Variety (April 1953)

MCTC1USS ‘Joe Louis’ Turnabout Vldpix industry has arrived, so to speak. Owing its devel- opment largely to generous borrowing of studio space, writers, directors and techni- cians from the theatrical film- makers, it is now returning the favor. For the first time, a studio specifically, built for the mak- ing of telepix is being em- ployed for the production of a theatrical film. Parsonnet TV Film Studios, Long Island City, N. Y., is being used by indie producer Sterling Silli- phant for the making of “The Joe Louis Story," slated for United Artists release. Norlmg’s 3-D Pitch Johd A. -Norling left N. Y. over the weekend by train for the Coast to conduct negotiations for licens- ing use of the” Norllng 3^D camera. Accompanying him is his counsel, H. WUliam Fitelson, of Fitelson & Mayers. . „ Only outfit .which so far has pacte'd to use the camera is RKO. N.Y. CinemaScope Ram; Few Pans CinemaScope, 20th-pox wide- screen systmn, made its eastern debut before an invited audience at the Roxy Theatre, N. Y„ last week (24) with conspicuous sue- Indie producer Sterling Sffli- j<*ss. Majority of eihibs ettending phant for the making of “The came away glowmgly enthusiastic Joe Louis Story” slated for J over what theyUseeniand weroim- United Artists release. i pressed with both Uje quality of | the large screen reproduction and | the impact of stereophonic sound. P* I What criticism there was—and ' lit Came primarily from technical J men . and execs of rival Companies a —centered mostly on slight fuzzi- I ness in the long shots; blur aocom- jj panying fast action; "comparative r ’ lack of depth, and unusual aspect nal biz on its own in «u>« wmch. . 1 ratio of the curved 68x28 Roxy House records for an opening Colu mbi a plans to maintain its; which practically fills the week were set in San Francisco, pre-release policy on '‘Salome" in proscenium, stressing width at the $34,000, and Cleveland, $44,000. In face of the Senate Small Business expense of height Pittsburgh, where $40,000 was Committee probe of alleged distnb T irhfm . n riirpctor ^ caies for ehalkedup for a week, a weekend trade prafitice abuses. J-We’re go- record was set In Oakland, a one- ing ahead just as we announced.” ^tmaScooTordereon hand, day mark, of »10.000 was set iast toS e.uipped with the system by the subiect tocnangewiinoutnouce. eQd ^ ^ year prodded the rate , Cpl s selling method on "Salome” j of installation can be maintained, veek. | ha^ ' been sharply attacked by ex- 2 0th hopes to have 12,000 to 13,000 Picture did exceptionally sock bibs and was one of the pictures} theatres equipped by the end of biz in Texas, where most theatres specifically eited by theatremen in *>54 according to Lichtman. showing the* attraction were testimony before the Senate body. one-hour Roxv show consisting equipped with WarnerPhonic The fact that Col has indicated 0 f 0 ^ e S 7 a ^ e CO I ^SlS round, WB's own stereopho.de that the poli^ is “subject system. Returns were Dallas $25,- change without notice was ***] ScoDe was demonstrated on a 20tlr 000; Fort Worth, $30,000; Houston ceived by some exhibs as encourag- l^^sta^ ^ere conclusively $37,000; San Antonio, $40,000, and ing news. An exhib leader was the great* entertainment Corpus^Chr^V$HWKK_ POtential inherentrin-tlreTiewprocr- were the bgotm years. f°r the ^ «iat toe S«^te bearing ^ screen’s vast scope was par- houses ^ o T «as citk^ ticulariy beneficial for panoramic “Wax’Vwas a £??£ y * ?i cs landscape shots and scenes of Cincinnati, a wow $15,000 in Mm- availability on first run to cities movement such as are neapolis, a great $20,000 in Seattle, of 75,000 and over and by-passed ^e^cale movement^ suefl as are a fat 028,000 in Bnffalp, and . the regular clearance. Ctom?Score relea£ sock ?30,000 at Washington, D. G. i Erhibs also received as hearten- Medium riiots and closeups also SSrtiste ^eTto rel^-MSSto ^ttouLapnar^ Rouge” on a regular availability. mattc ™part and mthout apparent The fact that UA has inoicated that (C ontinued on page 2 6) its terms for the picture Would be - ■ IWk,30C nig 3-D Gi . Despite dovrnbeating in some' quarters of 3-D with specs and the trend toward wide screen, Warner Bros.* "House of Wax," company’s initial entry in the 3-D sweep- stakes, is chalking up some of the heftiest b.o. coin which WB has seen in years. In a number of sit- uations house records have been established. Although pic has been in circula- tion only a few weeks, with the New York Paramount run of three weeks the longest, “Wax” already has reached a mark of close to $1,000,000. In most situations film has played only a week or two. Altogether, it has played 30 cities, with dual engagements in Los Angeles and Washington, D. C. At the Paramount, N. Y.,.a total of $338,000 has been grossed, with weekly takes of $123,000, $115,1)00 and $100,000. It holds for part of a fourth week. Although part of the biz at the Par is attributed to the in-person engagement of crooner Eddie Fisher, plus Easter week launching, it's pointed out that the picture is doing phenome- nal biz on its own in other cities. House records for an opening Wednesday, April 1 Trade Rallies To 20th Ys. Green >» Characteristic of the Rim Industry is the tendency among its components—film companies, producers, exhibitors—to fight among themselves, that Is, until ah element from beyond the trade’s con- fines tries to muscle in. Then it’s “united we stand, etc.” The stock hassle at 20th-Fox, stirred by Charles Green, minority but vocal shareowner, has inspired a unity of action which is unique even for the film trade. For while only one company is under attack, some of the highest-placed theatre owners In the country are coming to its defense. Impairment of 20th could hurt the entire business. The stock fight has taken on industry-wide dimensions and. should be so recognized. It is feared that' Green aims to maneuver personal gains. Circuit owners, rallying to 20th’s side via . solicitation of proxies in management’s support, further, are alert to the con- sequences of possible liquidation, sale of the film library to tele- casters, or other radical policies. ■ Flood of Outdoor, mm To Flow Into Widescreen Horizon Col On C. P. Skouras’ NT Boy Charles P. Skouras, president of National Theatres, is still buying shares df the company’s common stock, as some other of the chain's execs, have been doing, Skouras in recent weeks ac- quired an additional 8,100 shares, bringing his total holdings to 27,510. used in "The Robe," 20th’s first CinjemaScope release. Medium shots and closeups also (Continued on page 26) |7ap ‘Wot’ Cnarc Pine iKr I its terms for tne picture wouia ne TUI ndA ijpWMUBOUV i stiff has not concerned subsequent- *1* TA An run exhibs for the moment, the IK 130} uaVUl§ 011 13a feeling being that they would be Minneapolis, April 28. able to work out the terms on an Local Pantages and St Paul’s individual basis. The news that RKO Orpheum are ostensibly show- they would get the picture on a ing “House of Wax,” Warner Bros, regular clearance was regarded as 3D picture, at their regular 85c. an indication that distribs may be admission (after 5 pjn.). This is dropping the pre-release system, the same scale as at all other Twin ' Cities firstrun theatres, except the . , ja n PL Twin. Cities’ Worlds, which charge L06W S 4ZC iCr MlHTC $f. However, it still is costing cus- _ , „ . i a stiff has not concerned subsequent- QAiL • tin tv i j r run exhibs for the moment, the ZUtil IQ L163T If€€K iCMT feeling being that they would be . ip tv $f^uT^CinemaScope, To Pact regular clearance was regarded as 6,000 Nabes for 1 Yr. 2-D an indication that distribs may be As part of a determined attempt dropping the pre-release system. to "clear the decks’* prior to Cine- mascope, 20th-Fox expects to close at least 6,000 contracts for a full year’s standard product with small- town and subsequent tun theatres by Sept. 1. Company is also urging its field sales force to go after more book- ings from driveins. Sales execs at 20th see full year’s $1. However, it still is costing cus- _ in l a toners *1 to see “House of Wax" gggegjg forecast DV LC, after 5 p.m.—unless they come to ■ wyw m J * the 'theatre already ^quipped with OJLWlr No! AAA AAA Polaroid glasses—which none do. “v n K« lwul i]I4}UUU}VUv Gimmick is this: Ticket purchas- Loew’s 42c per-share .earnings ers are charged 85c. for admissions for the 28-week period ended contracts' as the safest way of and 15c. for the Polaroid glasses, March 12, 1953, topped by 2c the avoiding bottlenecks and to back waving a total of $1. Boxoffice win- estimate given stockholders at the up playoff in keyruns. Distrib re- dow signs explain the division. annual confab in March by veepee ports it has closed more than 1,450 By splitting up. the $1 thusly, and treasurer Charles C. Mosko- such deals on 1953 releases so far, theatres gain in revenue because, witz. a sizable Increase of the same pe-1 on the 15c. charged for the Pola- * Answering the queries of stock- riod last year. Only 20th branch roid specs, the houses don’t have holders, who were irked by the 6c not represented in this type of sell- to pay the 20% Federal admission per-share earning for the first 12- ing is New York. Eastern and fair Entire 15c. thus accrues to the week quarter, Moskowitz had pre- western divisions lead in the num- houses. Glasses are believed to cost dieted that the 28-week stanza her of such contracts signed, the theatres 10c. each. would end with a per-share earn- While drive-in revenue for 20th RKO Orpheum here is in its fifth in f JSS* „ ^ Q % is ah ead 45% over 1952 so far this successive week of $1 after-5 p.m. .. In , opping crystal-gazing of season, sales toppers are neverthe- admissions, having had pre-releases less concerned over the volume of of "Peter Pan,” "Hans Christian JLi.nfthir drivein sales in several of the Andersen” and, currently, “Salo- branches. While it’s true that sales me,” at the boosted scale. Its $1 S l!J l are ahead of last year, it’s also and that of. "Moulin Rouge” a true that there are 37% more ozon- current Century pre-release local- ers operating today along the east- ly, includes, however, the 20% fed- 099 iu^1 n P whiPh ern seaboard and in the central ot-ol 222,040, to which was added $515,- areflS than there were 1 act vear era! admission tax. 276 tax credit for previous, years, Minneapolis and St. Paul Worlds bringing the net profit to 73c per went to $1, including tax, regular- share. Jy* so me time ago. There’s also a Second quarter ended March 12, $1J20. tariff at toe Minneapolis 1953, and covering a 16-week pe- World for box and mezzanine seats nod showed a net profit after Fed- where smoking is permitted. - era! taxes of $1,839,523, equivalent „ „ . J a t . ^ — 1 to 36c a share, compared with $1,- ** * u Ho r , ?°.r,V ‘ A P r ^ 1 ^8. . r • a» . v > 647,977 and 32c a share in the Metro, has picked "Young Bess" tnCOnM Best Years prior year. Gross sales and operat- Picttire it will release . • •• ing revenues for the 16 weeks were {? r widescreen exhibition, although •‘Best Years of OurUves,” Sam- estimated at $55,853,000, compared f he 5 , m was ah °t in the “old fash- nel GoldWyn production of 1946, is W itH $55,131,000 in the previous loned , way. Studio has recut and being dusted off for reissue, prob- yea r. • refrained the footage to make It ably In midsummer. For the 28-week period* gross ovoiletolc for showing on the new Film, which has proved the pro- ?ales and operating revenues screen ‘ ducer's greatest commercial sue- amounted to an estimated $93,928,- First booking In this country is cess, has Myrna Loy, Frederic 000, compared with $95,693,000 in slated for Radio ‘City Music Hall, March, Dana Andrews and Theresa the corresponding period of the N. Y,, which Is equipped with a Wright in leads. prior year. j widescreen, areas than there were last year. Hollywood, April 28. Metro has picked “Young Bess” ‘Shane’ Bigscreen Number of firstrun theatres in key cities across the country are now in line for conversiom-of their screens to the Paramount-advocat- ed aspect ratio of 1.66 feet in width to each foot of height, in- stead of the conventional 1.33 to one. Showcases.are_switchingi.he- ginning around May 15, for show r - ings of Par’s “Shane,” as did N.Y.'s Radio City Music Hall last week. Key spots already on the list to join in the bigscreen technique are the Denham, Denver; Mastbaum, Philadelphia; Paramount, Buffalo; Michigan, Detroit; Paramount, San Francisco; Radio City, Minneapo- lis; Paramount, Kansas City, and others in Boston, Washington, Fort Worth, Dallas, Houston and San Antonio. Jerry Pickman, Par’s ad-pub v.p., [leaves N. Y. at the end of this week for Denver on the first leg of a tour of the various situations to start the bally rolling in advance of toe openings. Par is withholding “Shane” and George Pal’s production of “War of the Worlds” from general re- lease, to give both pix the widened screen treatment Reissue of “Greatest Show on Earth” also may be grooved for the same type of handling initially. N. Y, to Europe Sir Michael Balcon Jean Benoit-Levy ... Ludwig ChareU George Cueto Lorraine Cugat Clifford Curzon Dan Duryea Andor Foldes Cynda Glenn Henry Hathaway Rene Jeanmarie Hazel McCabe * Patricia Medina Nathan Milstein Anthony Quinn Thomas Scherihan Ralph Serpe George Tabori Charles Vidor Europe to N. Y. Lynn Bailey Sonio Coletti Walt Disney Rita Gam Alfred Hardy Jack Hylton Pat Kirkwood Francis Lopez Harry Novak Johnnie Ray Ramon Vinay Thornton Y/ilder N. Y. to L. A, DuMaresq Clavell Alan Dary Bernle Gould Paul Harrison Ben Kalmenson I Joseph Kaufman ' Adoption of widescreen systems —particularly of 20th-Fox’s Cine- maScope—will cue a flood of “spec- tacle” type of pix to take best ad- vantage of the visual impact of the new processes. [ Observers see this as a positive development from the b.o. view- point, since big musicals, outdoor action dramas and Biblical stories are usually good draws. At the same time, there’s some concern over the possibility of studios over- doing a good thing and forgetting that the crux of b.o. success is still a good story and not the exploita- tion of a gadget, regardless of how effective it might he at the time of its introduction. Indication that 20th itself is con- cerned over the type of film that is to be made by other studios with its CinemaScope lens came last week (24) when both A1 Lichtman, 20th director of sales, and Spyros P. Skouras, 20th prexy, declared that only “good” pix would be made in CinemaScope. Their re- marks followed the first Cinema- scope demonstration at the Roxy Theatre, N. Y. _ • ^ Skouras hinted that 20th may at- tempt to exercise a certain amount of control over the use of its lens. (Continued on page 18) Ohio Exhib Boys Ad To Explain His 3-D Dilemma, Still ‘Watch Waiting’ Martins Ferry, 0„ April 28. Because Of the public confusion about 3-D, an exhbit here took newspaper ads to explain the whole D-dilemma, and why he wasn't in- stalling equipment in his theatre. Lou Eick, operator of the Fen- ray, said in extensive 330-word ad that (1) 3-D, to date, is wholly ex- perimental and a variety of sys- tems is being tested; (2) all pix for release in the near future re- quire glasses and it is question- able whether the public will ac- cept ’these gadgets as a permanent requirement of their entertain- ment,” although, there are three companies producing 3-D illusions which do not require specs; (3) terms demanded of the exhibitor compel “high admission prices which are not warranted by the present state of development of this new process.” Ad winds up by saying that Eick has decided “on a policy of watch- ful waiting.” When the confusion ends, 3-D equipment will be in- stalled. L. A. to N. Y. Anna Maria Alberghetti Fred Amsel Jean Pierre Aumont Tony Bartley Sammy Cafin Scoop Conlon Robert Cummings Rosemary DeCamp Phil Van Dyke Paulette Goddard William Goetz Nat Goldstone Raymond Hatton Sonja Henie Red Hirshon Victor Jory Evelyn Keyes David A- Lipton Frank Loesser Stephen Longstreet George Montgomery Louis B. Mayer Jack Palance Dinah Shore Raymond Stross Barry Sullivaa Danny Thomas Mike Todd