Motion Picture Herald (Nov-Dec 1946)

"Razor's Edge" To Open in 300 Cities Christmas Darryl F. Zanuck's "The Razor's Edge" will open in 300 key locations throughout the country Christmas Day, but will not be roadshown, Twentieth Century-Fox executives said in New York this week. No definite sales policy has been set so far, and none of the Christmas Day openings will be large scale premieres. "The Razor's Edge" opened at the Roxy theatre in New York last Wednesday morning and, according to the company, set a record during the first five days of its run. From Wednesday, November 20 through Sunday, November 24, the net gross is said to have totalled $127,544. Saturday's take alone was $35,139. On the basis of these figures the company estimated the first week's gross at $165,000. The previous Roxy record was set by "The Cockeyed World" in 1927 which grossed $160,000. "The Razor's Edge" is expected to play 10 to 12 weeks. Theatre Scale Increased For "The Razor's Edge," the Roxy admission scale was increased. The new prices are 80 cents to $1.50 weekdays and $1.25 to $1.80 weekends and holidays. The theatre presents five stage shows and four film showings daily except on Saturdays, when there are five shows and five film showings. For the Christmas openings, company officials say the film will get top advertising and promotional support. The latest conference to discuss sales and exploitation for the picture, as well as for five other releases, was held last week. Headed by Tom Connors, vice-president in charge of distribution, William K. Kupper, general sales manager, and Charles Schlaifer, director of advertising and publicity, those attending the meeting were : Herman Wobber, western sales manager; Harry Ballance, southern sales manager; William C. Gehring, central sales manager, and Andrew W. Smith, Jr., eastern sales manager. Field Managers Attend District managers were: C. E. Peppiatt, Philadelphia; E. X. Callahan, Boston; Paul S. Wilson, Atlanta; Philip Longdon, Dallas; J. H. Lorentz, Chicago; J. J. Grady, Cincinnati; M. A. Levy, Minneapolis; W. E. Scott, Kansas City ; Sydney Samson, Toronto; Charles L. Walker, Salt Lake City, and Bryan D. Stoner, San Francisco. Branch managers were: J. M. Connolly, I. J. Schmertz, T. R. Gilliam, Leavitt J. Bugie, J. J. Lee, H. G. Minsky, H. R. Beirdorf, B. A. Simon, Weldon Water, C. G. Norris and Sam Gross. This week the company began distributing a 68-page, four color, pressbook. The book has been designed in a style similar to class magazines. The cover features Norman Rockwell's painting of Tyrone Power, and the book has been designed so that key and subsequent runs can build promotional campaigns. Additionally, the company has inaugurated national advertising compaigns in Redbook, This Week, Liberty, The Saturday Evening Post, Colliers and others. The radio campaign has been extensive and highlighted with a "We, the People" broadcast which devoted its full half-hour to the players and workers of the film. First showings of the film abroad will be early next year, probably in London. CPA Halts Work On Two Theatres The Civilian Production Administration in Washington last weekend ordered the construction of two theatres halted for violating orders of the CPA's compliance division and for "diverting critical building materials from the veterans' emergency housing program." The exhibitors involved were Albert Wakeman of Frankenmunth, Mich., and Robert E. Booth of Hollandale, Miss. Mr. Wakeman was constructing a theatre in suburban Frankenmunth and, according to the CPA, had started construction in August without approval. Mr. Booth had started theatre construction in June, also without CPA approval, it was reported. These are the first cases where the CPA has stepped in with a charge of a Federal violation on theatre building projects. • No legal charges were preferred. Meanwhile, the construction industry advisory committee of the U. S. Chamber of Commerce recommended all restrictions on commercial building, including those restrictions which concern theatres, be removed at once. Nebraska Exhibitors Hit 50 Per Cent Pictures Twenty central Nebraska exhibitors meeting Tuesday at Ord, Nebraska, unanimously pledged themselves to refuse to purchase any and all 50 per cent pictures. The meeting was one of a series of regional sessions sponsored by Allied Independent Theatre Owners of Iowa and Nebraska. The meeting also discussed advertising and trailer costs ; problems of local checkers ; admission prices and theatre overhead, and film buying. Richard Lysinger was named chairman of the next meeting, which will be held at Loup City, Nebraska, shortly after the first of the year. Park Avenue Wins on "Passage" The New York Supreme Court last week denied the motion against Universal Film Exchange and the Park Avenue theatre brought by the Normandie theatre of New York concerning the playing of "Canyon Passage" with the result that that feature opened at the Park Avenue Sunday. Government to Seek Divorce in Supreme Court The Department of Justice indicated in Washington this week that no restrictive trade practices will be proposed in conjunction with the complete divorcement which the Department will seek when the antitrust suit, now pending before the New York District Court, is appealed to the Supreme Court. Robert L. Wright, special assistant to the Attorney General, reported that there will be an interim period when single sales, ban on cross licensing, and other inhibitive practices will be necessary (presumably during the period it takes the defendant majors to dispose of their theatres if and after the high court orders divorcement). Mr. Wright commented that it is difficult to estimate how long it will take for complete divorcement, although some industry sources have estimated five years. Mr. Wright said the Government will not oppose amicus curiae petitions to the Supreme Court when the case reaches Washington. The Palace theatre in Cicero, suburban Chicago, has requested the New York District Court for permission to file a memorandum as amicus curiae with "respect to that portion of the proposed decree which may relate to competitive bidding in the licensing of film." It is believed the Palace's motive for requesting permission to file is based on the belief that auction selling is inevitable and if it is to become law, the Palace wants it to be under the supervision of the Government rather than in the hands of the film companies. One of national Allied's units is reportedly experimenting with three prepared rubber stamps to mark contracts with new clauses safeguarding the exhibitor from alleged unfair checking and rejection practices.. The stamped clauses would prohibit the use of local checkers and blind checking and would prohibit a distributor from removing any pictures from a signed contract. Vincent Lawrence Dies Vincent Lawrence, 56, playwright and film writer, died after a heart attack in Corpus Christi, Texas, Monday. He is survived by his widow, a daughter, and two sons. During the past 10 years he spent most of his time on the coast. He collaborated on the screenplays of "Gentleman Jim" and "Man-Proof." Several of his own plays, notably "Spring Fever" and "Sour Grapes," were adapted to the screen. Harry Crawford Harry Crawford, 59, manager of the Missouri theatre in St. Louis and associated with the theatrical business in New York for many years, died last Wednesday in Boston, where he had gone for treatment of a cerebral hemmorrhage a week before 98 MOTION PICTURE HERALD, NOVEMBER 30, 1946