Variety (December 1954)

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16 PICTURES Vcdneiday, December 29, 1954 Picture Grosses BALTIMORE (Continued from page 8) Last week, "This Is Love" (KKO), $ 6 , 000 . Keith’s (Fruchtraan) (2,400; 35- ID —“3 Ring Circus” (Par). Tail $16,000. Last week, "White Christ- mas" (Par) (7th wk), $6,500. Little (Rappaport) (268; 50-$l)— “Aida" (IFE). Great $6,000. House back to firstruns after using split- week reissues. Mayfair (Hicks) (980; 50-90)— “Hansel and Gretel” (RKO). Pleas- ing $4,500. Last week, "Yellow Mountain" (U), $2,200. New (Fruchtman) (1,800; 35-$l) —“Desiree" (20th). Solid $12,000 or over. Last week. "Barefoot Con- tessa” (UA) (6th wk), $5,000. Stanley (WB) (3,200; 30-75-$l)— “Silver Chalice" (WB). Okay $12,- 000. Last week, "Saratoga Trunk" (WB) (reissue), $4,000. Town (Rappaport) (1,600; 50- $1.25)—"Show Business" (20th). Wow $17,500. Last week, "Crest Wave" (M-G), $6,000. ‘Sea’ Standout $26,000, Seattle; ‘Pagan’ Big 13G Seattle Dec. 26. Barrage of new fare sent Christ- mas week into high gear here. “Three-Ring Circus" looms wow at Coliseum, "Show Business" shapes big at Fifth Avenue, "Sign of Pagan" is doing stoutly at Or- g heum and "20,000 Leagues Under ea" is rated socko at Paramount. Estimates for This Week Blue Mouse (Hamrick) (800; 90- ID — "Hansel And Gretel” (UA). <2d wk). Mild $2,000. Last week, ditto. Coliseum (Evergreen) (1,829; 75- ID—"3 Ring Circus" (Par) and “Black Dakotas" (Col). Wow $15,- 000. Last week, "Shield for Mur- der” (UA) and "Steel Cage" tUA), $6,700. Fifth Avenue (Evergreen) (2,500; $ 1-11.25)—"Show Business" (20th). Big $15,500. Last week, "Desiree" (Col) (4th wk), $5,200. Music Box (Hamrick) (850; 90- $1.25)—"Sa.brina" (Par) (8th wk). Fairish $3,200. Last week, $3,800. Music Hall (Hamrick) (2.300; 75- ID—"Young at Heart" (WB) and “Fast and Furious" (Indie). Mod- est $7,000. Last week, "Shanghai Story" (Rep) and “Outcast" (Rep), $4,800. Orpheum (Hamrick) (2,700; 75- ID—“Sign of Pagan" (U) and “Four Guns to Border" (U». Big $13,000. Last week, "Down 3 Dark Streets" (UA) and “Operation Manhunt" (UA), $4,800 in 10 days. Paramount (Evergreen) (3,039; $1-$1.25)—“20,000 Leagues Under Sea" (BV). Sockeroo $26,000. Last week, "Bamboo Prison” (Col) and “Secruity Risk" (AA), $4,200 at $1 top. 'Sea’ Boff 45G, Cleve.; M&L 18G, ‘Heart’ 12G Cleveland, Dec. 28. Booming biz here currently is being steamed up by "20,000 Leagues Under Sea," which is giv- ing the Palace its fanciest take in two seasons. “Silver Chalice” at Allen also is soaring high for the Allen. "Show Business" stacks up smartly at Hipp but act as strongly as anticipated. Stillman’s “Deep in My Heart" shapes extra good. “Three Ring Circus” looms big at State, Martin-Lewis pic doing espe- cially well. Estimates for This Week Allen (S-W) (3,000; 75-$1.25)— “Silver Chalice" (WB). Swell $25,- 000. Last week, “Cry of Venge- ance" (AA), $9,000 in 8 days. “Show Business” (20th). Hearty Hipp (Telem’t) (3,700; 75-$1.25)— “Show Business (20th). Hearty $25,000 but could have done better Last week, "Block 13” (20th» and “4 Guns To Border" <U), $6,500. Lower Mall (Community) (585; 60-90)—"Illicit Interlude" (Indie). Fair $3,500. Last week. “Mari- huan Story" (Indie), (2d wk). $ 2 , 000 . Ohio (Loew’s) (1.200; 60-90'— “Bounty Hunter" (WB). Nice $7,500. Last week. "Last Time Saw Paris" (M-G) (4th wk>. $7,000 Palace (RKO) <3.287; 70-$l>— “20.000 Leagues Under Sea” (BV). j Soaring to wham $45,000. and ! pulling house out of long spell of j doldrums. Last week. "Tarzan and She-Devil" and "Hansel and 1 Gretel" (RKO), $7,500. State (Loew’s) (3.500; 60-90'— “Three Ring Circus" (Part. Big $18,000. Last week, "Reap Wild Wind" (Par) (Reissue), $8,000. Stillman (Loew’s) (2,700; 60-90) —"Deep in Heart" (M-G). Extra good $12,000. Last week, “Ath- ena" (M-G) (m.o.), $5,000. ‘CRUZ’ TERRIFIC 30G, DENVER; ‘CIRCUS’ 15G Denver, Dec. 28. Most cinemas were packed to capacity over Christmas weekend although the heaviest snowfall of year Sunday (26) afternoon and night slowed up rush somewhat. Very cold weather with mercury dipping near zero Monday night also hurt. Biggest money is going to "Vera Cruz," gigantic at Para- mount. “3-Ring Circus," "20,000 Leagues Under Sea" and “Show Business" also are big. Estimates for This Week Aladdin (Fox) (1,400; 50-85)— "Detective” (Col). Fine $4,000. Holds. Last week, on reissues. Centre (Fox) (1,247; 60-$l)— “Show Business" (20th). Terrific $18>000. Stays on. Last week. “Des- iree” (20th) (5th wk), $7,000. Denham (Cockrill) (1,750; 60-$l) -"Three-Ring Circus" (Par). Giant $15,000. Holding. Last week, on reissues. Denver (Fox) (2,525; 60-$l)— *20,000 Leagues Under Sea" (BV). Big $27,000. Continues. Last week, “Carmen Jones" (20th) (3d wk), $ 6 , 000 . Esquire (Fox) (742; 50-85)— "Bread, Love, Dreams" (IFE). Fancy $4,000 or near. Last week, shut down. Orpheum (RKO) (2,600; 50-85)— "Hansel and Gretel" (RKO) and “Tobor the Great" (Rep). Slim If ’ 00 ?.* , T , La8t week - “Shanghai Story (Rep) and “Sleeping Tiger" (Indie), $5,000. Paramount (Wolfberg) (2,000; 60-$l)—“Vera Cruz" (UA). Colossal $30,000 or near, but cold weather hurt- Last week, “Bounty Hunter" WB) and "Operation Manhunt" (UA), $10,000. TORONTO (Continued from page 9) U3.000. Last week, Fire Over Africa" (Col), $6,000. Hyland (Rank) (1,354; 60-80)— "Trouble in Glen" (Rep). Big $8,- 500. Last week, "Father Brown, Detective" (Col) (5th wk), $4,000. Imperial (FP) (3,373; 60-$D—"3 Ring Circus*’ (Par). Smash $25,- 000. Last week, "White Christmas’ (Par) (7th wk), $8,000. Loew’s (Loew’s) (2,090; 60-$l)— "Deep in My Heart" (M-G). Wham $23,000 or over. Last week. “Last Time Saw Paris" (M-G) (4th wk), $7,000. Odeon (Rank) (2,380; 75-$l)— "So This Is Paris” (U). Very good $12,000. Last week, “Bullet Is Waiting" (Col), $7,000. Shea’s (FP) (2.386; 75-$l)—"No Business Like Show Business" • 20th). Sock $25,000. Last week, "Three Hours to Kill" (Col), $9,000. Towne (Taylor) (693; 60-90)— "Vanishing Prairie” (Disney). Big $7,000. Last week, "Modern Times” (UA) (reissue) (6th wk), $3,500. Uptown (Loew) (2,745; 60-80)— "Sign of Pagan” (U). Socko $18,- 000. Last week, “Crest of Wave" (M-G), $5,506. BOSTON (Continued from page 9) boree" (Indie). Stout $9,000. Last week, "Saratoga Trunk" (WB) and "Big Sleep" (WB) (reissues), $4,000 in 9 days. Memorial (RKO) (3,000; 75-$1.25) —"No Business Like Show Busi- ness” (20th). Opened big on Sat- urday (25). Last week, ‘‘Hansel and Gretel" (RKO) and "African Adventure” (RKO), mild $8,500. Metropolitan (NET) (4,367; 75- $1.25) — "Silver Chalice" (WB). Very good $30,000 shapes. Last week, “Reap Wild Wind” (Par) (reissue) and "Tobor, the Great” (Rep), $13,000 in 9 days. Orpheum (Loew’s) (3,000; 60-$l) ’PhfTft ’ (Col) and "Masterson of Kansas" (Col). Fancy $25,000. v week, "Beau Brummell” • M-G) • and "Diamond Wizard" (UA), $15,000. Paramount (NET) (1,700; 75- $1.25)—“3 Ring Circus" (Par) and "Jamboree” (Indie). Fine $21,000 Last week, "Saratoga Trunk” (WB) and “Big Sleep" (WB). $9,000. Pilgrim (ATC) (1,800; 65-95)— "Violent Men" (Col) and “Cannibal Attack" (Col). Good $15,000. Last week, “Steel Cage" (UA) and "Vic- tory at Sea" (UA), $8,000. State (Loew’s) (3,500; 60-$l)-^- “PhfTft" (Col) and “Masterson of Kansas" (Col). Solid $18,000. Last week, "Beau Brummell” (M-G) and “Diamond Wizard" (UA), $9,000. Par’s Eastern Stadia Rap Russell Holman details the whyfore of Always Gold in Them Thar Scripts , if You You Know How * * * * a bright byliaa piece in the 49 th Anniversary IS umber of f'fiKiETr OUT NEXT WEEK END ALBANY OFFICE . OF STANLEY WARMER Albany, Dec. 28. The Stanley Warner zone offices in the Strand Theatre building here will be closed Dec. 31, with the transfer of Charles A. Smak- witz to Newark, as zone manager. Joseph Liss, Massachusetts district manager, will supervise the seven theatres now operated in Albany, Troy and Utica. James Totman, assistant zone manager in New Haven, Conn., will also visit this territory from time to time. The new setup was outlined at a meeting here last week attended by Liss and Totman, Harry Feinstein, New Haven zone manager; James Bracken, contact manager; Larry Lapidus, New Haven zone booker; Smakwitz, and the house managers. Part of the operations have been handled from New Haven for the past 18 months. It is understood that Irene Smith will transfer to Newark as Smak- witz’s secretary, and that the sec- ond floor offices here will be rented. Art House’s Big Screen To Keep Up With Europe’ Berkeley, Cal., Dec. 28. Larkin Theatre here will become first U. S. art house with a wide- screen adaptable to any process. Installation of new screen begins in January, according to Henry pin- cus, manager, and will fill entire rear wall cf 400-seat house. Screen will be biggest in Bay area, includ- ing Market Street firstruns. Pincus explains Larkin is in- stalling screen in anticipation of widescreen films now being made in Germany and other European countries. ST. LOUIS (Continued from page 9) "Young At Heart" (WB) and “Bob Mathias Story” (AA). Opened today (Tues.). Last week “Saratoga Trunk" (WB) and “Big Sleep” lW3) (reissues), mild $9,500. Loew’s (Loew’s) (3,172; 50-75)— "Sitting Bull" (UA) and "Gog” (UA). Fair $14,000. Last week, "Suddenly” (UA) and "Khyber Patrol” (UA), $10,500. Orpheum (Loew’s) (1,400; 75-$l) — “20,000 Leagues Under Sea" (BV). Socko $22,000. Last week, "Rogue Cop" (M-G) and "Captain Kidd" (UA) (2d wk). $3,500 in 5 days. Pageant (St. L. Amus.) (1,000; 82)—"Hansel and Gretel" (RKO). Fine $4,000. Last week, “Seventh Veil" (Indie), $2,500. Richmond (St. L. Amus.) (400; 82)—"Hansel and Gretel" (Indie). Neat $3,000. Last week, “Caesar and Cleopatra” (Indie), $2,500. St. Louis (St. L. Amus.) (4,000; 75)—“Show Business" (20th). Wow $28,000 or near. Last week, “Star is Born" (WB) (4th wk), $6,000. Shady Oak (St. L. Amus.) (800; 82) — "Vanishing Prairie” (Indie) (5th wk). Okay $2,000 after $2,500 in fourth. National Theatres Proxy E. C. Rhoden doesn’t think exhibition is a one* way street and is of the opinion that Hollywood is Eclipsing Exhibition on the Showmanship Front * * * a bright editorial feature in the 49th Anniversary Number of OUT NEXT WEEK WOMEN’S CLUBS DIVIDED RE ‘WATERFRONT,’ ‘GIRL’ Columbia’s “On-the Waterfront" and Paramount’s "The Country Girl" tied for top honors in the annual poll of the editorial commit- tee of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs, Top acting awards went to Bing Crosby for "Country •Girl" and Grace Kelly for “Girl" and “Rear Window." Elia Kazan was selected best director for "Waterfront." In addition to “Girl" and "Waterfront,” other pix selected among the 10 best were "Rear Window" (Par); "Executive Suite" (M-G); “Broken Lance" (20th); "A Star Is Born” (WB); "Sabrina” (Par); "White Christmas” (Par); “Night Peopled (20th), and “Deep In My Heart" (M-G). Walt Disney’s “The Vanishing Prairie" was named best docu- mentary of 1054 and “Hobson’s Choice" and “The Little Kidnap- pers’’’’ as the best foreign films. Best children’s performance honors went to John Whitely and Vincent Winter in “Kidnappers.” German Taxes ; Continued from page 7 - Columbia Into Houston; Shifts Sales Personnel Along with key personnel changes in the field, Columbia dis- tribution v.p. Abe Montague yester- day (Tues.) disclosed that Col will establish a new branch office in Houston. This area has been han- dled out of the Dallas exchange. Col thus is expanding its domes- tic distribution network in the face of some trade opinion that fewer field offices are needed. Col obvi- ously is taking the contrary view that the closer the company moves to all theatremen in all areas the better. Slated to head the Houston oper- ation is John Winberry, who for years has been a salesman in New Orleans. The personnel changes all are promotions from within the ranks, stated Montague. Topping the list is the elevation of Wayne Ball from L. A. branch manager to di- vision manager of Southern Cali- fornia and the Rocky Mts. Suc- ceeding him in L. A. is Harold Green, shifting from manager in Salt Lake City. Sam McFadden moves up from Salt Lake salesman to the manager’s spot. Mel ,Klein becomes San Fran- cisco ifianager, up from salesman, and Mon Whitcher makes the same jump in Dallas. Jerome Safron, salesman in Minneapolis, has been named Cleveland manager, suc- ceeding the late Oscar Ruby. WHITNEY FILLS STAFF Artistic and Administrative Posts Set by Cooper Hollywood, Dec. 28. Merian C. Cooper, production veepee of the new C. V. Whitney Pictures Inc., made 10 appoint- ments to key posts to fill out the company’s staff. Appointees include Winton Hoch, director of cinematography; Max Steiner, music consultant; H. Lee Van Hoozer, executive administra- tion assistant; Lowell Farrell, pro- duction manager; George M. Fran- cis, treasurer; WilMam Cameron, secretary; Ed Boerger, comptroller; Zoe Porter, executive assistant to the veepee; Ann Harris, research editor, and Frank Perrett, publici- ty director. Par 2| In Continued from page 3 said common sense dictated the lopping of lower-bracket pix from production lineups. If these pic- tures had made money they cer- tainly would not have been dropped, he commented. He stated further: "It’s to Para- mount’s self interest to handle all the pictures we can. But the com- pany would rather have one good picture that grosses $3,000,000 to $3,500,000 than four that do a com- bined $4,000,000. Top pictures— good, well-made pictures — mean lines at the boxoffice, life at the theatres and extended playing time. Such pictures are worthwhile." Schwalberg disclosed that Par will release 12 films in the first six months of 1955. If this rate were maintained it obviously would mean a total of 24 for the entire year, in contrast with Balaban’s estimate of 20. Presumably, the rate will be lessened or the 24 will include reissues. • V • • V •« if* m w \ I’m u il man industry, "carrying a tax load that’s almost equal to production costs," is making efforts to obtain relief from the government and va- rious measures for alternate financ- ing are currently being explored. "Whatever the eventual outcome is,” he said, “the German industry is making a very determined effort to avoid any setup under which it would be government-controlled." Economic Reasons-Why Asked about the possibilities of restrictive measures being taken against American film -exports into 1 Germany, Gronic|i said there were two German views on this. One holds that the future of the Ger- man film is in a higher amortiza- tion in the domestic market, and this group logically wants various restrictions imposed. The oppos- ing view is that the German indus- try compete fairly and on the basis of merit with the American films, seeking it own level both at homo and abroad. One of the measures proposed in Germany is a severe “release tax" on all pix put into distribution. However, it would benefit the Ger- man producers since part of the proceeds would be kicked back to them Gronich opined that the Ger- mans “show every indication of de- veloping a healthy industry" and he stressed that they are "trying to help themselves.” Current re- lations between the U. S. and Ger- man industries were termed "ex- cellent" by the MPEA rep, who stressed that there was an open exchange of views and an effort on both sides to discuss problems as they arise. As for the content of German films, Gronich said there was a greater preoccupation with "analy- sis of their own problems," a tend- ency which, he said, was mistaken by some as representing a new wave of nationalism. "Actually it’s a very healthy development," Gronich opined. One of the com- plaints against German films has been that they refuse to deal four- square with current problems. Im- mediately following the war, the Germans put out a wave of films depicting the terror of Nazism. Since then their pix have been mostly escapist entertainment geared primarily to Teutonic taste. Indiana Doodles Continued from pace 7 the overhead, 30% on 2.5, 35% on 3.3, 40% on 5, 45% on 10. 50%, it says, is unattainable. The second, based on profit equals one-half the film rental, is figured applicable to larger gross- ing situations which, paying more money for film, feel that a profit of half the film rental will not be too bad. In that case, says the ATOI, the theatre can pay 25% on a gross that 1.6 times the film rental, 30% on 1.8, 35% on 2.1, 40% and 2.5, 45% on 3.0, and 50% on 4.0. The third, based on profit is to film rental as rental is to gross, might work okay for the very big grossing situations, according to the exhib org. In this instance, the theatre can pay 25% on a gross that is 1.45 times the overhead, 30% on 1.64, 35% on 1.9, 40% on 2.27, 45% on 2.88, and 50% on 4.00. The ATOI says it doesn’t know what good the figures might do, "but it might suggest that you re- examine your own scale to see if you are getting a fair enough share of the big grossing pictures to off- set the pictures that do not even reach the 25% control figure.’’ Sues Lippert on 'Rocket* Lippert Pictures and Productions was slapped with a suit in N.Y. Federal Court yesterday (Tues.) charging infringement of a story property. Suit was filed by writer John Welz who claimed that a story he wrote and copyrighted in 1944, “The Rocket," became the Lippert film, "Rocket Ship XM," which allegedly was copied from his work. Action asks for an injunction, damages sustained, and an account- ing of the profits from the alleged piracy. Suit requests the court to have impounded all alleged in- fringing copies of the film. • 4 j,