Variety (December 1950)

Wediiesdayt December 13, 1930 DENVER (Continued from page 18) ‘'Let’s Dance’* (Par) (2d wk), S7 800. Denver (Fox) (2,525;, 35-74) — “Glass Menagerie” (WB) and ‘Father’s Wild Game” (Mono), dav-date with Esquire. Fair $11,- 000 Last week, “West Point Story” (WBV and “Big ’Timber” (Mono), big $18,500. Esquire (Fox) (742; 35-74).-- ‘ Gla’ss Menagerie” . (WB) and ^‘Father’s Wild Game”, (Mono),, also Denver. Fair $2,000. Last week. “West Point Story” (WB) and , ‘ Big Timber” (Mono), big S3.7.50. • Orplieum (RKO) (2,66(); 35-74)— ‘ Joan oi Arc” (RKO) and “Rio Grande Patroi” (RKO). Thin. $9,000. Last .week “Miniver Story” (M-Gi and “Gowtowh” (Col), 4-day holdover, $5,000, and “China Sky” aiul ^Bombardier” (RKO) Kre- issucs). $4,000 in 3 days. Purampunt (Fox) (2,200; 35-74) —‘‘Fuller Brush Girl” (Col) and “Pii.soners in Petticoats” (Rep). Nice $9,000. Last week, “Quick- sand’’ (UA) and “Squared Circle” Olono), good . $8,500. Tabor (Fox) (1,967; 35-74)— ♦'Kahsas Raiders’* (U) and ‘‘Jungle Stampede” (Rep), also Aladdin, Webber. Fine $5,000. Last week, ‘ Woman on Run” lU) and “Bed- side IMariner” Indie, fine $4,500. Webber (Fox) (750; 35-74) — ‘ Kansas Raiders” (U) and “Jungle Stampede” (Rep), also Taborv Aladdin, Big $3,500. Last week, ‘ Woman on Run” (U) and “Bed- side Mariner’* (Indie), $3,500. Snow Pols Skids Uoder Hpis., ‘Grande’ OK IIG ‘Lady’ Fine 17G, Indpis, Indianapolis, Dec. 12. Bi/.. could be a lot worse at firsL riui.s here in view of Christmas buying and bad weather. “Ad- miral Was a Lady,” with Ralph Flanagan band and Patti Page on- stage. is leader with neat session, at the Circle. “Breakthrough,” at Indiana, and “Harriet Craig,” at L()c\v’.s are top straight filmers, both doing okay. Estimates for This Week Circle (Gamble - Dolle) (2,800; 5()-90>—‘’AdmiraL Was Lady” (UA) w ifh Ralph Flanagan orch, Patti Page, others, onstage. Neat $17,- (){)(). Last week, “Hit Parade 1951” (Hep) with Xavier Cugat orch on- stage. $16,000. Indiana (G-D) (3*300; 44-65) — “Breakthrough” (WB) and ‘‘Sur- render” (Rep), Nice $11,000. Last week. “Jaickpot” (20th) and “Texan Meets Jane” (20th),.$8,500. Loe\v*s (Loew’s) (2,427; 44-65) — ‘ Harriet Craig” (Col) and ^‘Be- tween Midnight and Dawn” (Col). Okay $10,000. Last week, “King Solomon’s Mines” (M-G) (2d Wk), dandy $11,500. Lyric (G-D) (1,600; 44-65) — ‘‘Beast of East” (Indie) and “Atrocities Ft. Santiago” (Indie). Stout $6,000. Last week,“Wyom- ing Mail” (U) and “Can’t Cheat Honest Man” (U) (reissue)* $4,500. Holdovers Hit Seattle; ‘Breakthrough’ Nice 12G Seattle, Dec, 12. With pre-Xmas shopping in full swing and town loaded with hold- overs, biz is way off here,. “Break- through” is “only new entry show- ing much, with nice session at Or- plieiim. “Solomon’s Mines’^ is still sock in third Music Hall round. Estimates for This Week Fifiii Aveinie (Evergreen) (2,349; 65-90(---‘‘Let’s Dance” (Par) and . Torch” (EL) (2d wk); Good $7,500. Last week, fancy $10,700. . Liberty (Hararick) (1,650; 65-90) Weeks With Love” (M-G) (2d ^vk). Moderate $6,500 after $9,800 last week. Music Box (Hamrick) (850; 65-90) ^“Bdge of Doom” (RKO) (2d wk). Slow $3,000 after mild $4,500 la.st week. , \ _ Music Hall (Hamrick) (2,200; 65- 90)-—“King Solomon’s Mines” (M- G; and “Happy Years” (M-G) (3d vkh Great $14,000 after $16,300 .last week. ^ Orpheum (Hamrick) (2.6(i0; 65- ”^;‘;--:;,BTeakthrough” (WB), Nice gl2.0()p. Last week, “West Point Story (WB) (2d wk), good $6,800. ialomar (Sterling) (1,350; 50-84) Bight Cross” (M-G) (2d run), I. Fair $5,000. Last v^ek. “Mister 880” (20th) (2d run) vith vaude, fairish $5,100. A.-'l^ramount (Evergreen) (3,039; Walk Softly, Stranger” “^^0 Grande Patrol” JBlvO). Sad $7,500. Last week. Guerrilla” (20th) (3d. Vk-G daysi, $4,800. Minneapolis, Dec. 12. Brutal weather continues to slough the boxoffice here, aggra- vating the pre-Christmas seasonal adverse influence. Unending Heavy , snowfalls make for traffic hazards I and parking problems. Three of the newcomers, “Panic in Streets,” I “Rio Grande” and “Breakthrough, ■ ; qualify among the elite- as far as quality is concerned, but the going is none too smooth even for any ' of them. Holdovers are topped by , ‘‘King Solomon’s Mines,” in its ' fourth week. Estimates for This Week Century (Par) (1,600; 50-70)— “All About Eve” (20th) (m.o.). Fine $7,000. LBst week, “Let’s Dance” (Par) (2d wk), $3,500. Gopher (Berger) (1,000; 50-70)— “King Solomon’s Mines” (M-G) (4th wk). All things considered, this has given excellent boxoffice account of itself. Okay $5,000 after good $6,000 last stanza. Lyric (Par) (1,000; 50-70)—“If This Be Sin” (UA) and “Once a J’hief” (UAi. Light $3,000. Last week, “American Guerrilla” (20th) (2d wk), $3,500. Radio City (Par) (4,000; 50-70)— “Rip Grande” (Rep). Many nice words for this John Wayne starrer but only okay $11,000 looms. Last week,“All Ab’out Eve” (2()th), hurt by weather also, disaipponting $ii,ooo: RKO-Orpheum (RKO) (2,890; 35- 70)—“Breakthrough” (WB). Well- regarded picture struggling hard. Mild $9,500. Last week, “Harriet Craig” (Col), slow $6,000. RKO-Pan (RKO) (1,600; 35-75)-. “Girls Under 21” (Indie) and “Girls of the Road” (Indie) (reissues). O’Kay $5,500. Last week, “The Torch” (EL) and “I Killed Geronimo” (EL), $4,000. State (Par) (2,300; 50-70)^ “Panic in Streets” (20tli). Moderate $7,000. Last week, “Right Cross” (M-G), $7,500. World (Mann) (400; 50-85)— “Toast New Orleans” (M-G) (2d wk). Well-enough liked, but off! sharply this week. Draggy $2,000. Last week, okay $3,000. ‘Craig’ Sets Pace: In Toronto, Lusty $12,500 Toronto, Dec. 12. Xmas shopping is beginning to make deep inroads at the box- office but “Odette” and “Harriet Craig” are dragging in the femme trade. “Born to be Bad” also is very healthy. Estimates for <This Week Downtown, Glendale* Mayfair, Scarboro, State (Taylor); 1,059; 955; 470; 698; 694; 35-57)—“Shake- down” (U) and “Hit Parade *5i” (Rep). Nifty $13,000. Last week, “Wyoming; Mail” (U) and “Chain Gang” (Col), ditto. Efflinton, Victoria (FP) (1,180; 1,140; 38-77)—“Tripoli” (Par) (2d wk). Light $7,000. Last week, lusty $10,000. Hyland (Rank) (1,357; 40-80) — “Trio” (Par) (6th wk). Still nice $4,800. Last week, $5,500. Imperial (FP) (3,373; 38-77) — “Odette” (EL ). B i g $14,000. Last week, “Kiss Tomorrow Good- bye” (WB), $13,000. Loew’s (Loew) (2,096; 48-67) — “Miniver Story” (M-G) (2d wk). Light $6,000. Last week, $8,000. Nortown, University (FP) (959; 1,556; 38-77) — “Breaking Point” (WB). Poor $8,000. Last Aveek, ”All About Eve” (20th)' (5th wk), $8,500. Qdeon (Rank) (2,390; 50-90V — “Harriet Craig” (Col), Big $12,- 500. Last week, “Two Flags West” (20th) (2d wk), $10,000. Shea’s (FP) (2,386; 38-77) — “Born to Be Bad” (RKO): Okay $9,000. Last week, “Jackpot” (20th) (2d wk), $8,000. Uptown (Loew) (2,743; 38-67)— “Milkman” (U). Light $6,00^. Last . week, “Rio Grande” (Rep) (2d wk), $4,500. ONLY WB CERTAIN OF I951-’52SH0R1SSKED While Warners fired the Open- ing giin in the 1951-’52 short sub- jects sweepstakes with the dis- closure that its release slate will be hiked by 259t:, other majors as yet are undecided whether they’ll increase or reduce their shorts out- put during the next selling season. As revealed by production chief Jack L. Warner, his company will release 90 one-and two-reel films in the upcoming 12-month stretch plus 104 newsreels. This season the firm handled only 70 briefies. Almost half of the Warner pro- |ram is to be in cartoons, includ- ing 26 Merry Melodies in Techni- color and an additional 13 other Qartoons. All live shorts will be turned out under supervision of Gordon Hollingshead While the animated material will be oyer- seered by Eddie Selzer. Joe Mc- Doakes series, tagged“SQ You Want to Be—,” and starring George O’HanlOn, continues with six one-reelers for the new year. Shooting has already started bn the nevy lineup. For the 1950-51 season Colum- bia has about the largest shorts program among thq majors with 60 single reel black-and-whites sched- uled for release plus 18 color two- reelers. Paramount lists 58 sub- jects, 20th-Fox 44 plus l04 news- reels and Metro carries 40 shorts for distribution. 20th’,S program differs from the other majors in that it’s designed for the calendar year rather than the fiscal selling year. hside Stnlf-Iictures The action on Jan, 1 next, when U. S. tariffs on imported motion picture film double, is likely to be of short duration, according to in- side word in Government circles. The State Department is expected to make a deal at the international trade conferences going on since September at Torquay, England, which will restore the lower rates within the next few months. The present low rates are the result of a reciprocal trade agree- ment with Mexico. One Teature of a big overall deal affecting many commodities of both, countries was the halving of the American import tariff on films. Under the Trade Agreements, U. S. gives every other country which signed the Geneva Trade Agreement the most favored rates given any bther nation. Thus, most of the world got the benefit of the low rates America gave Mexico. However, Mexico failed to live up to its part of the bargain and to lower its barriers against many American commodities. Hence the U. S. abrogated the Mexican treaty effective Jan. 1 next. As of today, the, import rate on exposed by not developed negative film is Ic peir liheal^ foot. On Jan, 1 it reverts to the former rate of 2c. 'The duty on exposed and developed negatives will from IV^c per foot to the old 3c. And the rate on all classes of positive film will revert to Ic per foot from the present V^c tariff. All the state Department has to do at Torquay is to make this film deal with some other coimtry and then the whole world gets the benefit of it again—including Mexico. A. L Mayer Suggests Eased Parking Setup Suggestion ^hat theatremen make some effort to ease auto- mobile parking conditions in their local areas has been made by Arthur L. Mayer, executive v.p. of the Counsel of Motion Pictures Organizations. He said as a result of tentative surveys made by COMPO, it is clear that the prob- lem of parking is directly linked with decreased theatre attendance. Mayer commented that almost all- communities are considering some plan for a municipal parking lot, adding exhibs would do well to be at the forefront of such movements. Holiday hiagazine, January issue, devotes eight pages to pix as a major entertainment factor in the U, S. Additionally, the influence the American film throughout the world “is almost too great to be estimated,” mag stat'es. ' Eight-page plug concerned itself primarily with the Hollywood film in its role as ambassador abroad, and seri’ed to introduce Holiday’s new awards for pictures and picture people. Curtis publication, which is edited by Ted Patrick, intends to make the citations an annual fea- ture.' Hoiibrs in this first year went to two companies and two individuals. Twentieth-Fox was cited for its production of “The Jackpot,” which Holiday regarded as a film superior in its portrayal of American sub-, urban life. Metro was a winner for its production of “Mystery Street.” Award in this case was unique in that , the film selected was required to be a low-budgeter (under $500,000). “Mystery” was considered a ‘‘valuable documentation of American justice.” Individuals getting, the nod were Joseph Mankiewicz, for his contributions of prestige arid maturity to pix making/and Ida Lupino, for the integrity of her pro- ductions. . Awards were in the form of silver globes of bsiseball size and were presented last Friday (8) at a luncheon and ceremony at N. Y.’s 21 Club, with Robert Sherwood emceeing. Ad-pub chief Howard Dietz accepted for M-G, Denise Darcel represented Miss Lupino, Clifton Webb was there for Mankiewicz arid John McNulty stood in for 20th. McNulty wrote the New Yorker yam on, which “Jackpot” was based. Warners has commissioned Ray Sprigle, reporter of Pittsburgh Post- Gazette and author of the newspaper series, “I Was a Negro in the South of 30 Days,” which later came out in book form, to write a 1,000-word piece on “Storni Warning,” to be used in national exploita- tion for Ginger Rogers-Donald Reagan picture about the resurgence of the Ku Klux Klan in a small southern town. WB had its Pittsburgh office screen the picture for Sprigle last week to determine whether he’d be willing to indorse it. He was. Sprigle is also a Pulitzer Prize winner, having knocked down that award in the ’30s for his articles in the Post-Gazette which revealed Supreme Court Justice Hugo Black as a onetime member of the Klan. Fox-Lesser Continued froiii page 3 Mono’s TV Trailers HoUywoodj Dec. 12. Monogram, starting production , television trailers, is calling Rod I Camerori and Cathy Downs to re-1 port for lensing of a special short for “Short Grass.*' In addition to usual, film clips, 'it will contain spe- cial sequence of the two players. It’s being made saris music, iri accordance tvith APM ban. Studio said trailers will b u made for all: upper-budgeted films to be released j by the firm. | Arthur Rank experiniented in Eng- land without success several years ago. They provide the background via a small photograph into which the motion of actors or other mov- ing portions of sets is integrated. Lesser’s system, which he calls Vistascope, while relatively simple, is said to be the more complex and flexible of the two. Tt’s also reportedly of more recent vintage than the Fox group’s, which has been dubbed Pictascope. Nelson Rockefeller is understood to have been interested in it at one time. Lesser has brought Achille Pierre Dufour, inventor of the Vistascope, to Hollywood to dem- onstrate it, Dufour and his busi- ness associate, Francois Richard, will be on the Coast for four weeks. They have brought with them sev- eral demonstration feels. Lesser, it is understood, is plan- riing to make the system ayailable^ urider lease to film and video pro- ducers. He will also provide the background shots they require. Fox group is Uriderstood interested in selling its system outright, prefer- ably to a TV outfit. Vistascope operates ori the prin- ciple of bifocal lenses. While the top portion photographs the action, the bottom half photographs a pic- ture with the desired backgrourid. Pictascope, developed by Abel Gance and Count George de la Grandiere, is understood to be a simpler system of clamping the background pic in frortt of the lens without the bifocal principle. While the money-saVirig angle is obvious, the optical systems’ great- est value is in providing scope, size and realism. On that score they are even of much greater irn- portance to TV than films. Scene can easily be 6et,* for instance, in the Roman Colosseum or the Louvre, or in front of a New York building by merely having a pic- ture of the spot. Actors cam walk through doors by providing a rep- lica on the set of the door in the picture. This is then integrated. Otherwise, the actors perform against a plain white background. Final chapter of Dore Schary’s recent book, “A Case History of a Movie,” in which he defends Hollywood against the usual misinformed snipers, is being mailed to exhibitors throughout the country by the Council of Motion Picture Organizations as part of its public relations campaign. Accompanying letter, signed by COMPO exec veepee Ar- thur L. Mayer, suggests to exhibs that they try to get the chaptef reprinted in their local newspapers, adapt it for speeches and radio talks and “put it before the public on every other occasion that offers.” COMPO obtained full republication rights^from both Random House, which published Schary’s book, and The New York Times, which pub- lished the single chapter as a Sunday feature last spring. Columbia . Pictures’ move to change the title of “The Barefoot Mail- man,” bas^d on Ted Pratt’s novel of that title, is stirring up a storm of protests from Floridians. Book has been a big seller In the state, in which it is set. A number of theatre operators say that if the title is changed they’ll use the original ori their marquees. Pratt has innundated Col toppers, pointing out the studio will lose the value of the title established by a sale of almost 500,000 copies, foreign translation of the tome and various promotions, such as Palm Beach Sun Dance Festival. Cast insurance, devised to protect film companies against casualties during the shooting of a picture, has passed out of existeilce as far as the major studios are concerned, although indie producers still carry on the practice. _ Major lots have decided that the percentage is too expensive, and that they can save money over a long period by assuming their own risks. It is different with independent producers, some of whonn bet their all on a single picture. Hal Wallis and Jimmy Durante are in a hassle over custody of the; film title, ‘That’s My Boy.” Wallis registered it first , with the MPAA title bureau but Durante claimed parenthood because of his continued use of a spng by that name. Besides, the Schnozzola recently an- ribunced it as the title of a picture he will make at UI. For a while Wallis switched to “Juriior,” but now he is using the original title, and the fight is ori. Samuel Goldwyn’s plaris to do “Story of Hans. Christian Anderson*’ as. his first in 1951, as aririounced last week by RKO prexy Ned E. Depinet, figure to be upset. Moira Shearer, slated to take the top femme spot in the film, has so many ballet and Other commitments that she will not be available until next fall. Consequence Is that Goldwyn will start off the new year with “Billion Dollar Baby” instead. The only touch of feriiininity in UI’s “Cattle Drive” will be the cows in yonder canyon. Not only is the Cast 100% masculirie, but the script- girl has been superseded by a male, and so has the schoolmarm who helps young Dean Stockwell with his lessons. In addition, the studio reports that it has ordered wives of the actors to stay home while the troupe is on location in Death Valley. At least, so the publicity says. TV emissaries VrHll have to a long while to televise films cur- rently controlled by Harold Lloyd and Charles Chaplin, Both producers retain ownership of all the films they have made since 1918, and have turned down all offers for their purchase. These pictures iftclude a large number of shorts made before the actors shifted to feature- length productions. >: ■' . - • ' ' ■ RKO is huriting a new title for “The Thing” because of the wide+ spread attention attracted by Phil Harris’ disk song bearing the same name, Studio toppers feel that the public may get an erroneous idea of the picture, which is strictly serious while the tune is on the comic side. \