Variety (April 1953)

PICTVKES Picture Grosses WASHINGTON (Continued-from page 11) Last week, “Destination Gobi” (20th) (2d wk-5 days), $6,000. ^ Dupont (Lopert) (372; 55-$l)— “High Noon” (UA) (14th wk). Amazing $5,000 for second con- secutive week. Stays on, Keith's (RKO) U039; 9041-25) “Peter pan” (RKO-Disnev) (8th wk). Soared to great $13,000 after $8,OOOr last week. Holds again. Metropolitan (Warner) (1,200; 9041.25)-—“Hans Christian Ander- sen” (RKO) (7th wk). Holding at sock $10,000 after same last week. Palace (Loew’s) (2,370; 7441-20) —“Moulin Rouge” (UA). Terrific $40,000, to top town and equal “Ivanhoe” (M-G) take. In* for long run. Last week, “Sheltering Palms” <?0th), $12,000. Playhouse (Lopert) (435; 55-$l) —“Little Sheba” (Par) (8th Wk). Big $6,000 for second consecutive week. Stays. Warner 1WB) (2,174; 55-B5) “Off Limits” (Par) (2d wk). Nice $10,000 after $15,000 last week. Tran«-Lw (T-L) (600; 55-$D— ; “Member of Wedding” (Col) (4th- final wk). Oke $3,000 for second week in row. ‘Madam’Leads Denver, . Hotsy 26G, ‘limits’ 13G 'V Denver, April 7. “Call. Me Madam” is gathering in the most coin currently, playing; at the Denver arid Esquire. Pour new pix were launched during week, and three of them rate hold- over sessions. These are “Som- brero,” fairly good at Broadway,, “Off Limits,” big at Denham And: “Desert Legion” fine at Paramount. “Importance of Being Earnest” shapes fancy at the tiny Vogue, and also, stays on. Estimates ftt This Week Aladdin (Fox) (1,400; 50-85)— “Raiders” (U) and “Black Castle” (U). Fair $6,000. Last week, “Tall Texan” (Lip) and ‘Til Get You” (Lip), $0,500. Broadway (Wolfberg) (1,200; 50- 85) — “Sombrero” (M-G). Good $7,500. Holds. Last week, on re- issue.* Denham (Cockrill) 0,758: 50-85) —“Off Limits” (Par). Big $13,000. Stays over. Last., week, “Little Sheba” (Par) (3d wk), $8,500. Denver. (Fox) (2025; 50-85)— “Call. Me Madam” (20th). Smash $22,000. Last week, “Lady Wants Mink” (Rep) and “Ride Man Down” (Rep), $12,500. s Esquire (Fox) (742; 50-85)—“Call Me Madam” (20th). Sock $4,000. Last week, “Lady Wants Mink” (Rep) and “Ri$e Man Down” (Rep), $3,000. Orpheum (RKO) (1,300; 76-$1.20) —“Peter Pan” (RKO) (3d wk). Off to $9,000. Last week, great $17,500. Paramount (Wolfberg) (2,200; 50- 85) — “Desert Legion” (U) and “Tarzan’s Savage Fury” (RKO). Firm $16,000. Last week, “Abbott Costello To Mars” (U) and “Savage Mutiny” (Col), $13,500. Tabor (Fox) (1,967; 50-85) — “Raiders” (U) and “Black Castle” (U). Good $5,500. Last week, “Tall Texan” (Lip) and “III Get You” (Lip), $6,000. ; Vogue (Pike) (600; 00-90)—“Im- portance of Being Earnest” (U). Fast $2,800 or near. Stays on. Last week, on reissue. v Webber (Fox) (750; 50-85)—. “Raiders” (U) and “Black Castle” (U). Oke $3,000 or close. Last week, “Tall Texan” (Lip) and “I’ll Get You” (Lip), ditto. PITTSBURGH (Continued from page 12) with fine notices. Great $14,000 or over. “Gunfighter” (20th) and “Yellow Sky” (20th) (reissues), $4,000. Penn (Loew’s) (3,300; 50-85)— “I Love Melvin* *(M-G). O’Connor’s name and some potent newspaper space a week ago for Debbie Key- 1 nolds when she visited here factors in brisk. Trim $14,500. Last week, ‘Battle Circus” (M-G), $10,000; Squirrel Hill (WB) (900; 50-85)’— “Face to Face” (RKO) (2d wk). Should wind up with nice $2,500, almost same as last week. , Stanley (WB) (3,800; 50-85)— “Trouble Along Way” (WB), Sharp- ly divided reviews. Opened mild but picked up with nice $14,000 likely . Last week, “Blue Garde- nia” (WB) $7,000 in 8 days. Warner (WB) (2,000; 50-85)— “Tropic Zone” (Par) and “Blazing Forest” (Par). Shoved in on a day’s notice when “Limelight” (UA) did , folclo. Oke $5,000.. Chaplin pic proved a dud and yanked after 6 days with only $2,500, new low for house. ‘HANS' HUGE $25,000, | ST. LOO;‘WAC’HEP 15G . St. Louis, April 7. Rain Easter Sunday sent some people, to the cinemas but trade is still somewhat spotty at mainstem houses. Only the small capacity of the Shady Oak and .Pageant is holding down the gross on “Hans Christian Andersen” upped scale not hurting,, unusual for this city' “Small Town Girl” looks best new- comer at regular scale with socko week at Loew’s. Estimates for This Week ‘ Ambassador (F&M) (3,000; 60- 75)—’“Destination Gobi” (20th) and '‘All Ashore” (Col) (m.ojs.). Fair $12,000. ‘ Last week, “Little Sheba” (Par) and “Face to Face” (RKO) (2d wk), $10,000. Fox >(F&M) (5,b00; 60-75)— “Trouble : Along Way 1 ? (WB). Opened today (Tues.). Last week, “Man Behind Gun” (WB) and “All Ashore” (Col), good $15,000. * Loew’s (Loew) <3,172; 50-75)— “Small Town Girl” (M-G) and “Jack McCall, Desperado” (Col,), Lusty $17,000. Last week, “Con- fidentially . Connie” (M-G) and “Breaking Sound Barrier” (UA), $13,000. Missouri' (F&M) (3,500; 80-75)— “Never Wave at Wac” (RKO) and “Lady Wants Mink” (Rep). Nice $15,000 or near. Last week, “Des- tination Gobi” (20th) and “Taxi’ r (20th), $9,500. Pageant (St. L. Amus.) (1,000; 90-$1.20)—“Hans Christian Ander- sen” (RKO). Sock $13,000, Last week, “Magic Box’-’ (Col); $4,500. Shady Oak (St, L. Amus.) 800; 90-$L20)—“Hans Christum Ander- sen” (RKO). Smash $12,000. Last week, '‘Member of Wedding * (Col) (3d wk), $4,000. « ‘Bwana’ Record $40,000, Toronto; Kettles* 15G * ' Toronto, April 7. * Introduction of 3-D to Toronto sees “Bwana Devil” breaking Loew's aH-time house record open- ing week for a smash $40,000 on .turnaway lineups for seven daily performances at $1 top. Smash re- turns loom also for “Call Me Mad- am,” “Ma, Pa Kettle 0 n Vacation” and “I Confess.” “The Stooge,” in second frame, is holding up nicely. Estimates for This Week Eglinton, University (FP) (1,080; 1,556; 40-75)—“I Confess” (WB). Hefty $20,000. Last week, “Little Sheba” (Par) (3d wk), $16,000. Crest, Downtown; ' Glendale, State (Taylor) (863; 1,059; 955; 698; I 35-60)—“Silver Whip”' (20th) and “White Lightning” (AAk Okay $13,000. Last week, “Prince of Pi- rates” (Col), and “Kansas ‘Pacific” (AA), $13,000. Imperial (FP) (3,373; 40-75)— “The Stooge” (Par) (2d wk). Lusty $16,000; Last week, $23000. Loew’s. (Loew) (2,096; 604D— “Bwana Devil” (UA). Record $40,- 000. Last week, “Jeopardy” (M-G) (2d wk), $8,500. Odeon ’ (Rank) (2,390; 50-90)— “Abbott-Costello Go to Mars” (U). Okay $11,000. Last week, “Destin- ation Gobi” (20th) (2d wk), $7,000. Shea’s (FP) (2,386; 40-75)—“Call Me Madam” (20th). Wham $20,000. Last week, “Hitch-Hiker” (RKO), $ 8 , 000 . Uptown (Loew) (2,743;. 40-75)— “Ma, Pa Kettle on Vacation” (U). Terrific $15,000. Last week, “Sem- inole” (U), $10,000 in 8 days. PORTLAND, ORE. (Continued from- page 11) 500. Last week, “Naked Spur” (MrG) (3d wk), $5,000 in 4 days. . Mayfair (Evergreen) (1,500; 65- 90)—“Among Sheltering Palms” (20th) and “White Lightning” (Indie). Dke $3,500. Last week, legit show. Oriental (Evergreen) (2,000; 90- $1.25)—“Salome” (Col), Big $5,000. Last week, “High Noon” (UA) and “Song In Heart” (20th), $3,000. Orpheum (Evergreen) (1,750; 65- 90)—“The Star” (20th) and “Secret People” (Indie). Good $6,000. Last week, “Peter Pan” (RKO) (3d wk), $9,000 at upped scale. Paramount (Evergreen) (3,400; 90-$1.25)—“Salome” (Col). Terrific $14,000. Last week, “Little Sheba” (Par) and “Never Take No Answer” (Indie) (2d week), $8,000. .. United Artists (Parker) (890; 90- f 1-25)-—“Hans Christian Andersen” - (RKO). Smash $14,000 or near. Last week, “Tall Texan” (Indie) and “I'll .Get You” (Indie), $5,500. ‘Pan’ Great $16,000, K.C.; ‘Madam* 20G,‘Salome’ Same Kansas City, April 7. Liveliest trade currently is at Missouri where “Peter Pan’.’ looks great. Midland likewise is getting spirited play from “Salome,” also with advanced pricey. “Bwana Devil” Is strong ,xu«second week at Paramount. “Call' 5 Me Madam” in four Fox- Midwest houses shapes solid. Estimates for This Week Kimo (Dickinson) (504; 65-85)— “Happy Time” (Col). Great $2,700. Last week, “Under Red Sea” (RKO) (2d wk), $1,300. , . Midland (Loew’s} (3,500; 75* $1.10)—“Salome” (Col). Sock $20,- 000. Laft week, “Sombrero” (M-G) and “Confidentially Connie” (M-G) $7,500. Missouri (RKO) (2,650; 5Q-7541)— “Peter Pan” (RKO). Great $16,000. Holds. Last week, “Invasion U.S. A.” (Col) and “Last Train Bombay” (Col), $4,000 at 75c top. Paramount (1,900; 5041-25)— “Bwana Devil”* (UA) (2d wk). Nifty $9,500. Last week, $18,000. Tower, Uptown, Fairway* Gran- ada (FoxMidwest) (2,100; 2,043; 700; 1,217; 50-75)—“Call Me Madam” (20th) with “Star of Texas” (AA) added at Tower and Granada. Solid $20,000. Last week, “Ma, Pa Kettle on Vacation” (U) with “Bomba and I Jungle Girl” (AA): at Tower and Granada, nifty $16,000., Vogue (Golden) (550; 65-85)— “Breaking * Sound Barrier” (UA) ■ (6th wk). Steady $1,800. Last week: same. SAN FRANCISCO (Continued from page IQ) Me Madam” (20th) and “Fort Ven- geance” (AA). Big $20,000 or close. Last week, “Tall Texan’.’ (Lip) and “I'll Get You” (Lip) $11,000. . Warfield (Loew’s) (2,656; 65-95) —“Sombrero” (M-G) (2d wk). Oke $7,500 in 4 days. Last week, $14,500. Paramount (Par) (2,646; 65-95)— “Off Limits” (Par). Big $18,000. Last week, “Blue Gardenia” (WB) and “San Antone” (AA), $12,000. St. Francis (Par) (1,400; 65-95)— “Tonight We Sing” (20th). Good $11,000. Last week, “The Star” (20th) (2d wk), $7,500. Orpheum (No. Coast) (2,448; 65- 95)—“Seminole” (U) and “Bandit* Corsica” (UA). Mild $11,000. La$t week, “Ma, Pa Kettle On Vacation” (Rep) and “Romance And Rhythm” (Rep), $8,500. United Artists (No. Coast) (1,207; 8041.50)—’“Moulin Rouge” (UA) (7th wk)..Strong $9,500. Last week, $ 10000 . Stagedoor (A-R) (370; $L20-$1.80> !— “Hans Christian Andersen” (RKO) (7th wk). Solid $14,000. Last week, same. Clay (Rosener) (400; 65-85)— “Importance' Being Ernest” (U). Brisk $3,500. Last week, “Run For Money” (U) and “Stranger In Be- tween” (U) (reissues), $2,100., Vogue (S. F. Theatres) (377; 85- $1)—“Casque d’Or” (Indie) (2d wk). Held at $1,200. Last week, nice $1,800. Quick Playoffs Continued from page S ■ Given “reasonable clearance” priv- ileges, the theatremen have been moving up their runs and availa- bilities of product to the extent that a number of them now play the same, film at the same time. Consequently, an important film may be in exhibition one week whereas before the changes were made that same pic could have been available to the public over a period of five to six weeks. Situation Typical In commenting on the “Vadis” experience, Goldenson in a report to stockholders, stated: “We be- lieve that this situation is gener- ally typical of the effect of multi- ple runs everywhere. Even if the* public could be educated to the fact that they must see a particu- lar picture quickly or they cannot see it at all, many people who want to see it will find it incon* venient to do so in the limited period of time of its exhibition., Sooner or later the industry will realize that improved revenues for both exhibitors and producers will result when a better method of release of pictures, based upon lawful n#ns and clearances,, is sub- stituted for the present practice of multiple runs.” It was revealed that the results 6f the “Vadis” survey were cir- culated among all dlstribs by Gold- enson hut there has yet to be any response. Attitude of the film companies is they are powerless to act because of the court decrees entered in the antitrust case. Exhibitor demands for moved-up runs must be satis- fied or the film outfits would be on shaky legal ground, say the pic •execs. Conversely, theatremen who are now playing first neighborhood, run instead of second or third nabe run as in the past, are disinclined to step back to the former market position. They feel that' the subse- quent market spot means inade- quate coin at the b.o. Incurring the loss from the over- all situation are the producer-dis- tribs, as with “Vadis,” and the theatres which earlier had the first crack at product and are forced to share the fii$t availability with rivals. Problem is not entirely new, but the huge losses involved have been accented by the Goldenson report. „ ■ Wednesday, April 1953 Bette Davis pic. Columbia keen* some 30 of its oldies circulating steadily and still gets bookings nS films like “Lost Horizon,” “Mr Deeds Goes to Town,” “it Hanl pened One NighJetc. Paramount currently is reissuing DeMille’s “Cleopatra” with Claudette Col- bert. Daff Continued from page Oldies io Get Continued from page 5 L' C03 Ifalo Deal ■ JU Continued from page* I keeps imports at the 225 level. It ups remittances from 2T*Jz% to 40%, while, reducing aid to the Italians from 12kfc% to 10%, and freezing the remaining 50% as be- fore. Also, each MPAA member agrees to offer two pix to Italb distribs, but not necessarily at the start of the season. If no deal is made, the duo goes back into the company fold. Use of frozen distrib revenue, so far, has been restricted to the film biz. New -deal authorizes compensation deals, with ship- building one of the possibilities. Transfers will probably be worked, as in Scandinavia, where distribs work through a third party- and approve individual deals following receipt of dollars > in N. Y. Ar- rangement should net the distribs their fujl $12000000 tq $14000000 from the Italian market. * ■ Fact that the 18 pix "sold by MPAA members to the Italian dis- tribs, along with the 40 or 50 films allocated to the American. indies, are exempt from paying the 10% assessment, is seen as a definite concession by the Italians who grant this batch the 40% remit- tance right as all other pix. Lifting of the government- imposed rental ceiling in June re- stores the status quo. It leaves a voluntary arrangement to be worked out by the American dis- tribs and Italo exhibs. Ceiling now averages around 42%, with some pix allowed to go higher. Americans have always felt they could do better under a voluntary deal, but have never been able to agree on one with the exhibs. combos “Road House” and “Kiss of Death.” M-G is presently experimenting with some 16 titles, some of which are due for a big push during the year. Distrib has been so im- pressed with the success of TV bally for “Jeopardy” that it’s cur- rently testing video building power for a couple of reissues in the New England territory. Pix under consideration include “Billy the Kid,” “Chained,” “China Seas,” “David Copperfield,” “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,”. “Easter Pa- rade,” “Grand Hotel,” “The Last Gangster,” “Meet Me in St. Louis,” “Possessed,” “Sequoia," “Tale of Two Cities,” “They Gave Him a Gun,’-’ “Trader Horn,” “Weekend at the Waldorf” and “A Woman's Face.” * Last Year’s Jackpot Big reissue dose at RKO includes two Goldwyn .oldies, “Princess and the Pirate” arid “The Real Glory.” Among the other RKO product being revived are two Fred As- taire pix, “Follow the Fleet” and “top Hat”; “Blood dft the Moon,” “Mighty Joe Young,” “Isle of the Dead” and “Fort Apache,” RKO hit the reissue jackpot last year with its repeat handling of “King Kong,” which got a big TV buildup. Distrib has dug up a flock of Dis- ney reissues to build the Disney cartoon festival programs. Republic is giving nine John Wayne,westerns another whirl and also expects to have six “re-edi- <tion§” for the rest of ’53. Wayne starrers include “War of the Wild- cats,” “Flame of the Barbary Coast,” “Angel and the Badman,” “Lady for a Night,” ‘Dakota,” ‘Lady from Louisiana,” “A Man Be- trayed,” “In Old California” and “Three Faces West.” Reissue pattern at the rest of the majors varies. Warner Bros, expects to have a couple including I “The Damned Don’t Cry” and a than a new lens and a new aperture plate. Apart from improving the physical aspect of viewing, it also keeps alive the industry’s vast inventory of 2-D pix which can be shown on the U screen in magnified fashion. Daff disclosed that all of U’s new productions would include stereo- phonic sound and would .be offered to exhibs in various versions, from the regular single soundtrack im- printed photographically on the film track, to five and six sound channels on tape/U execs are very high on stereo sound.»the addition of which doesn’t materially affect production budgets. Right now it costs an exhib about $12,000 to In- stall stereo sound in his theatre. U’s Widescreen Process, Stereo Sound, Impresses Hollywood, April 7. Universal last week (1) unveiled its method of large-screen projec- tion for both two and three-dimen- sional pictures, as Well as Stereo- phonic sound, at a test showing for the press. It was impressive. Both the special test exteriors and interiors Aimed- with wide- angle lenses giving a two-to-one aspect, and footage from old and new pictures that were projected in a 1.85-to-one aspect, were sharp .and clear. There were no dark cor- ners or fuzzy images, and the light quality was as good, If not better, than encountered in regular film theatre projection.. Of particular interest was the manner in which the 3-D footage came over on the curved screen that measured 25 feet high by 50 feet wide. Even viewing the stereo scenes without the Polaroid glasses gave no discomfort to the eye and they appeared only slightly out of focus. With the glasses, the depth was very good, being comparable in quality to other 3-D prdeesses. The 3-D footage was taken on the back lot on Eastman daylight color stock. The test interior scenes, in 2-D for wide-angle projection, were filmed on Eastman Mazda stock. Both exteriors and interiors were processed-by Technicolor on rush order, but the color quality was excellent. Scenes from “The World In His Arms,” released some time ago, “Desert Legion,” now in release, and “Thunder Bay,” unreleased, were shown. These are all standard films and the scenes were shown first by regular projection and then switched to the 1.85-to-one aspect for a demonstration of the added impact the pictures gain from the wide-screen treatment. Studio emphasized process Is an all-purpose screen that will take flat, 3-D, Cinemascope or other systems now being used or worked ■ 3-D’s Power Continued from page 4 I to make major contributions to the techniques and equipment for presentation of pictures.” . He hit this point hard. He said experimenters in stage settings, for instance, have made little headway against -the Inertia of a highly- standardized • industry. Progress was made in 'every other field (equipment, methods, film, sound and color) hut “in most of our theatres we are displaying million dollar products in 50-year-old showcases: a rectangular screen framed and -surrounded by a black border and background.” The whole 3-D ruckus, Barnett implied, is just what the film in- dustry needs to shake it out of its plushy rut. Updating and modern- ization of presentations are long overdue, he said. When all the tumult and shouting has died, Bar- nett noted, the industry will be on a high road, its fortunes vastly im- proved because it is pleasing the public with something new and ifr6sh More than 100 Ohio exhibitors are attending The Convention of ITO, which represents more than 700 theatres in the state.