The Exhibitor (1954)

28 MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR About People Hollywood — It was announced last week by Elmer C. Rhoden, new head, National Theatres, that Frank H. Ricketson, Jr., president. Fox InterMountain Theatres, will take on direction of NT’s eastern houses, including the Roxy, New York City. His headquarters will be in Denver. Rhoden will retain his title of president. Fox Midwest Theatres, and divide his time between Kansas City and Los Angeles. New York — Veteran publicist Samuel J. Friedman has been retained by United Artists to handle advance promotion for “The Beachcomber,” Technicolor romantic drama starring Robert Newton and Glynis Johns, it was announced last week by Francis M. Winikus, national director of advertising, publicity, and exploitation for UA. Hollywood — Sol Lesser and Jack Doug¬ las Productions merged last week to form Television Adventure Films Corporation, and will begin immediate production of a color TV film of real live action series, “I Search For Adventure,” which will be syndicated nationally. Hollywood — Samuel Goldwyn last week signed Oliver Smith as production de¬ signer for his forthcoming “Guys And Dolls.” AA Signs Producer Code Hollywood — It was learned last week that Allied Artists had become the latest production company to become a signa¬ tory to Screen Producers Guild code of practices, which is designed to establish equitable producer’s credit procedure, and establishes machinery to conciliate and arbitrate individual producer’s problems with executive management. This voluntary code of practices, two years in negotiation, was adopted by all major producing companies last August, and provides for a permanent committee of representatives of SPG and AMPP to meet on industry matters. The Allied Artists move was hailed as yet another step in the establishment of the company in the major class. The com¬ pany in many other ways recently has endeavored to cast off its “little fellow” classification. U-I's "Magnificent Obsession" is not only setting box office records in the U. S., but all over the world. Playing at the Lee and Great World, Hong Kong, the picture is setting new highs. The effective front of the marquee display used by the Lee and milling crowds can be seen above. The Tip-Off On Business (The Tip-Off On Business is a record of how pictures are grossing in various parts of the country. The rating given the pictures (see key) is a cross section of reports received from the field, and presents a summary of various types of runs. Inasmuch as the rating given cannot constitute the business of each individual engagement, an attempt is made to present a general average. By studying the ratings, which arc constantly kept up-to-date, exhibitors may guide themselves in their buying and booking. — Editor) KEY TO "THE LITTLE MEN" RATINGS: (NOVEMBER 17, 1954) ^ j|R«gitt«ring grettat in lh« highatt brackatt. OP Jutt fair, nothing out of tha ordinary, ovatoga. fi A A It ^'***^' ol^bough net bracking down tha wall*. 2 Oitappointing, below what wot axpactad. Newcomers Continuing CE\'GAL BRIGADE (87m.) (U-l) iill ADVENTURES OF ROBINSON CRUSOE (90m.) (UA) Baa BLACK WIDOW (95m.) (20th-Fox) (CinemaScope) iU!i A STAR IS BORN (154m.) | (WB) (CinemaScope) I Baaa BEAU BRUMMELL (113m.) (MGM) Baa CARMEN JONES (105m.) (20th-Fox) (CinemaScope) IAAa BRIGADOON (108m.) Baaa Baa DOWN THREE DARK STREETS (85m.) (UA) iu (MGM) (CinemaScope) FRANCIS JOINS THE WACS DRUM BEAT (111m.) lAU (94y2m.) (U-l) (WB) (CinemaScope) MAGNIFICENT OBSESSION [ (108m.) (U-l) 1 REAR WINDOW (112m.) [ (Paramount) | Baaa Shu FOUR GUNS TO THE BORDER (82V2m.) (U-l) Baa HANSEL AND GRETEL (70m.) (RKO) Baaa ROGUE COP (92m.) (MGM) Baa PASSION (84m.) (RKO) Baa SABRINA (113m.) f (Paramount) | Baaaa SHIELD FOR MURDER (80m.) (UA) Baa SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN I* BROTHERS (103m.) L (MGM) (CinemaScope) 1 SITTING BULL (105m.) T (UA) (CinemaScope) I Baaa Baa THE BLACK DAKOTAS (65m.) (Columbia) Sii ■ AA SUDDENLY (77m.) T Baa THE BOB MATHIAS STORY Baa (UA) \ (80m.) (AA) THE ADVENTURES OF HAJJI f Baa THE BLACK KNIGHT (85m.) Baaa BABA (94m.) (20th-Fox) 1 (CinemaScope) (Columbia) THE BAREFOOT CONTESSSA [ Baaaa Baa THE DETECTIVE (91m.) (Columbia) Baaa (128m.) (UA) 1 THE BOUNTY HUNTER (79m.) f THE GOLDEN MISTRESS (82m.) Baa (WB) ^ (UA) THE DIAMOND WIZARD (83m.) f (UA) j Baa THE SHANGHAI STORY (90m.) (Republic) iAA THE HUMAN JUNGLE (82m.) f (AA) 1 Baa THE STEEL CAGE (80m.) (UA) Baa THE RAID (83m.) | (20th-Fox) 1 Baa THREE HOURS TO KILL (77m.) (Columbia) Baa VALLEY OF THE KINGS (86m.) T (MGM) ^ Baa WHITE CHRISTMAS (120m.) (Paramount) Saaaa WOMAN'S WORLD (94m.) T (20th-Fox) (CinemaScope) I Baaa November 17, 1954