Variety (May 1956)

16 PICTURES yzhiEff VednceJay, 'May 9, 1956 ST. LOUIS (Continued from page 8) $23,000 or over after $24,800 in first six days. Fox (F&M) (5,000; 51-75)—“Re¬ volt Of Mamie Stover” (20th) and "Crooked Web” (Col). Opened to¬ day (Tues.). Last week, “Mave¬ rick Queen” (Rep) and “Stranger At My Door” (Rep), $6,500. Loew’s (Loew) (3,172; 50-95)— "Harder They Fall” (Col) and "Ketchum Desperado” (Col). Neat $7,500. Last week, “Tribute To Bad Man” (M-G) and "Dance Lit¬ tle Lady” (Indie), $7,000. Missouri (St. L. Amus.) (3,500; 51-75)—“Guys And Dolls” (M-G). Hep $6,500. Last week, “Whisper¬ ing Smith” (Par) and “Street Of Laredo” (Par), $5,500. Orpheum (Loew) (1,400; 50-85)— "Rock Around Clock” (Col) and "Hot Blood” (Col). Fair $6,000. Last week, “The Rack” (M-G) and "Broken Star” (UA), $5,000. Pageant (St. L. Amus.) (1,000; 50- 90)—“Goodbye My Lady” (WB). Okay $3,000'. Last week, “Sins of Borgias” (UA), $2,500. Richmond (St. L. Amus.) (400; $1.10)—“Sins Of—Borgias” (UA). Good $2,000. Last week, “Romeo And Juliet” (UA), $2,500. St. Louis (St. L. Amus.) (4,000; 51- 90) — “Man In Gray Flannel Suit” (20th) (3d wk). Fine $6,500 after $12,000 in second. Shady. Oak (St. L. Amus.) (800; $1.10)—“Umberto” (Indie). Good $3,000. Last week, "Return Don Camillo” (Indie), $2,000. ‘VEGAS’ FAST $7,500, OMAHA;‘SUIT’10G, 2D Omaha, May 8. Three new entries are giving downtown firstruns a slight boost this week despite heavy competi¬ tion from a free Ak-Sar-Ben Show with Dorothy Collins and the Home Show at the new City Aud. “Meet Me in Last Vegas” is the pace¬ setter, being rated fast at Ralph Goldberg’s flagship, the State. "Miracle in Rain” is okay at the Brandeis but “Hot Blood” is sluggish at the .Omaha., “Man in Gray Flannel Suit” is fine in second stanza at the Orpheum. Estimates for This Week Brandeis (RKO) (1,000; 75-$l)— "Miracle in Rain” (WB) and “Brain Machine” (RKO). Okay $5,000. Last week, "Golden Arm” (UA) 15th wk), $2,500. Omaha (Tristates) (2,000; 50-75) — “Hot Blood” (Col) and “Deep Blue Sea” (20th). Mild $5,000. Last week, “Slightly Scarlet” (RKO) and “Hidden Guns” (Rep), $5,500 at 70-90 scale. Orpheum (Tristates) (2,890; 75- $1)—“Man in Gray Flannel Suit” (20th) (2d wk). Fine $10,000. Last week, $13,500. State (Goldberg) (860; 80-$1.10) —"Meet Me'in Las Vegas” (M-G). Fast $7,500, and holds. Last week, "I’ll Cry Tomorrow” (M-G) (5th wk), $2,300 for 4 days at $1.25 top. ‘Bad Man’Lusty $12,000, Buff.; ‘Rock’ Smooth 11G Buffalo, May 8. ‘Tribute To Bad Man,” lively at the Buffalo, and "Rock Around Clock,” fine at Lafayette, are standout newcomers here this round. “Hilda Crane” is coming through with an okay* session . at the Center. "Cinerama Holiday” shapes stout in 14th stanza at the Teck. Estimates for This Week Buffalo (Loew) (3,000; 60-85)— Tribute to Bad Man” (M-G) and 'Manfish” (Indie). Lively $12,000. Last week, "Forbidden Planet” (M-G) and “Broken Star” (Indie), ditto. Paramount (Par) (3,000; 60-80) —“Maverick Queen” (Rep) and “Scarlet Hour” (Par). Fair $10,000. Last week, "Mohawk” (20th) and "Mystery Black Jungle” (Indie), $13,000. Center (Par) (2,000; 50-80)— 'Hilda Crane” (20th) and “Forbid¬ den Cargo” (Indie). Okay $10,000. Last week, “Man in Gray Flannel Suit” (20th) (5th wk), $8,000 in 6 days—at $1 top. Lafayette (Basil) (3,000; 50-80)— ‘Rock Around Clock” (Col) and Ketchum Desperado” (Col). Good $11,000-. Last week, “Jubal” (Col) and “Over-Exposed” (Col) (2d wk), $7,000. Century (Buhawk) (2,000; 60-85) —“Slightly Scarlet” (RKO) and “Brain Machine” (RKO). Mild $8,000. Last week, “World With¬ out End” (AA) and "Atomic Man”. (AA), $9,200. . ■ Teck (Cinema Products) (1,200; $1.20-$2.40)—“Cinerama Holiday” (Indie) (14th wk). Stout $14,000. Last week, $15,000. ‘World End’ Loud 10G, Seattle; ‘Gaby’ $6,000 Seattle, May 8. Firstrun biz continues very slug¬ gish here but some of .new films are helping the over-all total. "World Without End” looms fine at the Coliseum while “Gaby” shapes solid at Blue Mouse. Elsewhere, most houses are drag¬ ging bottom. “Tribute To Bad Man” is especially slow as the new entry at Orpheum. Estimates for This Week Blue Mouse (Hamrick) (800; 90- $1.25) — “Gaby” (M-G).' Good $6,000. Last week, “Cry Tomor¬ row” (M-G). (8th wk-6 days), $3,200. Coliseum (Evergreen) (1,870; 90- $1.25)—“World Without End” (AA) and “Indestructible .Man” (AA). Fine $10,000 or near. Last week, “Hot Blood” (Col) and “Uranium, Boom” (Col), $6,300. Fifth Avenue (Evergreen) (2,500 $1-$1.25)—“Hilda Crane” (20th and “Cash on Delivery” (RKO <2d wk). Dull $3,000 in six days Last week, $6,400. Music Box (Hamrick) (850; 90- $1.25)—“Diabolique” (UMPO). (4th wk). Fine $3,000. Last week, $3,300. MINNEAPOLIS (Continued from page 9) racking up its 41st week and it’s the fourth stanza for “Diabolque” and second for “Man in Gray Flannel Suit.” All are still healthy. Estimates for This Week . Century (S-W) (i,150; $1.75-$2.65) —“Cinerama Holiday”"(Indie) (41st wk). Its boxoffice virility continues to amaze here; neat $12,000. Last week, $11,000. Gopher (Berger) (1,000; 85-$l)— “Female Jungle” (Indie) and “Ok¬ lahoma Woman” (Indie), Slim $3,000. Last week, week. “Tribute to Bad Man” (M-G), $4,000. Lyric (Par) (1,000; 65-85)—“Crea¬ ture Walks Among Us” (U) and Price of Fear” (U). Fair $3,500. Last week, “On Threshold of Space” (20th) and “Bowery Boys Crashing Las Vegas” (AA), $4,500. Radio City (Par) (4,100; 85-$l)— “Man in Gray Flannel Suit” (20th) # (2d wk). Recipient of much praise.' Robust $131500 in 9 days. Last week, $14,500. RKO Orpheum (RKO) (2,8()0; 75- $1)—“Hot Blood” (Col). ; Even presence of Jane Russell and Cor¬ nel Wilde can’t help this one. Bru¬ tal $6,500. Last week, "Serenade” (WB). $7,000. RKO-Pan (RKO) (1,600; 65-85)— Killer Is Loose” (UA) and "Bro¬ ken Star” (UA). Top half of this twin bill apparently has some pull¬ ing power. Okay $4,000. Last week. “Wyoming Renegades” (Col) and “Gun That Won West” (Col) split with “Joe Macbeth” (Col) and “Crooked Web” (Col), $3,000. State (Par) (2,300; 85-SI) — “Comanche” (UA). Mild $5,000. Last week, “Hilda Crane” (20th), $4,500. World (Mann) (400; 75-$1.20)— “Diabolique” (UMPO) (4th wk). Still impressive at $3,500. Last week, $4,000. BALTIMORE (Continued from page 9) (10th wk). Holding solidly at $16,- 000 after same last week. Hippodrome (Rappaport) (2,100; 50-$l) — "Tribute To Bad Man” (M-G). Modest at $7,000. Last week, “Harder They Fall” (Col), $ 8 , 000 , Mayfair (Hicks)-(980; 50-$1.25)— “Conqueror” (RKO) (6th wk). Still Rosy $4,500 after $5,500 for fifth. New (Fruchtman) (1,600; 50-$l) —“Threshold Of Space” (20th) Music Hall (Hamrick) (2,200; 90-.Fair $5,000. Last week "Com. .25) — “Alexander the Grent” i anrhd” mil <tA r\r\n ' LOm (UA) (3d wk-4 days). Modest $4,000. Last week, $6,800. Orpheum (Hamrick) (2,700; 90- $1.25)—“Tribute To Bad Man” (M-G) and “Steel Jungle” (WB). Rather bad $5,500. Last week, "Swan” (M-G) and “Killer Loose” (UA) (2d wk-8 days), $5,700. Paramount (Evergreen) (3,039; 90-$1.25) — “Gray Flannel Suit” (20th) (5th wk-4 days). Slow $3,500. Last week, $5,000. Playhouse (Schwaber) (410; 50- $1)—"Doctor At Sea” (Rep) (4th wk) Mild $3,500 after $4,000 in third. Stanley (WB) (3,200; 35-$l)— "Bold And Brave” (RKO). Dull $7,000. Last week, "Scarlet Hour’ (Par), $3,500. Town (Rappaport) CT,400; 50-$l) —“Cockleshell Heroes” (Col). Mild $8,000. Last week, “Swan' (M-G) (2d wk), $7,000. Indpls. Limps; ‘Birds’ Fair $8,000, ‘Jubal’ 5G Indianapolis, May 8. Spring weather and opening of practice spins at the Speedway preliminary to the 500-mile race May 30 have firstrun biz here in seasonal doldrums. Estimates for This Week Circle (Cockrill-Dolle) (2,800; 50- 85)—“Slightly Scarlet” (RKQ) and “Texas Lady” (RKO).. Slow $6,500. Last week, “Rock Around Clock” (Qol) and “Flame of Island” (Rep), $9,000. Indiana (C-.D) (3,200; 50-85) — “Birds and Bees” (Par). Fair at $8,000. Last week, “Hilda Crane” (20th), $6,500. Keith’s (C-D) (1,300; 75-$1.25)—., “Man In Gray Flannel Suit” (20th) (4th-final wk). Neat $6,000. Loew’s (Loew) (2,427; 50-80) — “Jubal” (Col) and "Uranium Boom” (Col). Dull $5,000. Last week, “Forbidden Planet” (M-G) and “Hell’s Horizon” (Col), $8,000. Lyric (C-D) (1,600; 50-75) — “Crashing Las Vegas” (AA) and “Blond Bait” (Indie). Oke $3,500. Last week, "Shepherd of Hills” (Par) -and "Trail of Lonesome Pine” (Par) (reissues), $4,000.' SAN FRANCISCO (Continued from page 9) Still' nice at $14,000. Last week, $14,500. " . . United Artists (No. Coast) (1,207; 70-$l) — “Quincannon, Frontier Scout” (UA) and “Crime Against Joe” (UA). Mild $7,000. Last week, “World Without End” (AA) and “Indestructible Man” (AA), $ 10 , 200 . Stagedoor (A-R) (440; $1.25- $1.80)—“Richard III” (Indie) (2d wk). Hot $5,400. Last week, $6,000. Larkin (Rosener) (400; $1) — “Diabolique” (UMPO) (19th wk). Neat $4,100. Last week, $4,400. Clay (Rosener) (400-$l)—“House of Ricordi’.’ . (Indie). Big $3,600. Last week, “Sea Shall Not -Have Them” (UA) (2d wk), $2,100/ Vogue (S.F. Theatre) (377-$l)— “Dance Little Lady” (Indie) and “Day To Remember” (Indie) (2d wk). Ok $1,600. Last week, $1,800. Bridge (Schwarz) (396; $1-$1.25) —“Doctor At Sea” (Rep) (6th wk). Sturdy $2,500. Last week, $2,600. Rio (Schwarz) (397; $1)—“Teck- man Mystery” (Indie) (2d wk). Fair $1,400. Last week, $2,000. PHILADELPHIA (Continued from page' 9) “Cry Tomorrow” (M-G) (15th wk). Good $3,500. Last week, $4,500. Boyd (SW) (1,430; $1.25-$2.60)— “Seven Wonders of World” (Indie) (2d wk). Smash*$25,000. Last week, $18,000 in eight performances. '' Fox (20th) (2,250; 99-$1.80)— “Hilda Crane” (20th). So-so $13.,- 000. Last week, “Carousel” (20th) (8th wk). $10,000. Goldman (Goldman) (1,250; 65- $1.35)—“Tribute. to Bad Man” (M-G). Fair $11,000. Last week, "Serenade” (WB) (5th wk), $9,000. Randolph (Goldman) (2,250; 99- $1.80—“Swan’ (M-G) (4th wk). Oke $13,000. Last week, $14,000. Stanley (SW) (2,900; 99-$1.49)— “Cockleshell Heroes” (Col) (2d wk). Poor $9,000. Last week, $13,000. Mastbaum j (SW) (4,370; 99-$1.49) —“Alexander the Great” (UA). Smash $33,000. Last week, "Killer Is Loose” (UA), $8,500. Stanton (SW) (1,483; 99-$1.49)— "Meet Me Las Vegas” (M-G) (5th wk). Nice $7,000. Last week, $9,000. Trans-Lux (T-L) (500; 99-$1.80) —“Rose Tattoo” (Par) (15th wk). Oke $3,800. Last week, $4,000. PULITZER-PREDICTING WALD HITS GOTHAM Jerry Wald, production v.p. at Columbia, arrived in Gotham over the past weekend to catch the new plays, onceover the opening of “The Harder They Fall,” and be on the spot for the outcome of the I Pulitzer Prizes. He had predicted “Andersonville” was a cinch to cop the top n6vel citation. .It did. Wald talked Col into buying the MacKinley’ Kantor book, at a. cost, of $350,000, in manuscript form. He since has assigned Irving Ra- vitch to do the treatment and screenplay. Wald also- has "The Last Hurrah” on his schedule. Production exec has been the subject of ma^y rumors, all having to do with a possible split with Col. Not true, he says. He’s stay¬ ing on the lot except for lots of vacation time due him, including eight weeks this summdr which he’ll spend with his wife and two boys on their Huntington, Va., farm. Wald’s deal gives him a partici¬ pation in two pictures which he’s called upon to select prior to pro¬ duction. This year he chose “Pic¬ nic” and -“Fall.”. „ ‘Knew He Had to Kill Her’ | Line Okayed in Copy For ‘A Kiss Before Dying’ It’s all right for a girl on the screen to be pregnant so long as she doesn’t use that word in pub¬ lic announcements. At least, that’s the stand apparently taken by the Motion Picture Assn, of America in a hassle with United Artists over ad copy for “A Kiss Before Dying.” MPAA’s Advertising Code Ad¬ ministrators rejected UA copy for the film, the objection being that the line, “She was pregnant . . . •Now He Knew He Had to Kill Her,” was too rough. Issue has been resolved with a change in the layout showing the gal pro- . claiming, “I’m going to have a baby.” The “He Knew He Had to Kill Her” part of the ad is per¬ mitted to remain. Change was suggested by MPAA and Roger Lewis, UA ad-pub di¬ rector, agreed to it. British'Unions Draft Answer On Film Quota British unions have completed the first draft of their reply to the British Board of Trade in response to the latter’s invite to state their recommendations on possible fu¬ ture changes and legislation, in¬ cluding the upcoming quota act. . While a meeting will be sought by the unions in the near future to arrive on common ground re¬ garding these recommendations, it’s very likely that they will favor •elimination of Eady tax benefits on American or any foreign-made films brought Into Britain. “It’s our aim to help promote and protect the British industry,” British labor leader Sir Thomas O’Brien, head of Britain’s National Assn, of Theatrical & Kine Em¬ ployees, stated in Gotham Mon¬ day (7). “The Eady levy was, after all, invented to directly aid the British industry, and it’s only more or less by accident that the Amer¬ icans got into that. If this Eady cjlt should be denied them, I don’t see why the Americans should be either offended or feel slighted.” O’Brien stressed several times that the argument, that American imports should not qualify for any part of the Eady coin, was not anti- American. "It’s simply econom¬ ics,” he said. ' British producers, in their ad¬ visory to the Board of Trade, are said .to be advocating'the elimina¬ tion of Eady contributions to Amer¬ ican films made in Britain. O’Brien said .he wouldn’t go that far. At the- moment, O’Brien said he didn’t , think the British quota should be changed. “In fact, I’d oppose any move to increase it as being unrealistic,” he said. KANSAS CITY (Continued from page 8) wk). Oke $1,200. Last week, $1,400. Kimo (Dickinson) (504; 75-$l)— “Gaby” (M-G). Fancy $3,000; stays on. Last week, “Diabolique”- (UMPO) (6th wk), $1,000. Here for 10 days as house changes opening day; mild $10,000. Last week, “The Swan” (M-G) (2d wk-5 days), $3,500. Missouri (RKO) (2,585; 65-90)— “Slightly Scarlet” (RKO) and “Glory” (RKO): first half; “Kiss the Blood Off My Hands” (U) artd “Johnny Stool Pigeon” (U) (reis¬ sues) second hajf on split week. Skimpy $3,500. Last week, “Our MiSs Brooks” (WB) and “Hunters of. Deep” (Indie), first half, and “Broken Arrow” (20th) and “Viva Zapata” (20th) (reissues), second half, :$3,000. Paramount .(United Par) (1,900; 75-$l)—“Jubat’ (2d wk). Slow $4,000. Last week, $7,500. Roxy (Durwood) ‘879; 75-$l)— “Meet Me in Las Vegas” (M-G) (2d wk). Nifty $6,000; stays. Last week, $7,500. Tower, Uptown, Fairway, Gra¬ nada (Fox Midwest) (2,100; 2,043; 700; 1,217; 65-85)—“Never Say Goodbye” (U) and “Day of Fury” (U). Sparked by ladies day 2-for-l opening, pleasant $14,000. Last week, “Day the World Ended” (In¬ die) and “Phantom from 10,000 Leagues” (Indie), $15,000. Vogue (Golden) (550; 75-$l)— [“Touch and Go” (U) (2d wk). Okay r$1^900; holds. Last week, $2,300; ML Urges Info Center to ‘SeU’ Brit Fix in U S. Establishment of a British film center in the U.S., to sell British pictures and- their stars to the American public, is an absolute “must” and should not be delayed any longer, Sir Thomas O’Brien British M, P. and labor leader’ maintained in Manhattan Monday He said that, on his return to London, he’d take up the idea of the center with the British unions and the producers and that, should he not find the desired support, he would have to investigate how far the Government was prepared to aid in the creation of a publicity- promotion setup. In addition, said O’Brien, the British industry should arrange a festival of British films in New York or some other key spot. “It is shocking,” he observed, “that after all these ydars the British have not had a film festival in the U.S, in the interest of a widening friendship between the two coun¬ tries.” * O’Brien said he envisioned the film center as being “above the battle,” i.e. unconcerned with the day-to-day selling of the British product. “What we need here— and we need it so obviously that it’s amazing it hasn’t been done— is an agency that will help educate the public to our film ways,” he stated. “We have a tendency to worry about the distributors and the exhibitors. Actually, it’s the public we should worry about.” Film fest idea will be put up to Richard F. Walsh of the IATSE and to Eric Johnston when the British labor leader returns to the U.S. in June or in early fall. O’Brien said that, on his return home, he’d explore ‘.‘how far the British producers are willing to play ball.” Reminded that, in the past, there had been some British pro¬ ducer opposition vs. the establish¬ ment of a film info center, O’Brien let loose with a quasi-blast. “The future of the British in¬ dustry and the imperative need for close Anglo-American understand¬ ing of mutual problems constitute far greater issues than the sec¬ tional interests of one group or one person,” he stated. "That’s ex¬ actly the reason why this center must and will be put up one way or another.” British industry execs, along with those of other foreign indus¬ tries, . have always held that the most important key to the Ameri¬ can market is the popularity of lo¬ cal screen personalities. Both the Italians and the French have es¬ tablished film centers in N. Y., and the Germans are planning to fol¬ low suit. As far as it’s known, the strong¬ est opposition to the idea in Brit¬ ain has come from the Rank Org’s John Davis. Argument is made that, since British pix are sold to a variety-of indie distribs, a film center might dissipate itself. How¬ ever, said O’Brien, “we don’t need an office to publicize each individ¬ ual film. We need a unit that can sell the British picture per se.” As for the quality of recent Brit¬ ish productions, O’Brien said he was very satisfied with it. Also, employment among his union mem¬ bers is up, partly due to television. “We have trouble making ‘interna¬ tional’ pictures,” Q’Brien com¬ mented. "For that we need Ameri¬ can stars.” Allied Members ‘Too Poor’ To Attend Convention Minneapolis, May. 8. Attendance at next weeks’ North Central Allied convention here next week may be down because so many of the territory’s no longer can afford to attend the meetings, according to the current NCA bul¬ letin. But if they possibly can attend, the exhibitor'should come to Min¬ neapolis because, says the bulletin, “the convention is the place to oppose the film companies’ confis¬ catory sales policies and the or¬ ganization alone can save theatre- owners from being knocked off one by one, which will happen to them if they try to fight alone.”