Variety (October 1952)

26 picxtritKS prnmfr flips From Film Row I > 4 4 - 44 - 4 M * * It M - M » ♦»♦«> NEW YORK Mrs, Robert J. Flaherty, wife of the late pioneer film producer, named to panel of judges for the City College Robert J. Flaherty award for creative achievement in documentary films. Mutual promotion agreement be- tween WNBC and the Organization of Motion Picture Industry of N.Y. City took on wider impetus Satur- day (25) when the station inserted spot announcements plugging films during its football broadcast. Cer- tain WNBC programs are plugged by OMPI member theatres via posters and trailers. Herman G. Weinberg completed English titles for three new for- eign imports. They are "The Ber- liner” (Burstyn), "Two Cents Worth of Hope” (Times Film) and “Sensuality” (Lopert). ' With "The Last Laugh” and “The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari” in its fourth week at Reade’s Bar- onet, distributors Sam Cummins and Nat Sanders have booked the oldies into various houses of Tele- news, RKO and Schine circuits. Irving ^Sochin, short subjects sales head for Universal, left New York Sunday (26) for a three-week inspection trip to U’s midwestern and western branches. Sochin will wind up at the U studio to discuss future shorts production. BUFFALO UA has switched Buffalo and Cleveland branch managers. Man- nie Brown, formerly Buffalo city salesman and recently manager in Cleveland office, returns here as Buffalo manager. David Leff, Buf- falo ' office manager tor the -past decade, takes over the Cleveland office. Elmart Theatres, Inc., will suc- ceed Lazar Theatres, in the opera- tion of the former Darnell Circuit made up of theatres in New York, Kentucky, Ohio, Virginia and Mary- land. Elmer F. Lux, former veepee and general manager for Lazar and its predecessor Darnell, is head of the new corporation with main offices here. Howard Antevil, Glov- ersville attorney, is veepee and George Kubik of Albany, secre- turv-trpjKiirPT Refurbished* New Empire Thea- tre relighted at Elmira, N. Y., after expenditure of $200,000 on redec- oration and new equipment. House is owned by an affiliate of Dipson- Osbome chain. CHICAGO Variety Club of Illinois is mov- ing to Congress Hotel Nov. 1. Cinema Lodge of B’nai B’rith will give a humanitarian award in' February. Grand, Lincoln, 111., reopens Nov. 1 with weekend operation after be- ing closed all summer. Plaza Theatre, operated by Dave Gould, sold to a syndicate headed by Alex Dolnick, attorney. RKO has gone before Judge Michael Igoe to ask for extension on "Peter Pan” playing time. Telenews Theatre installing large screen television. Judge John P. Barnes of Chi district court, ruled last week against transferring Towne Theatre supplemental award case to the Milwaukee federal court, and also put off until Nov. 3 request of Viking Theatre, Appleton, Wise, tc have its antitrust suit also moved to Milwaukee jurisdiction. Judges Walter LaBuy and Mi- chael Igoe, of Chi district court, dismissed RKO, Balaban & Katz, and Paramount as defendants in the Eagle, Avenue, Alex, Bell, and California theatres anti-trust suits -because-of ..expiration. Qf„.statue qf limitations. Television council of National Allied Theatres will hold a closed circuit demonstration of theatre TV Nov. 18 at the Allied conven- tion. PITTSBURGH Bob Murphy, long assistant man- ager at the Warner in Erie, Pa., transferred here and promoted to manager of the Strand in Oakland. Joseph* F. Bugala, new general manager for Manos circuit, served as regional chairman for the an- nual St. Vincent College homecom- ing this year. Variety Club Tent No. 1 has picked the following crew for 1953: Harold Lund, Carl Dozer, Ray Downey, M. A. Silver, Norman Mcrvis, I. Elmer Ecker, Bob Prince, A1 Weiblinger, Jimmy Klingen- .smith, Sam Speranza and either Ray Scott or Harry Kodinsky. Lat- ter two wound up in a tie and there’ll have to be a special elec- tion before group can pick Chief Barker and other officers. Lund and Ecker were named delegates to the international convention in Mexico City next spring, with Weiblinger and Wally Allen as al- ternates. Dick Cvetic, son of Matt Cvetic, author of "I Was a Communist,” resigned as assistant manager of Stanley, WB deluxer; may go into television. John H. Harris, local showman, admitted hq has put up first-money backing for the next Jesse L. Lasky picture, "Big Brass Band. ■ Shea Circuit holding general meeting of homeoffice execs and all Shea theatre managers here Oct. 28-29. Homeoffice contingent will include prexy Gerald J. Shea, Richard A. Harper, George Goett, William 1 E. Berry, M. A. Shea, Jr., Raymond E. Smith and Carroll J. Lawler. Zoel (Zippy) Silverman, son of Dave Silverman, manager of RKO exchange, a student booker for Warners. James Vogeding is new owner of the Ritchie Drive-In midway bet- ween Pennboro and Harrisville. The site was leased to him by Perry Drew, veteran exhib. ST. LOUIS Paul Stehman and Tom Danner, Winchester, 111., will operate their | new ozoner near Alsey, 111., until the snow falls. 1 Harry C. Arthur, Fanchon & Marco exec, will fly to the Coast to cast his vote in the Presidential election. Mrs. Georgia Pitner, whose hus- band owns the Strand and Up- town, Fairfield, 111., discharged from a St. Louis hospital. Jackpot of $3,375 was copped last week by a listener.to Fanchon. & Marco’s "Know Your Movies” quiz show on station KWK. Circuit believes the program has proved a definite stimulant at its four lo- cal houses. ALBANY Carl Bovee, who was manager for Warner chain here several years ago, leased the dark Smalley Theatre in St. Johnsville, and re- lights it as The Community this week. A civic committee helped raise funds for the. reopening. A recommendation that Theatre Owners of America be made a party defendant in the Department of Justice’s antitrust suit to force release of 16m films for television, and a request that the number of prints in the Albany exchange area be increased by 50%, highlighted the first fall meeting last week of the Albany unit. CALGARY, ALTA. Restrictions on attendance of children under 16 at theatres here, Medicine Hat and Lethbridge, Alta., because of polio, have been lifted. Closed for two years, the 550- seat Princess at Melville, Sask., has been reopened after facelifting. House is owned by Jack Zaitzow, of Melville and Vancouver;. Joe do 1 Vries is manager. William Winterton, manager of the Capitol, Saskatoon, Sask., elected president of the Saskatche- wan Motion Picture Exhibitors Assn, at its annual convention in Saskatoon; succeeds George Miller, of Wynyard. Veepees are J. D. Watson, Regina, who was reelected, and J. Ludholme, Swift Current. DALLAS Tommy Powers, assistant mana- ger of the Majestic in San An- tioni, will take over duties as man- ager of the Texas, replacing Mau- rice Gleaves. ■'"Frank Flores," "former- assistant-; booker for Clasa-Mohme Films ex- change and manager of the El Charro Booking Service, took over, as manager of the Sunset.- Corpus Christ! Theatres, Inc., of Corpus Christi, are observing 27th anni with special showings at all its houses. Circuit operates 11 thea- tres and one ozoner there. Fred Palmer, Interstate- manager at Vernon, plans a. new theatre with 1,400 seats, to replace the Ver- non Theatre recently, destroyed by fire. John Huebel is new owner of Lake Theatre at Lake Jackson; purchased it from Ruby Gibson. Roy Litsey, formerly with the Warner Bros, exchange, joined Phil Isley Circuit as booker. F. M. Autry bought the Plaza at Denton, from C. O. Simmons. Carl Kunkel, Jr., sold his Vogue at Skellytown, to. H. P. Gasaway. John Browning, of Galveston, announced that Queen Theatre there, which was opened in 1912, has been shuttered. Building will be turned into specialty shop. R. E. Davis, formerly with The- atre Enterprises, joined Simmons Booking Service here as a partner. Davis had been with company 19 years. - . _ . T. Gould purchased River Oaks at Ft. Worth from Interstate Cir- CU Dick Crane, formerly with Dick Crane Amus. Enterprises, now is Assnriflted with D. F, McCrosky in Jerry B. Stout and Jake Lutzer have opened the new Coed Drive- In at Denton. It is a combination indoor and outdoor situation. » Kermit Drive-In opened by Video Independent Theatres at Kermit. Circuit has about 15 other ozorters under construction m Texas and Oklahoma. MINNEAPOLIS On competitive bids, Metro lias sold two of its top pictures for lo- cal first-runs away from United Paramount Theatres and RKO- Theatres. "Because You’re Mine went to Bennie Berger’s loop Gopher and "Prisoner of Zenda” goes to Ted Mann’s downtown World. Lyric’s regular 76c tilted to $1 for "Snows of Kilimanjaro,” the same slightly advanced scale as for "Ivanhoe” at the Century. "Lady of Fatima” set to follow "Ivanhoe” into Century when lat- ter concludes its present roadshow run. Bennie Berger, North Central Allied jyesident, one of a small group which sponsored and paid for full-page ad in American Jew- ish World! local weekly, urging votes for Eisenhower. Vet Warner Bros, salesman Charlie Jackson named territory’s captain for testimonial sales drive to be staged for district manager Art Anderson, former local branch head. ’ Harry B. French, Minnesota Asms. Co. • president, to. , White Sulpher Springs to. attend United Paramount Theatres executives’ annual meeting there. Another Twin Cities theatre, the independent St. Paul Garden, nabe house, has taken the count, and likely will be converted to com- mercial purposes. Total that have shuttered in the two towns since TV’s advent is now 15. Severe polio outbreak through- out territory is blamed in part for recent slump in grosses. In Man- kato, Minn., children have been forbidden to attend theatres. PHILADELPHIA Abbey Theatre, formerly the Wissahickon, converted into an art film house. Phil Gerard, Universal’s eastern publicity chief, in for huddles with Ted Vanett, William Goldman Theatres public relations head, on world preem plans for "Because of You” at the'Randolph. After years of holding the line at a 99c top price, the cost of film fare has been advanced in Phila- delphia, with six of the 12 first- runs getting a top admish ranging from $1.20 to as high as $1.50. Big pictures are the principal reason given for the price hike, although the 500-seat Trans-Lux, the first to raise its door tab to $1.20, has set- tled for that .figure whatever is playing. SALT LAKE CITY Tower Theatre, 520-seat nabe, reopened Oct. 28 as an art film house. L. Howard Marcus heads the Tower Corp. which is leasing the theatre. Tower is third local house to turn arty. Chester L. Price took over as city manager for Intermountain Theatres and Centre Theatre, re- placing Nevin McCord; came from Boise where he was city manager. 'Snows’ Sockeroo i2|6, Omaha; 'Monkey’ $9,000 Omaha, Oct. 28. School kids, vacationing during annual teachers conventions, are booming matinees this week. "Snows of Kilimanjaro” looks socko at Omaha with upped scale. "Monkey Business” and "Park Row” shape okay at Orpheum. Estimates for This Week Brandels (RKO) (1,100; 16-70)— "One Minute to Zero” (RKO) (2d wk). Slimming to $5,000 after surprisingly strong $7,000 opener. Omaha (Tristates) (2,100; 35-$l) — "Snows Kilimanjaro” (20th). Socko $12,500. Last week, "Quiet Man” (Rep) (2d wk), gqod $7,000. Orpheum (Tristates) (3,000; 16- 70)—"Monkey Business” (20th) and "Park Row” (UA). Okay $9,000. Last week, "Back At Front” <U) and "Honeychile” (Rep), $8,000. State (Goldberg) (865; 35-$l) — ‘Ivanhoe” (M-G) (3d wk). Nice $7,000 after $7,800 second week. Wednesday, October 29, 1952 Picture Grosses DENVER (Continued from page 9) Beloved Country” (U). Slow $1,500 for 6 days. Last week,. "Monkey Business” (20th) and "Rains Came” (20th) (reissue), $4,500. Orpheum (RKO) (2,600; 50-85)— "Devil Makes Three” (M-G) and "You for Me” (M-G). Slow $11,000. Last week, "Ivanhoe” (M-G) (3d wk), $9,500. Paramount (Fox) (2,200; 50-85)— "Washington Story” (M-G) and "Lady in Iron Mask” (20th). Okay $10,500. Last week, "Way of Gaucho” (20th) and "Linda Be Good” (Indie), $11,000. Tabor (Fox) (1,967; 50-85) — "Rainbow Round Shoulder” (Col) and "Brigand” (Indie). Fair $6,500. Last week, "Hellgate” (Lip) and "Jungle” (Lip), $8,500. Vogue (Pike) (600; 60-90) — "Under Paris Sky” (Indie). Fine $2,500. Last week, played reissue. Webber (Fox) (750; 50-85) — "Rainbow Round Shoulder” (Col) and "Brigand” (Indie). Fair $3,000. Last week, "Hellgate” (Lip) and "Jungle” (Lip), $4,000. - World (382; 60-90)—"Never Take No for Answer” (Indie). Fairish $1,500 or near. Last week, "Me- dium” (Indie) (2d wk), $1,200. ‘FRIEND’ FINE $12,000, TORONTO;‘SKY’$13,000 Toronto, Oct. 28. "Big Sky,” "My . Wife’s Best Friend” and "Penny Princess” are turning in neat return’s among new- comers but "Ivanhoe” in fourth frame is topping the town on biz close to previous week. "Just for You” also is nice in third stanza. Estimates for This Week Crest, Downtown, Glendale, May- fair, Scarboro, State (Taylor) (863; 1,069; 955; 470; 698; 694; 35-60)— "Woman of North Country” (Rep) and “Rose Bowl Story” (Mono). Light $10,000. Last week, "Rain- bow Round Shoulder” (Col) and "Feudin’ Fools” (Mono), $18,500. Eglinton (FP) (1,080; 40-80)— "River” (UA). Oke $7,000 at pop prices. Last week, "Miracle of Fatima” (WB) (2d wk), $5,000. Imperial (FP) 3,373; 50-80)— "Big Sky” (RKO). Satisfactory $13,000. Last week, "Quiet Man” (Rep) (5th wk), $14,000. Loew’s (Loew) (2,096; 75-$1.20)— "Ivanhoe” (M-G) (4th wk). Still strong at $14,500. Last week, $16,000. Odeon (Rank) (2,390; 50-90)— "Penny Princess” (U). Neat $12,- 000. Last week, "Thief” (UA), $ 10 , 000 . Shea (FP) (2,396; 40-80)—"Just for You” (Par) (3d wk). Holding at $11,000. Last week, nice $14,000. Towne (Taylor) (693; 50-75)— "Camille” (M-G) (reissue) (2d wk). Near capacity ($5,500. Last week, ditto. University (FP) (1,558; 40-80)— "Wife’s Best Friend” (20th). Fine $12,000. Last week, "Will Rogers” (WB) (2d wk), $7,500. Uptown (Loew (2,743; 40-80)— "Horizon West” (U). Fair $7,500. Last week, "Back at Front” (U) $7,000. ‘Mine’ Terrif $30,000, Mont’l; ‘Quiet’ Big 21G Montreal, Oct. 28. With only one holdover, biz in deluxers looms well over average this week. "Because You’re Mine” at Loew’s is smash to lead new- comers "Trinidad” going into a second and still big at Capitol. "Quiet Man” (Rep). Great $21,000. great. 'Estimates for fhts Week Palace (C.T.) (2,626; 34-60)— "Quiet Man” (Rep). Great $21,000. Last week, "World in Arms” (U) (2d wk.), big $15,000. Capitol (C.T.) (2,412; 34-60)— "Affair Trinidad” (Col) (2d wk). Hefty $18,000 following socko first round at $26,000. • Princess (C.T.) (2,131; 34-60)— "Rainbow Round Shoulder” (Col). Fine $16,000. Last week, "One Min- ute to Zero” (RKO) (2d wk), 12,000. Loew’s (C.T.) (2,855; 40-65)— "Because You’re Mine” (M-G). Smash $30,000. Last week, "Ivan- hoe” (M-G) (2d wk), hefty $29,000 at upped prices. Imperial (C.T.) (1,839;. 34-69)— /‘What- Price Glory” (20th) and "Gallant Thoroughbred” (20th) (re- issues). Average $7,000. Last week, "Loan Shark” (Lip) and "G.I. Jane” (Lip), oke $9,000, Orpheum (C.T,) (1,048); 34-60)— "Rose Bowl Story” (Mono) and "Kansas Territory” (Mono). Trim $7,000. Last week, "Black Swan” <20th> and' "Friend Fllcka” (20th) I (reissues), ditto. ‘MINE’ FINE $18,000, ST. LOO; ‘RESCUE’ 8G St. Louis, Oct. 28. Despite Indian summer weather over weekend,. "Because You’re Mine” is proving strong and best draw here currently at Loew’s. "Just For You” also is strong at Ambassador. "Island Rescue” looms stout at two houses. Estimates for This •Week Ambassador (F&M) (3,000; 60- 75)—"Just for You” (Par) and "Lavendar Hill Mob” (U). Neat $14,000. Last week, "Big Jim Mc- Lain” (WB) and "Too Many Girls” (RKO), $14,500. Fox (F&M) (5,000; 60-75)— "Lusty Men” (RKO) and "Son of Ali Baba” (U). Opened today (Tues.). Last week, "Back at Front” (U) and "Son of Paleface” (Par), sock $17,500. Loew’s (Loew) (3,172; 50-75)— "Because You’re Mine” (M-G) and "Hour of 13” (M-G). Fine $18,000. Last week, "Ivanhoe” (M-G) (4th wk), $10,000. Missouri (F&M) (3,500; 60-75)— "Big Jim McLain” (WB) and “Too Many Girls” (RKO) (m.o.). Aver- age $10,000. Last week, "One Min- ute to Zero” (RKO) .and "Crimson Pirate” (WB), mild $8,000. Pageant (St. L. Amus.) (1,000; 90)—"Island Rescue” <U). Good $3,500. Last week, "Les Miser- ables” (20th), $3,000. St. Louis (St. L. Amus.) (4,000; 75-$1) — "Snows Kilimanjaro” (20th) (2d wk). Holding at $11,- 000 after lusty $16,000 initial stnnzd Shady Oak (St. L. Amus.) (800; 90)—"Island Rescue” <U). Big $4,500. Last week. "Les Miser- ables” (20th), $4,000. ‘Hawk’ Lively $8,000 In Seattle; ‘Snows’ 1.4G, 2d Seattle, Oct. 28. Newcomers are for most part not helping overall total this ses- sion. "Snows of Kilimanjaro” and "Ivanhoe” are holding over at Fifth Avenue and Music Hall respective- ly, and both are great. Best new- comer looks to be "Golden Hawk” at Coliseum. "Quiet Man” still is big on moveover to Blue Mouse on third downtown stanza. Estmaltes for This Week Blue Mouse (Hamrick) (800; 65- 90) — "Quiet’Man” (Rep) (m.o.). Third week downtown. Big $4,000. Last week, "Crimson Pirate” (WB). (m.o.), $1,800 in 5 days. Coliseum (Evergreen) (1.829; 65- 90) — "Golden Hawk” (Col) and "Strange Fascination” (Col). Good $8,000. Last week, "Assignment Paris” (Col) and "Fighting Rats Tobruk” (Indie), $8,200. Fifth Avenue (Evergreen) (2,436; 90-$1.25) — "Kilimanjaro” (20th) (2d wk). Great $15,000 after im- mense $20,000 opener. Liberty (Hamrick) (1,650; 65-90) — "Horizons - West” (U) and "Stranger in Between” (U). Mild $6,000 or close. Last week, "Back at Front” (U) and "WAC Walla Walla” (Rep), $6,300. Music Box (Hamrick) (850; 65- 90) — "Back at Front” (U) and "WAC, Walla Walla” (Rep) (m.o.). Modest $2,500. Last week, "Tomor- row Too Late” (Indie) (2d wk-4 days), $1,000. Music Hall (Hamrick) (2,283; 90- $1.25)—"Ivanhoe” (M-G) (2d wk). Big $14,000 or near. Last week, $20,400. Orpheum (Hamrick) (2,599; 65- 90)—Yankee Buccaneer” (U) and "Toughest Man Arizona” (Rep). Slow $7,000. Last week, "Quiet Man.”. (Rep). (2d .wk) v good .$.7,7.00,.. Palomar (Sterling) (1,300; 45-70) — "Daltons Rode” (Indie) and "Destry Rides Again” (Indie) (re- issues). Opened Monday’ (27). Good $3,500. Last week, "Too Many Girls” (RKO) and" "Look Who’s Laughing” (RKO) (2d wk), $2,800. Paramount. (Evergreen) (3,039; 65-90)—"Monkey. Business” (20th) and "Lady Iron Mask” (20th) (2d wk). Dim $5,000. Last week, dull $ 8 , 000 . WASHINGTON (Continued frohi page 8) with raves from drama desks help- ing. Stays. Last week, "Tales' of Hoffmann” (UA) (reissue) (3d wk), $3 200 Warner (WB) (2,174; 50-80)— "Miracle Fatima)’ (WB). Smash $25,000, and holds. Last week, "Quiet Man” (rep) (3d wk), big $11,500 for final week.’ Trans-Lux (T-L) ' (600; 60-$l)— "Carrie” (Par) (6th-final wk). Steady $3,500 in final 6 days after $4,000 last week.