Variety (November 1954)

Wednesday, November 3, 1954 mLh— m+m—1 ——■. if ■ ■ < ■ — WASHINGTON (Continued from page 8) Smash $24,000 or better to lead the town, "Not the . top gross for this house, however. Last week, “Caine Mutiny!' (Col) (10th Wk), $5 000. Metropolitan <SW) (1,200; 90- $1‘25)—“Star Is Born" (WB) (3d wk. Still torrid at $12,000 after $16,000 last week. Stays on. Palace (Loew’s) (2,370; 70-95)-^ “Suddenly" (UA) disappointing at okay $12,000. Last week, “Wom- an's World’’ (20th) (3d wk), $10,- 000 in 6 days. : Playhouse (Lopert) (435: 55-$ 1) —“Rear Window" (Par) (9th wk*. Nice $5,000 after $6,000 in previ- ous, week; Warner (SW> (1,300; $1.20-$2.40) —“Cinerama”. (Indie) (52d . wk). Down to $11,000 in general mid- tow ' slump after $14,000 last \V{?.6k Trans-Liix (T-L). (600; 70-$l)— “On Waterfront” (Col) (7th wk). Good $6,500 after $7,000 last week. Providence, Sept. 2. Riding high currently is Majes- tic’s “Star Is Bom,” with. smash session likely. Given strong play by radio, tele and press. State’s “Man With A Million” is light and RKO Albee’s “Human Jungle” is just okay. In .second Strand week,; “Sabrina" racked up another big total. •' Estimates for This Week Albee (RKO) (2,200; 50-75— “Human Jungle" .(AA) and “Meet the Monsters" (AA). Just okay $8,000. Last Week, “Notorious" (AA) and “Farmer’s Daughter” (AA) (reissues), $7,500. ; Majestic (Fay) (2,200; 75-$1.25) —“Star Is Born’* (WB). Klelg-light preem attracted press and air- waves for neat boost. Smash $27,- 000. Last week, “The Raid" (20th) and “Retur From Sea" (AA), $ 6 , 000 . State (Loew’s) (3,200; .50-75)— “Man With Million" (UA) and “99 River Street” (UA). Slim $8,500. Last week, '“Rogue Cop" (M-G). and “Yellow Tomahawk" (M-G), $12,- 000. Strand (Silverman) (2,200; 50-75) —“Pushover” (Col) and “Law *Vs. Billy Kid” (Col): Fair $6,000. Last week, “Sabri " (Par) (2d. wk)', $9,000. ST. LOUIS (Continued from page 8) and “4 Guns To Border" (U), mild $ 11 , 000 . Loew’s (Loew’s) (3,172; 75-$l)— “Caine Mutiny” (Col), Good $15,- 000. Last week, “Brigadoon" (M-G): (2d wk), $13,000, Orpheum (Loew’s) (1,700; 75-$l) —“Brigadoon” (M-G) (m.o.). Hep $6,000. Last week, “Valley -of Kings" (M-G) and “Yellow Toma- hawk’’ (UA) (2d Wk), $4,500 in 5 •. day." Pageant (St. Louis Amus.) (1,000; '821—"French Touch.” (Indie). Good $3,500. Last week, “Three Forbid- den Stories” (Indie), $3,000: Richmond (St. Louis Amus.) (400; 82)—“Le Plaisii’" (Indie). Fine $3,- 000. Last week, “Pickwick Papers" (Indie), $2,500. St. Louis (St. Louis Amus.) (4,- 0G0; 75)—“Hajji Baba" (20th). Fair $9,000. Last week, “Woman’s World" (20th) (3d wk), $9,500. Shady Oak (St.. Louis 'Amus.) (800; 82)—“Le Plaisir" (Indie). Trim $3,500, Last week, “Pickwick Papers" .-(Indie), $3,000. DENVER (Continued from page 9) 000. Holds. Last week; “Woraa World" (20th) (4th wk) $10,000. Denham (Cockrill) (1,790; ' $1.25) — “White Christmas!’ (P (2d wk). Wham $25,O0b or ov This is just a step behind the $2 500, over hopes, of the openi Week. .Denver (Fox) (2,525; 75-$ 1.25! Star Is Born" (WB) (3d wk). Go $12,000,. Last week, $14,000, Orpheum (RKO) (2,600; 60-$l) .Brigadoon" (M-G) and “House Blackmail" (Indie) (2d wk). F; $7,000. Last week, $13,000. Paramount (Wolfberg) (2,2( 60-$i)_"Barefoot Contessa" (U 1 me; $16,000, and Stays over. Li week. “Human Jungle" (AA*) a Security Risk" (AA), $10,500. Vogue (Pike) (442; 74-90) Junes Gone By" (IFE). Pc $ 1,000, Last- week, “Mr. Hulo Holiday" (GBD) (3d wk), $1,500.. Balto; ’Baba’ Mild 7G, Baltimore, Nov. 2. Mild grosses are prevalent here this week with holdovers predom- inating. New product is led by “Black Widow," brisk at the Town. “Hajji Baba” is modest at the New blit “On The Waterfront" is still sturdy in second week at the Hipp. “Rear Window" is equally hefty in its second round at the Playhouse, Estimates for This Week Century (Loew’s-UA) (3,000; .25- 95)—“Brigadoon” (M-GO (2d wk). Sluggish $7,000 after $9,000 op- ener*. Cinema (Schwaber) (466; 50-$l) —“High And Dry” (U) (3d wk), Fairish $3,000. Last week; $3,300. Film Centre (Rappaport) (960; 50-$!)—'“Sabrina” (Par) (4th wk). Still potent at $6,000, Last week, $ 10 , 000 . Hippodrome (Rappaport) (2,100; 35^D_“On Waterfront” (Col) (2d wk): Sturdy $11,500. Last week, $10,500 fbr Marlon Brando pic.. . Keith's (Frucfttman) (2,400; 20- 46-80)—“Reap Wild Wind" (Par), (reissue). Tepid $6,500. Last! week, “Human Jungle" (AA) (2d wk), $6,000. Little (Rappaport) (310; 50-$i)— “Turn Key Softly" (Indie). Mild $2,800. Last week, “Long Mem- ory” (U), $1,800 in 4 days; Mayfair (Hicks) '(980; 20-70)-^- ’ “Bengal Brigade” (U). Opens to- morrow (Wed.). Last week, 'Prin- cess Of Nile’' (20th), okay $3,300* New (Fruchtmari) (1,800; 50-$l) —“Hajji Baba" (20th). Modest $7;O0O. Last week, “Woman’s World" (20th) (3d wk)r $7,200! Playhouse (Schwaber). (420; 50* $1)—“Rear Window” (U) (2d wk). Fancy $5,500 after $6,000 opener. Stanley (WB) (3,200- 50-$l.25>— “Star Is Born" (WB) (3d wk). Overquoted recently but still big at $10,000 following $12,500 in second. Town (Rappaport) (1,600; 35-$ 1) —“Black Widow" (20th). Brisk $13,500. Last week, “Sudenly” (20th) (3d wk), $5,500. Indianapplis, Nov. 2. Biz is still dragging here* with theatres joining merchants (in Downtown Indianapolis Days later this, month to give it hypo. ‘‘Star Is Born,"' in second week at Indi- ana, is still bright to again lead the town. “Brigadoon" at Loew’s. is neat but it is not holding, money. “Bengal Brigade” at Circle, lobks okay. Estimates for This Week Circle (Cock rill-Dolle) (2,800; 50- 80)r- ; “Bengal Brigade" and “White Fire" (Lip). Okay $9,000 or over. Last week. “Sabrina” (Par) (2d wk), nice $8,000, making it $20,000 for stand. Indiana (C-D) (3,200; 75-$l)— “Star Is Born" (WB) (2d wk). Stout $11,000 on top of great $23,000 opener. Keith's (C-D) (1,300; 50-80)— “Vanishing Prairie” (Disney) (2d wk). Sturdy $5,000 after $8,500 first stdnzd . Loew’s (Loew’s) (2,427; 60-90)-^- “Brigadoon" (M-G). Neat $10,000. Last week, “On Waterfront” (Col), *q e>00 * Lyric (C-D) (1,600; 35-70)— “Not Wanted” (FC) and “Jail Bait” (Col) (reissues)r Slow $4,500 with “All Star Jamboree" on stage re- placing film bill at $1:25 top Sun- day night only. Last week, “Boun- ty Hunter” (WB) arid “Killer Leop- ard" (AA), oke $6,500, same set-up. KANSAS CITY (Continued from page. 9) (3d wk). Good $6,500, Last week. $8,ooo; Paramount (United Par) (1,900; 75-$D—“Star Is Born" (WB) (2d wk). Fajt $12,000, and holds. Last week, $17,000, but under first in- dications; Roxy (Durwood) (879; 70-90)— “Brigadoon" (M-G) (2d wk). Okay $5,500, and holds. Last week, $6,500; Tower, Uptown, Fairway, Gra- nada (Fox Midwest) (2,100; 2,043; 700; 1,217; 65-85)—“Bengal Bri- gade" (U) and “Trent’s Last Case" (Rep). Good $14,000. Last week, “Hajji Baba” (20th) and “Two Guns and Badge" (AA), $13,000. Vogue (Golden) (550; 85-$l) — “Man Between" (UA) (2d run). Oke $1.500, Last week, “Melba" (UA) (2d Wk), $1,400 in 8 days. 6 P.M. Studio Closing Hollywood, Nov. 2. Meeting with the Association of Motion Picture Producers in an at- tempt to have an earlier studio shutdown, put into effect as soon as possible will be sought by two, Hollywood IATSE locals. Both un- ions have endorsed the 6 p.m. pro- duction curfew plan. Idea of the 6 p.iri. shutdown was first approved in form of a resolu- tion by the Second IA district just before the convention of IA in Cincinnati last August. Presenta- tion of proposal to the Hollywood AFL Film Council recently brought only-silence, and that’s believed to be one reason the two unions are making the joint effort to put plan into affect without council aid! IA local 695 Sound Union’s exec board has okayed the curfew and instructed its business agent, Jim- my. Thomson, to seek a meeting With the producers on the matter. IA cameraman’s local 659 had pre- viously approved the plan both through its exec board and mem- bership. BOTH COASTS INVOLVED Tinian's Rainbow' Cartoon Feature To Work East and West Recordings for “Finian’s Rain- bow,!’ the all cartoon feature to be produced by DCA in association with Maurice Binder, will be done both in New : York and on the Coast. John Hubley, who. will supervise the animating, and Binder returned to the Coast this week after hud-, dlirig on the final script with Yip Harburg and Fred Saidy, authors of the original Broadway show. They’re due back in N. Y; in De- cember to oyersee the voice cordings that will be done, in, .Gotham. MINNEAPOLIS (Continued from page 9) Last week, “Hans Christian. Ander- sefi" (RKO) (2d run), $2,500. Radio City (Par) (4,100; 85 : $1)— “Brigadoon” (M-G) (2d .wk)/ Fast $9,000. Last week, $15,400. RKO Orpheum (RKO) (2,890; $1- $1.25)—“Star Is Born” (WB) (4th. wk). Will settle for a month's run! Okay $7,000. Last week, $9,000. : RKO-Pan (RKO) (1,600; 65-85)— “On Waterfront" (Col) (6th wk).. Has exceeded all expectations, and showing surprising virility at $4,- 000 currently. East Week, $5,200. State (Par) (2,300; 65-85) — “Gambler Natchez”- (2Qth), Modest $6,000. Last week,. “Jungle Duel” (20th), $7,500. World (Mann) (400; 65-$1.25)-^- “Sabrina” (Par) (6th wk). Long, highly profitable, run concludes this week. Good $2,500. Last week, $4,200. Cleveland Police Chief Straightfaces Issue Of Unofficial Censorship No Black Borders Hollywood, Nov. 2. There is a current 'super- abundance of “black" in titles. "Coming up for release are “Black Widow" (20th-Fox); -“Black Pearl" and “Black Pi- :-rate" (L(ppert); r . “ B 1 a c k Knight” (Columbia); “Black Prince" (Allied Artist s) ; * “Black Tuesday” (ynited Art- ists), and “Bad Day at. Black Rock” (Metro). Clevland, Nov. 2, Victor Salupo’s G r o up 16, formed here to show series of “spicy” foreign films banned by Ohib’s board of censors, was .stopped in its tracks by police cen-;' sorship arid: Hotel Manger’s mari- T agement. James Barber, mariagei’ of hotel, at last minute refused to allbw use of Manger’s ballroom for initial performarice of..French-made “De- dee.” Turn-down came after Po-; lice Chief Frank W. Story had o.o.’d the import rnade by Simone Signoret in 1948, but never re- leased'in Ohio. Minneapolis, Nov. 2. Those local industry members who believe that increasing limita- tion of screen ehtertainment choice for the public is a : long term box- office detriment had more cause’ for concern last week when there wasn't a single new first-run arrival downtown any many of the nabe houses were playing the same pic- tures day and date. It marked the first time in local film history when every looip first, run theatre was occupied with a holdover. Those who deplore such a sltua-; tiori believe that it turns many po- tential theatre customers away from motion. pictures toward otljer entertainment or keeps them at home, for tv or radio. Theatregoing is to a considerable degree a matter of “habit" and it’s not” difficult to get out of that habit, they point out.. Geo. Skouras Gets Penn Pittsburgh, Nov. 2. . United Artists Theatre Circuit, Inc., and George Skouras have taken over control of Penn The- atre here from Loew’s ajid. switches to new management immediately: Deluxer, built in 1927, has been owned jointly by LoevY’s and UA, with controlling interest vested in the former, and has been sold un- der the terms of the recerit consent decree. ' Name of the theatre will be changed from Loew’s Penn to United Artists’ Penn. Manager hasn’t been picked yet. Frank Arena, With Loew’s, was recently sent to Pittsburgh from Cleveland to run the theatre following Bill Elder’s transfer two months ago to the Warfield in San Francisco, but Arena is expected to remain with Loew’s and UA will likely send in its own mail, Hotel’s decision, was not inspired by police advice or warnings, Story carefully explained, pointing out police had no power to halt film showings. .However, the chief spiked Group 16’s previous negoti- ations to use Masdnic Hall and was rapped by newspaper critics for writing a letter to operators of Masonic ! Hall, advising them to ban the filriis even before he had seen any of them. SalUpo, associated with Wilding Pictures Exchange here, started his project as a paid membership organization . to conduct private showings of foreigfi films that had come under fire of Ohio’s censors. Despite police interference, spon- sor said he will, continue search for art auditorium. Arg. Spring Film Biz Fine; ‘Knock/ ‘Eternity’ ‘Robe/ Tane’ Pace Field Huenos Aires, Oct. 26. . Film grosses are holding up nicely in the current spring season. Where the product. is good, th« slightly higher admission scalei have not Hurt attendance. Neigh- borhood exhibs claim that the higher scales have brought some sales resistance from the public but that grosses are up because of the higher price. . Local prdductioris are suffering from the boosted cinema scales, especially since the latest crop 61 native pix is particularly insipid. The producers’ irisistence has reached the extreme of forcing even arty theatres to show native films of low-comedy type: Result is almost entirely empty houses at these arty spots. ! "Here To Eternity" (Col), “Knock on Wood" (Par) and “Pane, Amore e Fantasia" are pacing the first- runs currently. Last-named, an Italian feature, and “Eternity" \ playing day-date in three different houses but tickets must be bought ip advance. “The Robe" (20th) has gone past its 28th week at the Broadway, setting an all-time record (at $2 top), with $951,650 gross in the first 26 Weeks. Illustrate Motion Picture Dips and Rises During Period of Air Media’s Sensational Growth Washington, Nov. 2. Competitive amuseinerits continue to crowd motion pictures and to take an increasingly large share of the recreation dollar. New figures just released by the Department of Cornmerce disclose the situation clearly. Motion pictures added $835,000,- 000 to. the national Income in 1953:; Large as this is, it is the (-lowest in the past eight years, tbe peal% having been reached in 1946 when riiotion pictures supplied $1,133,- OOOjOOO of the national income. At the same time, the broad- casting medium added $481,000,000 to the total national income last year, an all-tiirie peak for that in- dustry arid almost $50,000,0.00 bet- ter than in the previous year. Phenomenal growth in radio and television broadcasting is shown by the fact that the industry provided only $9,000,000 of the national in- come in 1930. For many years;, motion pictures added more to the national income than the category described, by the government as “amusements other than pictures," which 'would in- clude everything from legit and opera to horse racing, carnival shows, sports events, etc. , For the, past three years, “other amuse- ments" have led. films, widening, the gap each year. In i953, “other amusemehts" brought the national income $958,000,000, Something of the same situation is reflected in other statistics. For example, “other amuse- ments" paid its employees a rec- ord . high of $731,000,000 last year, beating its previous high of $683,- 000,000, set in 1952. Radio and tv broadcasting reached a wage peak of $371,000,000 last year*. While ' motion pictures paid out $711,000,- 000 in all its branches, this was down from the 1952 peak and was even below the 1947 figure. Most., phenomenal growth in number of employees is shown by broadcasting, which had 64,000 persons on its payrolls last year, up from the total of 4,000 in. 1929. Motion picture industry employed a big 220,000 last year in produc- tion, distribution and exhibition, a steady decline since the record breaking 237,000 employees of 1947. 1 'Continued from page 7 sssss learned, however, that it was placed in the Statement by Langer, whose state, North Dakota, is ac- tive within the Allied States Assn. Rep. Celler,. surprised by the proposed bill of Allied, asserted that, “I cannot view the motion . picture industry as a public utility. If the industry had the earmarks of a public utility I Would say that there should be some price control, the Same as for gas and electricity in cities." Pointing out that public utilities are granted moriopolies at the same time that they are placed un- der price control, the legislator commented; “But anybody can go into motion pictures to produce, distribute or exhibit. There is open competition. If there is monopoly, or tendency to moriopoly, in motion pictures, the remedy is through the anti-trust laws and not by some Sort bf price control,; ■' “Does the industry realize that control over prices of the purchase arid sale of film would involve not only control over distribution prices but also over the prices charged for admission by theatres? Does' the motion picture industry • envisage such wide control? Or want it? You can’t control Without controlling the others."