Variety (October 1953)

it?/-** Wednesday, October 7, 1933 “Fort Ti” appears headed for $2- 300,000. * Paramount execs have some thoughts on the 2-D values of » 3-D film. Par’s “Sangaree” j s listed as a $1,500,000 grosser in the depth market; after this the companv be- lieves “Sangaree” can do about $500,000 in 2-D theatres domes- tically. Picture Grosses Continued from pace 9 hibitor. Aside from the personal misfortune this has brought, it is serious to the industry as a whole. We fully realize the small contribu- tion made by community theatres to the total gross boxoffice of any production.” He went on to warn the industry that it would be “unwise to lapse again into a feeling of false secur- ity. As important as the tech- niques may be which have been in- troduced over the past year, no in- dustry on earth is rich enough to waste them on selling otherwise unsalable merchandise.” Radio commentator Henry .1 Taylor, freshly returned from a European jaunt, represented switch on accustomed SMPTE keynote addresses and was well received. Annual Awards At the luncheon. Barnett an- nounced the election of A G. Jen- sen of the Bell Telephone Labora- tories as SMPTE’s new engineering \.p. Baiton Kreuzer of RCA be- c'*n cs financial v.p. and is suc- ceeded in his old post of treasurer by George W. Colburn Trio will serve two-year terms. Rest of the SMPTE officers are elected next year. Annual SMPTE awards, pre- sented at a dinner Monday night, further served to emphasize the preoccupation with the screen’s new media. The Society’s Journal award went to R. J. Spottiswoode, N. L. Spottiswoode and Charles Smith as coauthors of the paper, “Basic Principles of the Three-Di- mensional Film.” judged the best of Ihe technical papers published in the SMPTE Journal during the past year. Dr. W. W. Wetzel of the Minne- sota Mining & Manufacturing Co.. St. Paul, Minn., copped the Samuel L. Warner memorial award. Fred Waller, inventor of Cinerama, got the SMPTE’s Progress Medal Award, and Arthur V. Loughren of the Hazelton Corp. was recipient of the David SarnofT Gold Medal Award for his contributions to the development of a compatible color TV system. Honorable mentions went to Willy Borberg; C. R. Carpenter and L. P. Greenhill; G. C. Higgins and L. A. Jones and Otto H. Schade. Norman Collins and T. C. MacNamara got a special mention for their “The Electronic Camera in Film-Mak- ing.” Montreal, Oct. 6. Big news here this session is the socko biz being turned in by “Band Wagon’’ at Loew s. Other spots are mainly not doing so well. How- ever. “Split Second” shapes good at Capitol. Estimates for This Week Palace <C.T * <2.626; 45-75) — “Scandal at Seourie” <M-G> <2d wk*. Fair $11 000 following $17,000 opener. Capitol <C.T* <2412; 50-80) — "Split Second” <RKO>. Good $17,- 000. Last week. “Pardon My Back- fire” 'Col*. $15,000. Princess <C.T.) <2.131; 50-80) — “Stranger Wore Gun” <Col» *2d wk'. Fine $10,000 after opening stanza did $16,000. Loew’s <C.T.) <2.855; 50-85* — “Band Wagon” <M-G>. Smifsh $31,000. Last week. “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” <20th) <4th wk), $15,000. Imperial <C.T.) <1.839; 34-60) — “City That Never Sleeps” <Rep> and “Flame of Barbary Coast” <Rep) <2d wk). Slow $5,000 alter nice $11,000 opener. BALTIMORE 'Continued from page 10) .ovvai tls socko $34 000 after colossal $38 000 opener. Keith’s 'Schanbcrger) <2.400; 25- itfh —“Little Boy Lost" <Par» <20 vi k), Nice $11,000 after $15,000 lust week Little 'Rappaport) <310; 25-90'— ‘Sailor of King” <20th>. Good $4 000 Last week, “Sea Around I s " <KKO) Old wk*. $3,500. Mayfair 'links) <980; 20-70) — ' \bhott-Costello Meet Jekyll, Hyde” C). Starts tomorrow Uedi alter second week of “Stranger Wore Cun” <Col) hit fair $4')()<) following $5 200 opener. New <.Mechanic! <1.800; 20-70) — “Golden Blade” <U>. NSC $7,500. Last week, "V icki” <20th *, $8,200. Playhouse <S 1 waher) <420; 50- SI t-~'Liir<M-C) 1 12th final wk). Winding up record run with oke $3 000. Last week. $3,400. Stanley <WB) <3,200; 25-80) — “Lion in Streets'’ <WB). Slim $8 000. Last week, “Moonlighters” <WB), $8,400. Town <Rappaport) <1,600; 35-80) —‘‘Actress’’ <M-Gb Fancy $9,000. Last week, “I, the Jury” <UA>, $8,500, Cincinnati, Oct. 6. ‘ Here To Eternity” looms loftily in first holdover stanza at the huge A! bee, adding to monumental preem marker. “I, the 'Jury’ shapes okay at the Grand to top four new hills. “Moonlighter” in Palace looms light. “Sailor of King” at Capitol is tame while "Blueprint lor Murder” at Keith’s looks fair. Hot weather and Yan- kee-Dodger baseball crown clash are proving detrimental currently. Estimates for This Week Albee <RKO> <3.100; 75-$1.25<— “Here To Eternity” <Col) <2d wk). Still gigantic at $24,000 after last week’s modern era Cincy record of $36,000. Stays another round. Capitol <RKO) <2,000; 55-85) — “Sailor of King” (20th). Tame $6 - 500. Last week, “Affair With Stranger” <RKO) and “Tarzan and She-Devil” <HKO), $6,000. Grand <RKO) <1.400; 75-$ 1)—“I, the Jury” <UA) and "Neanderthal Man” <UA). Okay $9,000. Last week, "War of Worlds" (Par) 'in o.i, $6,000. Keith’s iShor) <1,500; 55-85)— “Blueprint Murder” <20tli). Fair $4,500. Last week, “Thunder Bay” <U). $5,500. Palace <RKO) <2,600; 75-$ D— "Moonlighter” <WBi. Thin $7,500. Last week, “Melba” <UA), $7,000. Lii— Continued from page 7 ss^m the Victoria after “The Moon Is Blue” and there is speculation that the Astor many not be large enough. With the Capitol Theatre tied up. this leaves Loew s state the Paramount and the Hnoh as possibilities. ‘Robe* on Par With Charity Minneapolis. Oct. 6 City officials considered the lo- cal Cinemascope opening with “The Robe” of sufficient import- ance to grant special permission to the Paramount circuit to string a large banner across city's two principal downtown business streets at the busiest corner. Ordinarily, such banners are not allowed for commercial purposes here, their use being restricted to charitable drives and causes. ‘Jury’ Smash $18,000, L’ville; ‘Stalag’ 15G Louisville, Oct. 6. While the world series usurped much attention over the weekend, first-runs were not entirely over- looked. Rialto, with "Stalag 17” plus Marciano-LuStarza fight pix, looks strong $15,000. However, "I, the Jury” at the State is the sock entry. “Hannah Lee" at the Mary Ann is light. "Moon Is Blue” at the Kentucky in second week is great. Estimates for This Week Kentucky iSwitow* <1.200; 75-99) —“Moon Is Blue" <UA> <2d wk). Big $8,000 after last week's $10,000. Mary Anderson (People’s) <1,200; 54-75)—“Hannah Lee” <Indie). Mild $5,000. Last week. “Moon- lighter” iWB> '2d wk), $5,500. Rialto (Fourth Avenue) <3,000; 54-75)—“Stalag 17” <Par) and Mar- ciano-LaSt a rza fight pix. Swell $15,000. Last week. “Inferno” <20th) and “Thy Neighbor’s Wife” (Indie). $10,500. State <Loew’s) <3.000; 54-75)—“I The Jury” <UA) and "Terror On Train" <M G). Sock $18,000. Last week. "Man From Alamo” <U) and “Big Leaguer” <M-G>, $9,000. Gala Show Between Grinds Cleveland, Oct. 6 When “The Robe” opens tomor- row tWed.) at the 3,700-seat Hip- podrome there will be a 5 p in. and 11 p.m. performance on re g- ular grind policy. But the 830 show will be set aside for the pub- licity whoopla. City and state officials will be tape-interview'ed in lobby for bal- lyhoo on WTSM next day. Omaha. Oet. 6. With the exception of "Little Boy Lost,” biz is offish at first-rums tliis stanza. Plugged heavily, the Crosby pic shapes lively at Orpbeum. “Latin Lovers” is okay at the State while "Master of Bai- lantrae” is fairly good at Brandeis. Estimates for This Week Brandeis <RKO> <1,100; 50-70- “ Master of Baltantrae” (Will and “Combat Squad” (Col). Average $<;.()<)(). Last week, “Island in Skv” <WB» and "Tarzan and She Devil” <RKO>. ditto. Omaha (Tristates) <2,100; 5076) --“Great Sioux Uprising" <U> and “Mexican Manhunt” <AA). in 5 days, and “Male War Bride” (2t)*:i) and “Broken Arrow” <20t hi tie- issues) in 2 days, did only weak $5,000. Last week “Kid From Left Field" <20th* and “Glory Brigade” <20th). $7,000. Orplieuin (Tristales) <2.090: 05- 85) — “Little Boy Lost” (Par*. Strong $11,000. Last week. "Roman Holiday" (Pari and “Jamaica Run” (Par), $10,000 State 'Goldberg) <865: 50-76) — “Latin Lovers" <M-G>. Okay $5,000. Last week. "Hide Vaquero’’ <M-G* ami “Big Leaguer” <M-G), same. ‘American’ Lusty $8,500 | In Port.; ‘Hero’ NSH 6G j Portland. Ore., Oct. 6. Biz went in a slump here this week although there are some strong spots. "All - American” shapes fancy at Broadway. “Half a Hero" is not so good at the Liberty while “This Is Love” is disappoint- ing in two houses. “Moon Is Blue” still is great in 10th Mayfair session. Estimates for This Week Broadway (Parker) <1,890; 65-90) “All-American” (U) and “Stand At Apache River” (U*. Fancy $8,500 or near. Last week, "Wings of Hawk” <U> and “Siren of Bagdad” (Col). $8,000. Guild (Parker) <400; $1)—“Sea Wound Us" <RKO) <3d wk). Neat 51 500. Last week. $2.?<V‘ Liberty (Hamrick) <1.875; 65-90) — Half a Hero” <M-G) and “Champ for Day” <Rep). So-so $6,000 or < lose. Last week. “Island in Sky" <\VB) and "Sweethearts on Parade" 'Rep). $9,000. .Mayfair < Evergreen) <1,500; 90- $1.25)—“Moon Is Blue” <UA) <10th wk'. Solid $4,500 or better. Last week. $5:200. Oriental <Evergreen) <2.000; 65- 90»—“So This Is Love" <WB) and “Plunder of Sun” (WB>. Oke $2,300. Last week. ‘‘Return to Paradise” <UA> and “No Escape” ' U A ). $3,000. Orpbeum (Evergreen* <1.600; 65- 9()»—“Return to Paradise” <UA) and “No Escape” (UA* <2d wk*. Nice $4,000 in 4 days. Last week. $7,500. Paramount < Evergreen* (3.400; 65-90i—"SO This Is Love” <WB* and “Plunder of Sun" <\VB>. Okay $6,700. Last week. "The Caddy” <Pai ) and “Roar of Crowd” <AA) <2d wk<. $5,200. United Artists (Parker* (890; 90- $1.25)—“Here to Eternity” <Col> '4th wk'. Splcruiid $8,000. l.ast week. $10,300. . ‘San Anton* Revise San Antonio, Oct. 6. Interstate is revising admission prices to “Robe.” scheduled to open Thursday (8) at the Majestic. Instead of the $1.80 top. the top price will be $1.50 on evenings and all day Saturday and Sunday. Weokday matinees, until 5 p.m. will be $1.25 and, for children, it will be 60 cents anytime. \iSSa Continued from page 5 (3) the intermission required lor retreading projectors. Supak and Klapp said that Rob- ert J. O’Donnell, Interstate The- atres general manager, intends to scrap all his old 3-D equipment, which had cost $350,000. and will replace it with the Nord system. In N. Y. over the past weekend. Columbia announced that all 3-D pix on its lineup will be made available in the standard two-strip form or in Nord single strip, ex- hibitors to have their choice. .Col stressed this applies to 3 D'cis al- ready in release and new ones not yet in distribution. INDIANAPOLIS (Continued from page 11) $9,000. Last week, “Stalag ~T7” (Par). $11,000. Keith’s <C-D) <1.300; 60-$l 20)— “Martin Luther’’ <Indie*. <2d wk*. Trim $5,500 alter $11,000 opener. Loew’s (Loews) <2,427; 50-76) — “Latin Lovers” <M-G> and “Sky Commando” 'Col*. Okay $10,000. Last week. “Here to Eternity” • Col) <5th wk). $8,000. Lyric <C-l» <1.600; 50-76) — “Champ lor Day” <Rcp> and “Marshall at Cedar Creek” (Indie). Thin $3,500 -with Marciano-La- Starza fight films added. To be pulled after 6 days. Last week. “Plunder of Sun” (WB) and “Blackmailed” < Indie). $4,000. ‘Caddy’ Crisp $12,000 In Prov; ‘Stranger’ Fat 10G Providence. Oct 6 Sss Continued from pace 7 sible outlet. Another factor in any tally on the number of outlets is “bicycling.” or the practice of some circuit operators to shift the 3-D booth equipment from one theatre to the next in their chains as the 3-D'ers are run off. Warners’ “House of Wax” is the champ money-maker of the dimen- sional*. with a domestic distribu- tion gross of $3,200,000 apparent at this time. This eclipses Arch Oboler's “Bwana Devil” 'which was instrumental in starting off Hollywood on its 3-D hinge). ‘Bwana’ When it was in early distribu- tion “Bwana" set a phenomenal b.o. pace hut slowed markedly in subsequent dates as its novelty values waned. It still rates as one of the most amazing pix in history, with a distribution take of $2,- 800.000. Many other 3-D'ers followed the pattern, that is. opening big in key dates and then dropping off. As a result, some distribs have been maneuvered into “adjusting” licensing contracts after a disap- pointing 3-D run. Argument on the exhibitor side was that the early bo. showing ol the dimensional film made 50-50 terms appear equitable. However, when the pic went sour in later runs the even split terms ceased to he fair and the “adjustment” had to be made. In mostly all cases, distribs are holding up on releasing the 3-D'crs in single-strip conventional form. While some 2-D dates are being booked, the companies still can get new 3-D business as additional houses install equipment. Col. fig- uring on 2.600 theatre availabili- ties for “Fort Ti" and “House of Wax” at this time, is waiting until that total goes up to 3.000 before sending out either 3-D'er as a "flat.” “Man in Dark." incidentally, could reach $1,800,000 in 3-D money (domestic distribution) and Trade is better here Ibis week Si rand's “The Caddy” wound up so< k Alhee’s “Stranger Wore a Gun” also shapes big. Loew s is sluggish with “Latin Lovi is.” Majestic is mild with “So This Is Love ” Estimates for This Week Albee <HK(» <2.200; 65-85) — “S:ranger Wore (bin” (Col) and “ Project* Moonbase" <Lip* Nice $10,000. Last week. “East of Sumatra" <U» and "Rebel Citv” (AA). $7,000 Majestir < Fay * <2,200: 50-70* — “This Is Love” <WB* and “Blunder of Sun” 1 WB*. Mild $6,500. Last week, “Thunder Bay” <U< and Mar- ciano tight pix. $9,000. State (Loew) <3.200; 50-70) — *’Latiiv Lovers” <M-G> and “Thy Neighbor’s Wife" <20th>. Slow $9000. Last week. “Here to Eter- nity” 1 Col* <4th wk>, good $8,000 at upped scale. Strand < Silverman* <2.200; 50- 70* — “Caddy” <Par* <2d wk*. Started Monday <5*. First session was socko $12,000. Columbia Using Nord Hollywood, Oct. 6. Columbia Pictures has closed a deal for the use of the Nord Ex- tended Area System of single-strip 3-D film. Agreement was reached after studio toppers viewed a dem- onstration of sample pictures printed by the Nord process. First film in the new process to be made available to exhibitors will be ‘‘Gun Fury,” starring Rock Hudson. Donna Reed, Phil Carey and Roberta Haynes. Other Co- lumbia 3-D films available in the Nord process are “Miss Sadie Thompson.” “The Nebraskan,” “Drums of Tahiti." "The Mad Ma- gician” and “Jesse James vs. the Daltons.” PITTSBURGH 1 Continued from page 11) or less. Last week, "Caddy” 'Par), $13,000. Squirrel Hill <SW* <900; 50-851— “Long Memory" < Indie'. Mild $2,500. and not holding. Latft-weck, “Cruel Sea” <U) (4th wk). $1,500. Stanley <SW* <3.800; 75-SI.25'— “Here To Eternity” (Col* <3d wk*. Big $20,000 after $28,000 lor sec- ond. Stays a fourth. Warner <SW» <2.200; 50-85* — "Martin Luther” 'Indie* <2d wk). Fat $13,000 after $18,500 opener. Holds a third. WASHINGTON 'Continued from page 11* $1.20* — “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” (5th wk*. Hot $7,000. Lot week. $8,000. Dupont (Lopert) <372; 55-51 * — "Moon Is Blue” <UA* <12th wk*. Still going strong at $4,500, and holds. Pic continues here after having run day-date with Play- house for fnM 11 weeks. Last ueek. $3,700. Keith’s 1 RKO) (1.949; 55-85'— “East of Sumatra" tU». Fair $8- 000. Last week, “Sword and Rose” RKO' '2d wk). $8,500. Metropolitan <SW) <1.200; 55-85* — Lion Is In Streets" (WB*. Nice Sioooo. Last week, “Moonlighter" WB. $6,500. Palace 'Loew’s* '2.370; 55-85'— ' 1. the Jury" <UA». Slim $6,000 in 4 days of second week. Last week. (IKappointing $15,000 alter strong early business. Playhouse <lopertt <435; 55-SI) Roman Holiday” MG'. Fine $10,000. Holds Last week. "Moon Is Blue” L A* 1 l ltli w k . $4,800. Trans-|,ux <T-L» - GOO; 90-$ 1 25' Hoc Fo Eternity” 'Col' <6lh '' k Great $16,009. Last week. : 7 000, Gotham Cafes Continued from pare 2 ,,^ 1 the hotel spots were swarming, since they had not only loaded registrations to draw from, hut also the quota of customers that are normally available. The strong late September and October start indicates that nite- Vics are In for a hefty season. The competition is down to its lowest level in years and it’s likely to stay that way. The odds against the opening of any new cafes arc tremendous. Present regulations hv the N,. Y. State Liquor Authority call for 90 days operation as a straight eatery before a liquor per- mit can he granted. Thus the pres- ent (tubs hayc virtually a monop- oly in the field. Issss Continued from pace 3 by SMPTE for “the tremendous cataplytic effects" of his work on the industry. He is board chair- man of Cinerama, Inc., as well as technical consultant to the com- pany. In addition, he is prexy of Yitarama which holds the patents and has licensed them to Ciner- ama. Inc. He is semi-retired, he said, but is in frequent consultation with S H, Fabian, prez of Stanley-War- ner. which holds the Cinerama rights. With Cinerama to go ahead with lensing “Seven Wonders of the World." Waller said three Cin- erama cameras are ready and a fourth is being tested. -R10I0 CIO MUSIC lilt. 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