The Exhibitor (1957)

December 11, 1957 MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR 7 JVE II rS CA P SELES BROADWAY GROSSES Snow Blankets Boxoffice NEW YORK — A subway strike and a seven inch snowfall adversely affected Broadway business last week, with the opening of “Sayonara” and “Pal Joey’s” staying power the only bright spots. According to usually reliable sources reach¬ ing MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR, the breakdown was as follows: “BOMBERS B-52” (Warners). Paramount ($47,654)* — Third and last week expected to reach $18,000. “KISS THEM FOR ME” (20th-Fox). Roxy ($81,398) — Friday, Saturday, and Sunday re¬ ported at $25,398. The fifth and last week was headed toward $32,000. Usual stage show. “SAYONARA” (Warners). Radio City Music Hall ($146,192) — The opening stanza of “Sayo¬ nara,” Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, was reported at $107,000, with the first week ex¬ pected to go to $165,000 or more. “PAL JOEY” (Columbia). Capitol ($39,813) — Still a happy $36,000 in the seventh week. “SLAUGHTER ON 10TH AVENUE” (U-I). Astor ($24,578) — Fifth week announced as $8,000. “OPERATION MAD BALL” (Columbia). Victoria ($21,930) — Third week reported as $18,000. “SAD SACK” (Paramount). Loew’s State ($18,644) — Second week registered a healthy $28,000. “THE STORY OF ESTHER COSTELLO” (Columbia). RKO Palace claimed $9,000 for the fifth week. * Figures in parentheses represent 1956 weekly averages as reported in MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR. AT DEADLINE UA Net Rises NEW YORK — Net earnings of United Art¬ ists for the first nine months of 1957 amounted to $2,363,000, compared to $2,256,000 for the comparative period in 1956. A dividend of 35 cents per share was voted. Industry's Most Complete Soveable Review Section In Th is Issue 1. Bed Of Grass (Trans-Lux) 2. Cast A Dark Shadow (DCA) 3. Crooked Circle, The (Rep.) 4. Dalton Girls, The (UA) 5. Escape From Red Rock (Fox) 6. Fedra, The Devil’s Daughter (Times) 7. Green-Eyed Blonde, The (WB) 8. Gun Girls (Eros) 9. Julietta (Kingsley) 10. Man In The Shadow (UI) 11. Man On The Prowl (UA) 12. Naked In The Sun (AA) 13. Plunder Road (Fox) 14. Raiders Of Old California (Rep.) 15. Razzia (Kassler) 16. Rebel Girls (Luzon) 17. This Is Russia (UI) PLUS FIVE SHORTS A Quick Summary of All Important Industry News . . . condensed for the Busy Executive. FORMS FOR THIS PAGE CLOSED AT 2 P.M. ON MONDAY, Dec. 9 It appeared likely that the industry would oppose all forms of toll-TV, including cable theatre, as a followup to TOA convention action. (See Page 8) For the first time in Massachusetts, defend¬ ants won an anti-trust decision as a jury found no conspiracy involved in an action brought by an exhibitor against distribution. (See Page 8) The Screen Producers Guild called on the industry to cease the sale of motion pictures to TV, calling the practice suicidal. (See Page 9) A Legion of Decency official explains the revision of the group’s film rating system. (See Page 9) Ed Hyman and Leonard Goldenson hail the victory of the “orderly release” program; Goldenson calls for buildup of new stars. (See Page 10) Horace Adams is reelected to head the In¬ dependent Theatre Owners of Ohio at the group’s 22nd annual convention. (See Page 10) Philadelphia’s long-standing Sunday blue laws are bypassed as the city approves a legitimate show. (See Page 17) Warner Bros, shows a decided income gain over last fiscal year but forecasts decline. (See Page 17) RKO Theatres has surprising success with return of 3-D in Syracuse, N.Y., house. (See Page 17) Most companies announce tentative releases far in advance in line with orderly schedule. (See Page 18) TOA’s blast against cable TV seen result of proponents’ failure to convince group that the system would directly benefit exhibitors. (See Page 19) Rosalind Russell, star, Warners' forthcoming "Auntie Mame," was honorary receptionist recently at the new 38-story 666 Fifth Avenue, New York, where she joined Jack L. Warner, president, left, in looking over plans for the company's new headquarters. Looking on is Benjamin Kalmenson, executive vice-president. J!/ S/L FILM FAMILY ALBUM Arrivals Lloyd Patriquin, owner of the Whitman, Whit¬ man, Mass., was passing out cigars to mark the birth of his first child, a daughter. Sheldon Tromberg, Rank branch manager in Cincinnati, became the father of a son. Mrs. Buddy Young, wife of the United Artists radio -TV publicity staff member in New York, became the mother of a son, Howard Jeffrey, in Mt. Sinai Hospital last fortnight. The child is the Youngs’ first. Diamond Rings Susan Levine, daughter of Martin Levine, Brandt Theatres executive vice-president and general manager, New York, is engaged to Jordan Elliott Lourie. A spring wedding is planned. Go Id Bands Syd Whiteman, Universal sales manager in Atlanta, and Miss Tippy Amon were mar¬ ried recently. They spent their honeymoon in Florida. Sick Call M. D. Williams, owner, Oliver and the Care¬ free Drive-In, Oliver Springs, Term., en¬ tered the hospital at Oak Ridge, Tenn., for surgery last fortnight. Obituaries Fayette W. Allport, European manager, Mo¬ tion Picture Export Association, died sud¬ denly in London last week of a heart attack. He is survived by his wife, two sons, and three brothers, G. Ralph Branton, 61, vice-president of Allied Artists and formerly a prominent exhibitor in the midwest, died Dec. 2 of a heart attack in the Cedars of Lebanon Hospital, Holly¬ wood. See separate story. Louis Nicholas Kosta, 69, veteran salesman in Salt Lake City for a number of exchanges, died last fortnight in a hospital there of a heart ailment. Emmett J. Martt, 81, owner of the Columbia exchange building in St. Louis and the re¬ tired founder and president of the old Movie Poster Service in that city, died of a heart attack in his home on Waterman Avenue on Nov. 29. Mrs. Martt died about a year ago. John D. O’Rear, 65, manager, Colonial, Harris¬ burg, Pa., for 23 years, died Dec. 2 in his home at Progress, Pa., after an illness of several months. Surviving are his widow, Charlotte, and a son, Dennis John. AT DEADLINE Republic Quits MPAA, MPEA NEW YORK — Republic last week resigned from the Motion Picture Association of Amer¬ ica and withdrew its subsidiary, Republic In¬ ternational, from the Motion Picture Export Association, reflecting its changed policies of distribution. This leaves MPAA and MPEA with Allied Artists, Columbia, Loew’s, Para¬ mount, RKO Teleradio, 20th-Fox, United Art¬ ists, Universal, and Warner Bros.