Variety (November 1953)

10 ricrriiE grosses Wednewlav, November 4, 19.>3 L.A. Milder; 'Botany Medium $12,080, 'Fury’ Light 11G, 'Honduras Slow 16G, Wild’ Tame 13G, Robe’ 2 Spots, 65G Los Angeles. Nov. 3. 4 \>w first-run bills are hitting a medium stride with none out- standing Along with some weaken- ing of longruns. in/ generally looms milder currently. "Appointment in Honduras'’ and "Marry Me Again" ilia pcs slow $10,000 in three thea- ,M " V Hntany Bay” is rated medium $12 000 in two smaller houses. But it is doing okay $33,000 in one nabe plus tour drive-ins. "Gun Fury” looks light $11,000 in two locations. "The Robe" is topping the ho.d- pvers with a solid $03,000 in its i.xih week at the Clhine.se and first at the Los Angeles. "Here to Eter- nity* si ill is getting important coin with nifty $32,000 in fifth week two houses "Mognmbo" is drop- p.ng tiut still good $13,500 in four'll tiaiue. "C inerama” hit sturdy $32,- 000 in 26th stanza. Estimates for This Week Downtown, Hawaii (SW-G&S) M 757; 080; 70-$l.i0) — "Botany Bay” iPar'. Medium $12,000. Last week. Downtown and Wiltern. "Sea Lost Ships” i Rep) and "Trent’s Last Case” (Rep), $9,500; Hawaii and Loew’s State, "Redheads From Seattle” <Par> and "Fighting Law- man" * A A) (2d wk), $0,300. Loew’s State. Vogue (UATC- FWC* ‘2.404; 885; 70 $110)—"Gun Fury” iCol• and "Jennifer” (Rent. Light $11,000. Last week. Vogue. "Roman Holiday” (Par) (4th wk>. $3 500. Orpheum, Wiltern. Fox Holly- wood iMetropolitan-SW-FWC) <2,- 213; 2.344; 768; 70-$l.10)—"Ap- pointment Honduras” <RKO) and "Marry Me Again” <RK(>*. Slow $16,000. Last week, with other units. Los Angeles, Hollywood Para- mounts 'AB-PT-F&M' CL300; 1.430: 70 $1.25)—"Blowing Wild” iWID »2d wk). Mild $13,000 or near. Last week. $26,200. t’ptown, Lovola, Iris, Globe <FWC> <1.715; 1,248; 814; 782; 70- $1 1(0—‘’Sabre Jet” <UA) and "Vicki” <20th• (2d wk'. Slim $8,500 in 4 days. Last week, with Los Angeles, without Globe. $25,600. Fine Arts rFWO (631; 8O-$l.50> —"Cruel Sea" <C> <3d wk>. Modest $3,000. Last week. $4,200. Beverly Hills «S-VV) <1.612; 90- $1.50)—"Decameron Nights” <RKO) 3d wk 1 . Slender $2,300. Last week, $3000. Broadway Grosses Estimated Total This Week < Hascd on 25 Last Vear Gross $645,300 t lira t res ) $477,700 < Hasrd on ID theatres ) 'Alamo’-Dunham OK 21G, Frisco San Francisco. Nov, 3. Ideal fall weather is blamed for moderate biz at first-runs here this stanza. Despite offish trend "The Robe” continues to pace the Street, with a big Fifth session. Katherine Dunham dancers are helping "Man- From the Alamo” to an okay total at the Golden Gate. "So Big" is rated good at St. Francis. . Otherwise, takings disappointing. Estimates for This Week Golden Gate <HKO) <2.850; $1.251—"!\1an From Alamo” plus Katherine Dunham unit. Okay $21,000 or over. Last week. "Wings Of Hawk” <U» and "Murder With- out Tears” <AA». $9,500. Fox <FWC> <4.651; $l-$2 40)— "The Robe” <20th) <5th wk*. Big $31,500. Last week, $37,500. Warfield <Loew’s) <2.656; 65-95* —"The Actress” <M-G>. Fair SI 0.000. Last week. "Mogambo” <M-G> i.Sth wk), $15,000 with $1.50 top. Paramount <Par> <2.646; 65-95)— "Blowing Wild” <WB> and "Black Fury” <WII) <2d wk) are 95- *U) ‘Luther* Torrid $11,000, Balto; ‘Robe’ 40G, 2d Baltimore, Nov. 3. Grosses here this week are hold- ing up solidly. Second week of "The Robe” at the New is not far behind rousing opener. "Martin Luther" is fancy at the Town while "Sins Of Jezebel" is fairly pleasing at Keith’s. "The System” is dull at the Stanley. Estimates for This Week Century (Loew's-UA) <3.000; 35- $1)—"Mogambo” <M-G) '3d wk). Big $14,500 after $21,000 for sec- ond. Hippodrome iRappaport) <2.100: 50-$ 1.25) — "Eternity” <Col) <6th wk*. Nice $16,000. Last week. $19,500. Keith’s (Sehanberger) <2.400; 35- BO)—"Sins Of Jezebel” (Lip). Oke $9,000. Last week, "Redheads From Seattle” 'Par), $9,800. Little iRappaport) <310; 25-90)— "Beggar’s Opera" <\VB) '2d wk*. Okay $3,500 after $4,000 opener. Mayfair (Hicks* <980; 25-70)— "Sea of Lost Ships” (Rep). Moder- ate $4,500 in 8 days. Last week, "Column South” <U», $4,200. - New (Mechanic) 0,800; 75-SI 50) —"Rohe” (20th) '2d wk*. Socko $40,000. Holds a third. Opener was $42,500. Playhouse (Schwaber) (420; 50- $D—"Stalag 17” <Par* <4th wk). Good $5,800. Last week. $6 000. Stanley <WB) <3.200; 35-80* — "System” <WB>. Mediocre $7,700. Last week. "So Big” <WB*. $10,000. Town IRappaport) <1.600; 35-80) —"Martin Luther” <Indie*. Fancy $11,000. Last week, "Glass Web” < U». $8,000. 'Luther Sock $10,000, D.C.; 'Country’ Oke 8G, ‘Vice’ Good 7G, 'Heat’ 9G 'Calamity’ Bright $10,000 in Mpls. ^ Egyptian CATC <1 538; 90- Rfl 801 — "Mogambo” <M-G* <4th ■ k< Good $13,500. Last week. Kit.ooo. f o L f 'o 1 'otv R ^°.! ! fan Tulip” .Indie) <6tb wk). '*• - 812. 95-SI 50* Eternity $ 3 , 700 . Last week. $3,900. $10,000. Last week. $14,500. St. Francis <Pari <1.400; 75-$l)— "So Big” <WB). Good $11,000. Last week. "Lion In Streets” (WB V , $ 10 , 000 . Orpheum <No. Coast) <2.448; 65- 95)—"Big Heat” <Col) and "China Venture” <Col> <3d wk). Oke $8,000. Last week. $10,500. United Artists <No. Coast) < 1.207; 65-95)—"I. the Jury” *UA) and “Phantom From Space" <UA) <2d wk». Mild $6,500. Last week, $11,500. Stagedoor A-R* <370; Sl-$1.50)— “Beggar’s Opera” <UA* «3cl wk). Big $4,000. Last week. $3,100. Clay 'Rosener) <400; $1>—"Fan- Fast Minneapolis. Nov. 3. With big weekend traffic be- cause of Pitt-Minnesota football game, which drew 50.900 despite being nationally televised, and with a teachers’ convention to bring a school holiday, films got a Held at okay | nourishing start here this session. t'<*li 5th wk'. Week. $42,400. Nifty $32,000 Angeles Last <FWC) —"Robe” at L A.). Chinese, Chinese. Los M 905; 2.097; $1 20-$2.4(H- «20tli< *6th at Chinese. 1st Solid $65,000. Last week, $44 800 Kitz FWO <1.363; 90-$ 1 .50'— "Martin Luther” <Indie) <8th wk). Mild $2,800. Last week. $3,100. Wilshire 1 FWC 1 <2.296; 80-$l 50) —"Little Boy Lost" <Par* <9th wk- 4 davs'. Slight $2,400. Last week, $4 800. Four Star, Rialto < L'TAC-Metro- politan) <900; 839; 80-$l 20<— "Moon Is Blue” <l'-A) <18th wk). Nice $5,000. Last week. $5,400. Hollywood <SW) <1.364; $120- $2 80'—"Cinerama” <lndie> <27th wk 1 . Into 27th frame after sturdy $32 900 last week. Vagabond 'Rosener) '385; $1.20* —"7 Deadly Sins” <Indie* <9th wk'. Fair $2 200. Last week $2,600. Bridge <Schwartz-Reade) '399; Sl-$1.20)—"Cruel Sea" <U) <5th wk>. Fine $4,000 for fourth week. Last week. $5 200. Larkin 'Rosener) <400: $1)—"Sun Shines Bright” <Rep». Mild $2,300. Last week. "Miss Julie” <Indie) <2d wk). $2,000. Vogue <S F. Theatres' <377; $1- $1.20)—"One Summer Happiness” <Indie) <2d wk'. Nice $2,200. Last week, $2,500. ‘Mogambo’ Great 18G, Leads L’ville; ‘So Big’ Neat 6G, ‘Roman’ Fat 11G Louise ille. Nov is on tap this 3. ‘TORCH’ COOL $10,000, PIH; ‘BIG’ SMALL 9G Pittsburgh. Nov. 3. Business is on downbeat this week, with onl\ thing that's hold- ing being "The Robe.” strong at Harris in fifth stanza. Both "Torch Song” at Penn and "So Big” at Stanley got glowing notices, but neither one is going anywhere Fulton’s new 3-D'er. "Wings of Hawk,” also is only routine. Lstimates for This Week Fulton 'Shea' <1,700; 50-85'— *\\ mgs of Hawk” l Ob\ ions the hiooni has faded from 3-D and 1 .s points that up. Okay $5,500. but NSG for a 3-Der. Last week. "All-American' l'<. $5,000. Harris Harris' '2 100; 85-Sl 50 --The Rohe” 20th) 5th wk S ili holding up nicely and should i "id until Thanksgiving time, But another CtnemaScoper. "How to Marn a Millionaire" 20th'. ('pen- ny next door a* Pulton in a week, n.. y 1 j’ in Jleading for 4 18.000 1 .Continued on page i lit Brisk biz is on tap this week at downtown houses, with advent of cooler weather, and fresh product at all houses, with exception of I the Kentucky. "So Big” at Mary 1 Anderson looks nice. "Roman Hol- iday ' is lusty at the Rialto wicket. "Mogambo.” single-billed at the State, is pulling in the patrons with bumper week in sight. Fall 1 race meeting at Churchill Downs is drawing thousands, plenty of [visitors are patrons at the film houses for night shows. Estimates for This Week Kentucky <Sw item ) '1.200; 75-99) —"Moon Is BJue" <L'A> <6th wk). Strong $5,500 after last week’s $ 6 , 000 . Mary Anderson People’s) <1.200; 54-75* "So Big" <\YB>. At regular fare, nice $6,000. and probable ho. Last week. "Blowing Wild” 'WB' 2d wk*. $6,500. Rialto 'Fourth Avenue) <3.000; 75-99 —"Roman Holiday” ’<Part. Looks like lusty $11,000 Last week. "All-American" <l’i and "Golden Blade ' L'< $13,000. State Loews* 3.000; 75-99'— "Mogambo" M-G'. Great $18,000, and possible more Lrt*J week. ''Etc rifilj Coli 3d w k', stout S! 2 000. Holdovers continued very much in evidence. Standouts among fresh entries are "Calamity Jane” and "Take High Ground.” It's the eleventh week for "Moon Is Blue,” sixth downtown week for "From Here To Eternity.” fourth for "The Robe” and second for "Mogambo,” all smash. Estimates for This Week Century <Pnr) <1.600; 65-85)— "Sailor of King” <20th*. Light $3.- 000 Last week. "Little Boy Lost ’ (Par) <4th wk*. $4,200. Gopher • Berger) <1.025; 65-85)— “Mogambo” <M-C») (2d wk>. Fat $7 000. Last week. $11,000. Lyric 'Pan <1.000; 65-85) — “Along Came Jones” <Indie) and | "Belle of Yukon" (Indie) (reis- sues'. Mild $4,500. Last week. 1 "Glory Brigade” '20th) and "Dan- gerous Crossing” <20th). $4,700. Radio City 'Pan <4.000; $1.20- $1 50<—‘‘The Robe” <20th) <4th wk). No one here imagined it pos- 1 sible for any film to rack lip the kind of grosses this one’s doing. Still sockeroo at $21,000. Last week. $32,000. RKO-Orpheum <RKO> <2 890; 65- 85<—’'‘Calamity Jane” <\YB). An- nounced as "upper midwest pre- miere.” Lofty $10,000 looms. Last week, "Eternity” <Col 1 <5th wk), at 85-$ 1. $8,000. RKO-Pan RKO) <1.600; 85-$l*— "Eternity” <Col» <m.o.>. Hot $7,000. Last week. "Ft. Algiers” <UA) and “O. K. Nero” (Indie 1 , at 55-76e scale. $3,000. State <Par) <2.300; 65-85'—"Take High Ground” <M-G). Fast $10.- 000. Last week. "Great Sioux Up- rising ’ (U>. $5,600. World <Mann 1 <400; 55-SI.20*— "Moon Is Blue” <UA) <llth wk). Final week again set for this gold mine. Good $3,800. Last week, $3,500, Key City Grosses . Estimated Total Gross This Week $2,999,700 (Based on 24 cities, and 222 theatres, chiefly ftrst runs, in- cluding n. y.) Total Gross Same Week Last Year $2,145,500 (Based on 24 cities and 207 theatres .) Mogambo’ Terrif l Toronto Toronto, Nov. 3. With nightly Runaway biz in second stanza. "Robe” continues its record-breaking tenure at the 3.373-seat Imperial, largest house in Canada. However, "Mogambo” down the street is also doing socko biz on lower price scale. Of other newcomers, "Torch Song” and "Blueprint for Murder” are also turning in neat returns. Fourth frame of "Eternity” continues hefty. Estimates for This Week Crest, Downtown, Glendale, May- fair, Scarboro, State (Taylor) (863; 1.059; 955; 470; 698; 694; 35-60'— "OK. Nero” (IFE) and "Last Posse” (Col). Okay $15,000. Last week, "Ft. Algiers” <UA) and “Phantom From Space” (UA», $ 12 , 000 . Eglinton, University <FP) <1.080; 1.558; 40-75) — "Captain’s Para- dise” (London). Big $16,000. Last week, "Master of Ballantrae” (WB), $11,000. llyland (Rank) < 1.250; 50-85*— "The Juggler” (Col) <2d wk'. Near- capacity $5,000. Last week, $5,500. Imperial <FP> (3.373; 75-$1.50>— “The Robe” <20th) <2d wk*. Wham $40,000 to daily turnaway biz. Last week, about same. Loew’s (Loew’s) <2.096; 65-85*— “Mogambo” <M-G». Terrific 000. Last week. "Take Ground” <M-G), $13,000. Odeon (Rank) (2,390; 50-90*— "Blueprint for Murder” )20th*. Nice $12,000. Last week, "Return to Paradise" <UA*, $9,000. Shea’s <FP» (2.386; 75-$l*— "Eternity” (Col) '4th wk*. Hefty $10,000. Last week. $16,000. Uptown 'Loew’s) <2.743; 40-75*— “Torch Song” <M-G). Nice $10,000. Last week, "Golden Blade” (U», $ 8 , 000 . Washington. Nov. 3. There are four newcomers to main stem this session, an unusu- ally large number even for this long-run city. Standout among new entries is "Martin Luther ” near-record takes at the Dupont. "Vice Squad” at Loew’s Columbia looks good for a second round, and "Back to God's Country” at RKO Keith’s is okay for run-of-mill pic. "The Robe” continues solid in 5th week at Loew s Capitol, as do the other long runs which prevail in mid-town. Estimates for This Week Capitol (Loew’s) *3.434; SI-S1 50) —"The Robe” (20th> <5th wk). Still going strong at $25,000 after S31 000 last week. Holds. Columbia (Loew’s) 1 1.174; 55-85) —"Vice Squad” (UA>. Good $7,000 or over. Holds. Last week, "Vicki” <20lh) (2d wk-4 davs', $4,500. Dupont <Lopert) <372; 90-S1.20) —"Martin Luther” <Indie*. Smash $10,000 for this small-seater, near- ing record of "High Noon” <UA). Looks in indefinitely. Keith’s (RKO) (1.949; 55-85* — "Back to God’s Country” <U*. Okay $8,000. Last week. "Sea of Lost Ships” (Rep), $10,000. Metropolitan <SWt <1.200; 55-85) —"Big Heat” (Col). Hotsy $9,000. Last week. "Blowing Wild” <WB) < 2d wk>, $5,500. Palace (Loew’s) <2.370: 74-SI.20) —"Mogambo” (M-»C> (4th wk). Brisk $15,000 after better than ex- pected $19,000. Stays on. Playhouse (Loperti <435; 55-$ 1) —"Roman Holiday” (Par* (5th wk*. Pleasing $5,500 after $6,000 last week. Stays. Trans-Lux (T-L) (90-SI.25* — “Eternity” (Col» (10th wk*. Taper- ing off to hefty $11,000 after $12,- 000 last week. Holds. ‘Robe’ New High, in Omaha "The $23.- pccted High ‘Wild’ Lofty $14,500 In Buffalo; ‘Key’ Okay 8G Buffalo, Nov. 3. Biz is fending to taper currently. "Glass Web" is okay at the Lafay- ette while "Blow ing Wild” is wind- ing up a big week at Paramount. Lofty takings loom for "So Big" at the Center. "The Robe” still is dandy in filth week at the Buffalo. "Violated.” which had proem at bandbox Mercury, is heading for record first week. Estimates for This Week Buffalo <Loew’s) <3 000; $ 1 -$ 1 50> —"The Robe” <20th) < 5t h wk*. Dandy $17,000. Last week, $24.- 800. Paramount 'Par) <3.000; 40-70' — ‘Botany Bay” Par'. Opens Wednesday <4 . Last week. "Blow- <Continued on page 18) ‘So Big’ Strong $8,000, K.C.; ‘Jury’ OK $11,000, ‘Caddy’ Fancy 81G, 2d Kansas City, Nov. 3. Best newcomers are "So Big” at the Missouri and "I. the Jury” playing 3-D at the Midland, both okay. "The Robe” continues big at $18,000 in fifth week at Orphe- um. “The Caddy” holding over at the Paramount is fine. "Golden Blade” is so-so in four Fox Mid- west first-runs. Weather back to warm alter last week’s needed rain. Estimates for This Week Kimo (Dickinson) <504; 65-85*— "Lili” 'M-G* <25th wk'. Nice $1,400 and w ill hold. Last week. same. Midland 'Loews* <3.500; 65-90' —"I, the Jury” <UA) and “Terror On Train” <UA). At 90c top. neat $11,000. Last week, “Mogambo” <M-G> <3d wk*. at $1 top, $7,000. Missouri <RKO) '2.650; 60-85*— "So Big" <WB) and "Trail Blazers’ 'Indie. Best in several weeks here. Strong $8,000 or near. Last week. "Stranger Wore Gun” <Col) and "Monsoon” <Col>, $4,500. Orpheum (Fox Midwest) <1.913* $1. $1.25. $150) — "The Robe” ,'20th* <5th wk*. Heftv $18,000. and 1 will hold again. Last week. $21,000. Paramount (Tri-States) <1.900; 65-85'—"The Caddy” (par) <2d wk*. Nice $8,500. Last week. $14,000. | Tower, Uptown. Fairway, Gran- ada (Fox Midwest) (2.100; 2 043- 700; 1.217; 65-85*—"Golden Blade” <U> and "Stand at Apache River” «U». Fairish $12,500. Last week. "Vicki” <20th> and "Sailor of King” < 20thsame, with sneak preview thrown in. Vogue (Golden) (550; 65-85'— "Leonardo Da Vinci" <Indie*. Good $2 100. Last week. "Desperate Mo- ,hient” iU> <2d wk', $1,600. Omaha. Nov. 3. Robe” is making its ex- impact on its debut here, shaping to hit a record $22,000 opener at the Orpheum. Pic drew rave reviews, with lines at wickets most of time. "Anna” is okay at the Omaha while "Here to Eter- nity” is sock in third Brandeis week. "Blowing Wild” shapes fine in second stanza at the State. Estimates for This Week Brandeis (RKO) (1,100; 7G-S1 >— “Eternity’* 1 Col) (2d wk*. Still hearty at $8,000, and certain for at least a fourth week. Last week, $ 10 , 000 . Omaha (TristatesV (2.000; 50-76) —"Anna” (IFE). Oke $6,500. Last week, “Mogambo” (M-G) (2d wk', $8,500 at 65-90c scale. Orpheum iTristates* (2.890; 90- $1.25)—"The Robe” <20th). Record $22,000. Last week. "Wings of Hawk” <U» and "Hot News” (Indie), $7,500 at 65-85c scale for six clays as house was shuttered day before "Robe” opening. State (Goldberg* <850; 50-76)— "Blowing Wild” (WB* and "Black Fury” <WB> <2d wk). Good $4,500 after $6,500 debut. Cincy H.0.s Very Tall; ‘Mogambo’ Socko $12,000, 2d; ‘Sumatra’ Fair 5G Cincinnati, Nov. 3. Socko second-week power of "The Rohe” and hefty encoring by "Mogambo” are responsible for an- other great downtown total this round. Another holdover. "Eter- nity.” continues potent in its sixth stanza. New bills, "Fort Algiers" in Capitol is mild, and "East ot Su- matra” at Keith’s is fair. Estimates for This Week Albee <RKO) <3,100; 85-Sl 50*— "The Robe” (20th) (2d wk*. Stu- pendous $35,000 after unfurling i S45.000. new Cincy record open- ing week. Stavs on. i Capitol (RKO) (2.000; 55-85'— ! "Fort Algiers” <UA) and "Captain Scarlett” lUA'. So-so $6 500. Last ! week. "Half a Hero” <M-G> and j "Big Leaguer” (M-G*. $6,000. Grand <RKO) (1.400; 75-$l 25>— I “Eternity” (Col) (m.o.) <2d wk). j Hefty $6,500 in sixth downtown . stanza. 1 Keith’s (Short <1.500; 55-85'— , "East of Sumatra” <U>. Fair S5.000 or close. Last week. "Redheads , From Seattle” (Par), $4,000. Palace <RKO» (2.600; 75-SL- "Mpgambo” <M-G» '2d wk'. Socko $12,000 on heels of $19,000 unvoil- • ing.