Variety (March 1959)

10 nCTUU CROSSES PSSHETT Wednesday, March 11, 1959 Det. Solid; "Beauty Mo $25,080, loon’ Lofty 20G, Tables Wow 17C Detroit, March 10- Downtowners continue, to roll along at a ’fast pace currently. “Sleeping Beauty” is doing wide¬ awake biz at United Artists. “Night of Quarter Moon” looks bright at the Fox. Reissue of “10 Command¬ ments” shapes big at Palms. Best of holdovers is “Separate Tables,” terrific in fourth week at Madison. “Bell, Book, Candle” i solid in second round at the Michi gan. “Journey” looks good in sec ond at the Adams. Estimates for This Week Fox (Fox-Detroit) (5.00Q; $1.25- $ 1 . 49 )—“Night of Quarter Moon” (M-G) and “Nowhere to Go” (M-G). Bright $20,000. Last week, “Girl in Bikini” (Indie) and “Flesh and Woman” (Indie), $24,500. Michigan (United Detroit) (4,- 000; $1.25-$1.49> — “Bell, Book, Candle” (Col) and “Life Begins at 17” (Col) (2d wk). Swell $16,- 000. Last week, $19,000. Palms (UD) <2,961; $1.25-$1.49) —“10 Commandments” (Par) (re¬ issue), Big $15,000 or over. Last week, “Trap” (Par) and “Young Captives” (Par), $14,500. Madison (UD) (1.900; $1.25-$1.49) —“Separate Tables” (UA) (4th wk) Terific $17,000 or over. Last week $19,500. Broadway-Capitol (UD) (3.500; 90-$1.25)—“Crawling Eye” (DCA) and “Cosmic Monsters” (DCA>. Average $12,500. Last week, “Sub¬ marine Seahawk” (AF) and “Para- troop Command” (AF), $11,000. United Artists (UA) (1,667; $1.25- $ 1 . 75 )—“Sleeping Beauty” (BV). Great $25,000. Last week, “South Pacific” (20th) (47th wk -6 days), $19,500. Adams (Balaban) (1.700; $1-25- $1.50)—“Journey” (M-G) (2d wk). Good $8,500. Last week, $10,000. Music Hall (SW-Cinerama) (1,- 208; $i.55-$2.65)—“South Seas Ad¬ venture” (Cinerama) (23d wk). Terrific $19,000. Last week, $18,000. Trans-Lux Krim (Trans-Lux) (1,- 000; $1.49-S1.65V—“Two-Headed Spy” (Col) (2d wk). Oke $4,500. Last week, $4,000. ‘Stranger’ Solid 9G, Buff.; ‘Flag’ Fast 14G Buffalo, March 10. Boxoffice takings shape tidy here in current stanza. Rally Round Flag, Boys” shapes lively In opening week at the Center while “Sleeping Beauty” is potent in third Century session. “Stranger in My Arms” is nice in initial frame at Lafayette. “Night of Quarter Moon” is rated fairly good at the Buffalo. Estimates for This Week Buffalo (Loew) <3,500; 70-$l)— “Night of Quarter Moon” (M-G) and “Edge of Fury” (Indie). Good $10,000 or over. Last week, “Sep¬ arate Tables” (UA) (3d wk), same at $1.25 top. Center (AB-PT) (2,000; 70-$l)— “Rally Round The Flag” (20th). Lively $14,000 or better. Last week, “Auntie Marne” (WB) (9th wk), $10,000 at $1.25 top. Century (UATC) (2,700; 70-$1.50) —“Sleeping Beauty” (BV) (3d wk). Potent $16,000. Last week, $20,000. j Lafayette (Basil) (3,000;'50-90)—j “Stranger In My Arms” (U) and “Money, Women, Guns” (U). Nice $9,000. Last week, “Never Steal Anything Small” (U) and “Step Down to Terror” . (U), $7,500. Paramount (AB-PT) (3,000; 70- $1)—“These 1,000 Hills” (20th) and “Diamond Safari” (20th). Fair $8,000 or close. Last week, “Old Man of Sea” (WB) and “Enchanted Island” (WB), $9,000. Teck (Loew) <1,200; 70-$l) — “Journey” (M-G) fed wk). Mild $4,200. Last week, $7,000. Cinema (Martina) (450; 70-$l)— “Night Heaven Fell” (Kings) (7th wk). Thin $1,800. Last week, $2,000. CHICAGO (Continued from page 9) 90-$1.80)—“Night to Remember” (Rank) (2d wk). Okay $9,000. Last week, $14,000. United Artists (B&K) (1,700; 90- $1.80)—“Rally Round Flag, Boys” (20th) (5th wk). Okay $14,500. Last week, $16,500. Woods (Essaness) (1,200; 90- $1.50) — “Some Came Running” (M-G) (5th wk). Boffo $17,000. Last week, $23,000. World (Teitel) (606; 90-$1.50— “Horse’s Mouth” (UA). Solid $5,000. Last week, “Capt von Koe- peniek” (DCA) (3d wk), $3,200. ‘Beauty’ Reusing 22£G, Fill; ‘Periscope’ Good $7,500, Tree’ light 9G Pittsburgh, March 10. Blockbusting “Sleeping Beauty” at Nixon is taking the play away' from most of the town, with Lent apparently beginning to he felt elsewhere. However, “Separate i Tables” is winding a 5-day third j week with a big take at the Penn. “Hanging Tree” at Stanley shapes i light. Neighter “Up Periscope” at Harris nor “Night to Remember” at Fulton are doing much, though “Periscope” is good. “South Seas Adventure” dipping at the Warner. There are no complaints from the j two arters, “He Who. Must Die” j at Guild and “Horse’s Mouth” at Squirrel Hill. Estimates for This Week Fulton (Shea) (1,700; 80-$1.25)— “Night To Remember” (Rank). Rave notices but little biz. Sticks for another stanza only because of original deal. Will be lucky to get okay $5,000. Last week, “Never Steal Anything Small” (U), $5,500. Guild (Green) (50; 99-$1.25)— “He Who Must Die” (Kassler) (2d wk). Strong entry looks solid $3,000. Last week, $3,700. Harris (Harris) <2,165; 80-$1.25) —“Up Periscope” (WB). First War¬ ner pic here in long time. House was able to get it because of jam at Stanley through longrun of “Aun¬ tie Mame” (WB). Good $7,500. Last* week. “These 1000 Hills” (20th) $4,500. . Nixon (Rubin) (1,50Q; 90.-$1.80)— “Sleeping Beauty” (BV). Smash $22,500 looms a bit more. Should be around for a stretch. “South Pacific” (Magna) closed out road¬ show rerun with okay $ 12,000 in 10 th week plus four extra days. Penn (UA) (3,300; 90-$1.50)— “Separate Tables” (UA) (3d wk). Staying five days and will finish to get big $ 10,000 on abbreviated session. Last week, $17,500. Squirrel Hill <SW) (900; 99- $1.25)—“Horse’s Mouth” (Lopert) ( 6 th wk). Exiting to good $2,700, helped by sneak preview Sunday night ( 8 ). Last week, $3,300. Stanley (SW) (3,800; 80-$1.25)— “Hanging Tree” (WB). Generally disappointing., for a Western with Gary Cooper. Doesn’t figure to get much more than fight $9,000. Last week, “Auntie Mame” (WB) (10th week-5 days, $ 6 , 000 ). Rosalind Rus¬ sell starrer broke all house records for money, attendance and length of run. Warner (SW-Cinerama) (1,500; $1.20-$2.40)—“South Seas Adven¬ ture” (Cinerama) ( 11 th wk). Slip¬ ping but not too sharply to good $8,500. Last week, $10,200. BROADWAY (Contiqped from page 9) The 22d round ended Monday ( 9 ) was okay $14,000. The 31st week, $16,000. Stays until “Compulsion” ( 20 th) opens. Plaza (Lopert) (525; $1.50-$2) — “Black Orchid” (Par) (4th wk). This frame ending today (Wed.) looks good $6,500. Third was $ 7 ,- 100. “Third Sex” (Indie) comes in March 26. Boxy (Indie) (5,705; Q0-$2.50) — “Up Periscope” (WB) with hold¬ over of stageshow (2d wk). First stanza ended yesterday (Tues.) was weak $35,000. Stays only two weeks with "Rio Bravo” (WB) and new stageshow coming in March 18. Sutton (R&B) (561; 95-$1.80) — “Gigi” (M-G) (19th wk). The 18th session finished Saturday (7) was smash $18,600. The 17th week, tak¬ ing in part of holiday weekend, was an amazing $23,000. Continues indef. at this gait. Trans-Lux 52d St. (T-L) (540; $ 1 - $1.50)—“Doctor’s Dilemma” (M-G) (13th wk). The 12th stanza ended yesterday (Tues.) was okay $5,500. The 11 th week, $6,000. “Shaggy Dog” (BV) opens March 19. Victoria (City Inv.) (1,003; 50- $2)—“Lonelyhearts” (UA) (2d wk). First round ended yesterday (Tues.) was fair $13,000 or near. In ahead, “Last Mile” (UA) (2d wk), $ 8 , 000 . Warner (SW Cinerama) (1,600; $1.80-$3.50) — “South Seas Ad¬ venture” (Cinerama) (34th wk). The 33d session ended Saturday (7) was nice $25,000. The 32d week, $30,900, with four extra shows helping. LOS ANGELES (Continued from page 8 ) (3d wk): Fair $8,500. Last week, $11,500.' State, El Rey (UATC-FWC) (2,404; 861; 90-$1.50)—“Some Came Running” (M-G) (3d wk) and “Something of Value” (M-G) (re¬ issue) (2d wk) (State), “Tunnel of Love” (M-G) (El Rey). Stout $10,- 200 . Grpheum, Vogue, Loyola (Me- tropolitan-FWC) 12,213; 825; 1,208; 90-$1.50)—“Separate Tables” (UA) (3d wk) and “Wink of an. Eye” (UA) (3d wk) (Orpheum), “Tunnel of Love” (M-G) (Vogue; 2d wk, Loyola). . Hefty $13,000 or close. Pantages (RKO) (2.815; $1.25-$2) —“Rally Round Flag” (20th) (5th wk). Sturdy $7,300. Last week, $ 8 , 000 . Fox Wilshire (FWC) (2.296; $1.50-$2.40) — “Sleeping Beauty” (BV) ( 6 th wk). Lush $14,000 dr near. Last week. $15,100. Four Star (UATC) ( 868 ; $1.25-$2) —“Gigi” (M-G) (7th wk). Big $14,500. Last week, $13,700. New Fox (FWC) (765; $1.25-$3) —“Windjammer” (NT) (11th wk). Steady $6,000. Last week, $5,400. Chinese (FWC) (1.408; $2-$2.40) —”Auntie Mame” (WB) (12th wk).! Torrid $17,000. Last week, $18,400. Fine Arts (FWC) (631; 90-$1.50) ! —“My Uncle” (Cont) (12th wk). Fat $2,500. Last week, $2,700. Warner Hollywood (SW-Cine- j rama) (1,389; $1.20-$2.65)—“South ! Seas. Adventure” (Cinerama), i Started 24th week Sunday < 8 ) after big $18,300 last week. i Egyptian (UATC) (1.392; $1.65- $3.30)—“South Pacific” (Magna) (40th wk). Hefty $14,500. Last week, $13,300. j Carthay (FWC) (1,135; $1.75- $3.50) — “Around World in 80 Days” (UA) (116th wk). Handy $11,200. Last week, $11,000. , BOSTON (Continued from page 8 ) Tree” (WB) and “Up In Smoke” (Indie) (2d wk). $11,000. Pilgrim (ATC) <1,000; 60-$1.10) ■—“These Thousand Hills” (20th) and “Circle” (Indie). Okay $6,000. Last week, “Crawling Eye” (Indie) and “Cosmic Monsters” (Indie), $7,500. Saxon (Sack) (1.000; $1.50; $1.50- $3.50)—"South Pacific” (Magna) (48th wk). Fancy $14,000. Last week, ditto. Trans-Lux (T-L) (730; 75-$1.25) —“Lovers and Thieves” (Indie) and “Mitzou” (Indie). • Slick $4,- 000.. Last week, “Lady Chatterly’s Lover” (Indie) and “Passionate Summer” (Indie). $4,000. Orpheum (Loew) (2,900; 90- $1:50)—“Journey” (M-G), Hotsy $20,000. Last week, “Some Came Running” (M-G) (9th wk), $14,000. State (Loew) <2.600; 75-$1.25)— “Separate Tables” (UA) (3d wk). Great $14,000. Last week, $17,000. CLEVELAND (Continued from page 9) 70-90)—“Three Feet in Bed” (In¬ die) and “Tides of. Passion” (In¬ die) (reissue). So-so $2,000. Last week, “Confessions Felix Krull” (Indie) and “Colbitz Story” (In¬ die), $1,500. Mayfield Art (Great Films Inc.) (700; $1.25)—“Children of Para¬ dise” (Indie) and “Orpheus” (In¬ die). Fair $1,500. Last week, re- issues* Ohio (Loew) (1.244; 75-$1.25)— “Separate Tables” (UA) (m.o.). Big $8,000. Last week, “South Pacific” (Magna) (47th wk), $11,000. Palace (SW-Cinerama) (1,523; $l,25-$2.40)—“South Seas Adven¬ ture” (Cinerama) (14th wk). Bright $16,000. Last week. $16,500. State (Loew) (3,500; 70-90)— “Trap” (Par). Poor $8,000. Last week, “Joi^uey” (M-G) (2d wk), $7 000 Stillman (Loew) (2.700; 85-$1.25) —“Lonelyhearts” (UA). Average $6,000. Last week, “Separate Tables” (UA) (3d wk), $9,000. A. K, Howard’s Ozoner Braintree, Mass.. March 10. Selectmen here have okayed the application for a permit of Arthur K. Howard to build a deluxe ozoner at the intersection of Route 128 and Granite St. on Route 37. Location of the proposed 1,500- 2,000 car drive-in is directly across the highway from the new South Shore Shopping Center, now under construction. Howard, prexy of Affiliated Theatres Corp., operates two other ozoners, one in R. I., the other in Conn. Ground on the Braintree project is expected to be broken in early spring with a late sum¬ mer opening skedded. i Lloyd Hutchins, operator of the ;Pine Grove Theatre, Navasota, Tex., has installed a new screen, new sound system and general remodel¬ ing job. 'Consent' Haunts TV Subsids —^ Continued from page 7 tual or potential independent ex-’ hibitor; agreements restricting the right of any other exhibitor to ac¬ quire theatres; and operation, booking or buying for theatres through agents known to be acting for any other exhibitor, independ- entor affiliate. “The likelihood of a number of other provisions in this category coming into play is perhaps remote j but not impossible,” the report! declares. However, the Govern¬ ment stresses the prohibitions against pooling arrangements whereby theatres normally in competition are operated as a unit, or where the business poli¬ cies are determined by a joint committee or by one of the. exhibi¬ tors, or where the profits of the “pooled” theatres are divided among the owners according to prearranged percentages. Returning To Scene On the question of the divorced companies going into businesses from which they were divorced, the report notes that the judg¬ ments applicable to Warner Bros., Stanley Warner,. 20th-Fox, Nation¬ al Theatres, Loew’s Inc. and Loew’s Theatres contain provisions preventing the production-distri-: button companies from engaging in exhibition and the theatre compa¬ nies from entering! distribution without Court permission. The Government also cites the provisions that prevents officers j and directors of the distribution companies from having affiliations with exhibition or theatre execu¬ tives having interests in the pro¬ duction and distribution of films. The provisions listed, the report! notes, are the ones which it is ap- j parent might become' applicable if it is found that the judgments are to be applied to the Paramount case defendants. The Government report gives the following breakdown of the tv activities of the film companies concerned: RKO Theatres — No television activities. RKO Pictures—As a practical matter this, company is no longer in the production and distribution of motion pictures. Originally its film library was bought by Tom O’Neil of General Tire & Rubber Co., which has broadcasting inter¬ ests. The library was then bought by C&C Television which is dis¬ tributing the RKO library. Paramount Pictures—Owns and operates KTLA (tv station) in Los Angeles. Sold most of its pre-1948 li¬ brary to Music Corp. of America, with some films held by Par go¬ ing to NT A for tv distribution prior to the sale to MCA. Has pay-tv system in wholly- owned subsidiary. International Telemeter. Another subsidiary, Chromatic Television Laboratories, has devel¬ oped a color tube for tv which, however, has not as yet been placed on the market. Par until recently had a fraction¬ al interest (about 22%) in Metro¬ politan Broadcasting Corp. with in¬ terests in tv stations in N. Y. and Washington, but it recently dis-, posed of this interest. Has not engaged in any substan¬ tial extent in the production of pictures especially for television. ' Has about a 27% interest in AI 7 len B. Dumont Laboratories which at this time has no interest in tv stations. American Broadcasting - Para¬ mount Theatres. Has five owned-and-operated television stations. Operates a television network, the third largest (after CBS and NBC) in the U. S. Finances independent produc¬ tions of pictures especially for television. Warner Bros. Its only television activities con¬ sist of the production of pictures especially for television. Warner Bros, sold its pre-1948 library outright. 1 Stanley Warner Corp. J Owns and operates a television I station in Albany, N. Y. Loew’s Theatres. Has no television interests. Lotw’s Inc. Has a 25% interest in KTTV in Los Angeles. Had a 25% interest in station ' KMGM-TV in Minneapolis but dis¬ posed of it. Produces pictures especially for television. . Distributes feature motion pic¬ tures to television which it pro¬ duced for and distribtued to the¬ atres prior to 1948. Columbia Pictures. Through Screen Gems, a wholly- owned subsidiary, distributes to television pre-1948 Columbia pic¬ tures previously produced and dis¬ tributed to theatres. Under an ar¬ rangement with Universal, which arrangement is presently the sub¬ ject of an antitrust action brought by the Government. Screen Gems distributes to television Universal pictures produced and released by Universal to theatres prior to 1948. Screen Gems also has acquired and distributes some minor film libra¬ ries. Is engaged in the production and distribution of pictures especial¬ ly for television. Universal Pictures. As indicated, its pre-1948 library is being distributed toV television through Columbia’s wh'blly-owned subsidiary, Screen Gems. A subsidiary, * United World Films, has produced pictures es- | pecially for television and distrib- ; uted them. This subsidiary is not very active currently. United Artists. Distributes feature motion pic¬ tures to television which it former¬ ly distributed to theatres. I (Has also gone into the finane- ing and distribution of telepix.) 20th-Fox. Engages to a considerable extent in the production of pictures for television. Has produced pictures especially for television for NTA, among others. Until recently had a 50% in¬ terest in NTA Film Network. This interest has now been acquired by National Telefilm Associates, the owner of the other 50%. National Theatres. Owns and operates station WDAF-TV, Kansas City, Mo. for¬ merly operated by the Kansas City Star and which the Kansas City Star was required to divesV as a result of a judgment in a Gov- 'eminent antitrust proceeding against it. National presently proposes to acquire a controlling interest in NTA which owns and operates sta¬ tion KMSD-TV (formerly station KMGM) in Minneapolis and sta¬ tion W1CTA serving the N. Y. metropolitan market Bill Castle to Col William Castle, indie producer who has been specializing in low- budget, gimmick horror films, has closed a four-picture deal with Columbia. He moves over to the Col studio next month and will launch his first picture in May. Castle has had remarkable suc¬ cess recently with two scarers, “Macabre” and “House on Haunt¬ ed Hill,” both released by Allied Artists. K&ntki Heads Frisco Tent San Francisco, March 10. Gerald Karski, commercial film producer, has been elected chief barko’’, Variety Clubs’ Frisco Tent 32, succeeding Irving M. Levin. Other new officers: L. E. Tillman, first assistant chief barker; Roy Cooper, second assist* nt chief barker; Stuart Klein, property master; Jack Dobbs, dougn guy; and Darrell Pischoff, Theodore Nasser, A. L. Pierrotti, E. 1. Rubin, Jack Marpole and Hal •Gruber, canvasmen. Levin, in reporting on 1958 ac¬ tivities, said Tent 32 had raised $75,000 last year for the tent’s pro¬ gram of caring for and training pre-school blind children. Guthrie Widow, Son Carry On Wheeler, Tex., March 3. Mrs. Lee Guthrie and. her son. Corky, have taken over the opera¬ tion of the Rogue Theatre here, following the death of Lee Guthrie. They will also operate the Wheeler Television Service. The television tower was erected and put into action a few months before Guthrie died. Biz at the Rogue is holding its own but the tv service is growing.