." UNITED AIR LINES