Variety (April 1959)

ncmu crosses PSGUBfi Wednesday, April 1, 1959 LA. Stout; Dog’ Mo 26G, ‘Gidget’ Good $15,006, 'Flag’ 9G, ‘Rio’ Smash $23,000, 'life Big 19G, Tempest’ 17G Los Angeles, March 31. Flock of sock holdovers are giv¬ ing local first-runs a lift in present stanza, aided by Easter school holi¬ day. City’s leader is “Shaggy Dog,” Which last week broke house rec¬ ords opening round at Fine Arts and Vogue. It looks boff $26,000 in present round. “Diary of Anne Frank,” which opened last Thurs¬ day, is not included in estimates because sold out to groups for full .first week. “Gidget” shapes happy $15,000 in three theatres. “Rally Round Flag, Bovs” looks good $9,000 or near in ‘first general release for two houses. “Rio Bravo” is aiming at a smash S23.0Q0 in first holdover week for three spots. “Imitation of Life” looms big $19,000 in second round at Holly¬ wood Paramourt. “Sleeping Beau¬ ty” shapes boff $18,000 in ninth Fox Wilshire frame. “Auntie Marne” is big $18,000 or near in 15*h round at Chinese. “Tempest” looks lush $17,000 in two spots, second week. . “Gigi” is rated mighty $11,500 in 10th round at Four Star. “Mating Game” is sturdy $4 500 in fourth week at Fox Beverly. Estimates for This Week Hillstreet. Hawaii. Uptown (RKO-GfrS-FWCi 12.752: 1.106: IT'S: SO-S1.50) — “Gidget <Col> and “Ride Lonesome” <Col>. Heonv $15,000 or over. Last week. Hill- street “Seventh Voyage of S ; nbad” (Col), “Geisha Bo-” <Par» (reissues) $2,100. Hawaii with Los Angeles. “Sad Horse" i20‘b». “Little Savage <20th> $5 500. Untown with Or- pheum. Ir ; s. Lo'">la. J^sse James” (UA>. “Bop Girl (LA). $18,000. ^ Los Angeles. E 1 Rsy (FWC) (2 017* 861: P0-S1.50> — “Rally Round Flag” -^Oth) dst general re¬ lease) and “I.•me Texa"” i°0th) Good $9,000. El Rey w'th State, “Some Came Running” (M-G) <5th yrk\ “Tunnel of Love” (M-G) (.3d (Continued on page 18) ‘Mansions’ Fine $17,000, Frisco;‘Life’ Great 18G, ‘Dog’22G,‘Tempest’ICG San Francisco, March 31. „ First-runs are very strong cur¬ rently, with “Imitation of Life” -an outstanding item as it ho'ds with a smash take in second Golden Gate round. “Shaggv ,Dog” also is hefty in second at the Fox on heavy kid play at wickets. “Green Mansions” ^ooms fine opening stanza at Warfield while “The Tempest” is holding well in second at the St. Francis. “Rio Bravo” is rated brisk on first holdover round at Paramount. Longruns are perking currently, with “Gigi” standout at a great figure in 38th week at Stagedoor, “Sleeping Beauty” looks excellent in seventh session at Coronet. Estimates for This Week Golden Gate (RKO) (2,859: $1.25)—“Imitat ; on Of Life” (U) <2d wk>. Smash S18.0Q0 or close. Last week, $26,000. Fox (FWC) (4.651; $1.25-$1.50)— “Shaggy Dog” (BV) (2d wk). Hefty $22,000. Last week. $27,500. Warfield (Loew) (2.656; 90-$1.25) —“Green Mansions” (M-G). Fine $17,000. Last week, “Night Quar¬ ter Moon” iM-G) and “Nowhere To Go” (M-Gi <?d wk), $6,700 in 6 days. Paramount (Par) (2.646; 90-31.25) —“Rio Bravo” (WB) (2d wk). Brisk $14,000. Last week, $27,500. St. Francis (Par) (1,400; $1.25- $1.50)—“Tempest” (Par) (2d wk). Good $10000. Last week, $15,500. Orpheum (SW-Cinerama) (1.456; $1.75-$2.65)—“South Seas Adven¬ ture” (Cinerama) (18th wk). Great $24,000 or over. Last week, $17,000. Stagedoor (A-R) (440; $1.25-$3> —“Gigi” (M-G) (38th wk). Sock $9,000. Last week, $7,200. Presidio (Hardy-Parsons) (774; $1.25-$1.50) — “Forbidden Fruit” (Indie) (4th wk). Nice $4,000. Last week, $3,500. Vogue (S.F. ‘Theatres) (364; . $1.25'—“Age Of Infidelity” (Indie) (2d wk). Okay $1,800. Last week, $ 2 , 100 . Alexandria (United California) (1,170; $1.50-$3.50)—“South Paci¬ fic” (Magna) (39th wk). Fancy $10,000. Last wfeek, $9,000. Coronet (United California) (1.50; $1.49-$1.75)—“S leeping Beauty” (BV) (7th wk). Excellent $13,000. Last week,. $9,000. I Estimated Total Gross This Week.$860,600 (Based on 22 theatres) Last Year.$522,000 (Based on 24 theatres) Monroe Sockeroo in St. Loo St. Louis. March 31. Major houses are loaded for bear .this week for the start of Easter week, with three new big ones in . town—“Temnest.” hangup at the i St. Louis, “Some Like It Hot.” wow at Lomv’s and “Rio Bravo” big at the Fox. “Black Orchid” in a simultaneous engagement at two 1 ?rt theatres looms okay. “Shaggy Dog” shapes sock in second frame ^t Orpheum to top opening round. “Around World in 80 Days” in fifth week at Pageant also is hotsy. E-tim-tcs for This Week ApoIIo Art (Grace) <700; 90- $1.25)—“Un the Creek” (Indie). ; Okav $2,590. Last week. “Miracle of Saint Therese” (Indie), $2,000. : Fox (Arthur) (5,000: 60-90)— “Rio Bravo” <WB) and “Murder by Contract” (WB). Big S18.000. Last week. “Rally Round Flag” (20th) and “Intent to Kill” (20th) . (2d wk). $12,000. Lcew’s 1 Loew) (3 600: 60-90)— “Some Like It Hot” (UAh Wow ; $24,000 for Marilyn Monroe star- rer. Last week. “The Journey” . (M-G) 1 2d wk). S3.000. Orpheum (Lcew) < 1.900; 60-90)— “Shaggy Dog” (Disney) and “Gun¬ men From Loredo” (Col) (2d wk). : Sock $12,000. Last week. $10,000. \ Pageant (Arthur) 1 1.000; 50-$l)— f ' “Around the World in 80 Days” ! ! lUAt (5th Wk). Hep $5,000. Last i week, S4.0GO. \ St. Louis (Arthur) (3,800; 60-90) i —“Tempest” (Par). Bangup $12,- \ 000. Last week. “Inn. Sixth Hap¬ piness” (20th) (3d wk>, $9,000. Shady Oak (Arthur) (760; 60-90) —“Black Orchid” (Par). Nice $3,000. Last week, “Two-Headed Spy” (Col), $2,500. W Brisk $9,000 In Port; W Hep UG, 2d Portland, Ore., March 31. Town is jammed with strong holdovers and some nice new en¬ tries. “Sound and Fury” looks lusty opening round at Orpheum. “Sleeping Beauty still is fine inJ fourth week at Broadway. “Mat¬ ing Game” continues for a second inning at the Paramount, and still is fast. “Rio Bravo” looms lofty in second session at the Fox. “Gigi” continues big in 32d stanza at Guild. Estimates for This Week Broadway (Parker). (i 1890; $l-$2) —“Sleeping Beauty” . (BV) (4th wk). Fine $6,000. Last week, $14,200. Fox (Evergreen) (1,536; $1-$1,49) —“Rio Bravo” (WB) and “City of Fear” (Col) £d wk). Tall $11,000 or close. Last week, $14,700. Guild (Indie) <400; $1-$1.50)— ‘Gigi” (M-G) (32d wk). Sturdy $4,100. Last week, $4,000. Orpheum (Evergreen) (1,600; $1- $1.49)—“The Sound and the Fury” (20th) and “Alaskan Passage” (20th). Lusty $9,000. Last week, “Gidget” (Col) and “Senior Prom” (Col), $6,300. a Paramount (Port-Par) (3,400; $1- $1.50)—“The Mating Game” (M-G) and “Nowhere To Go” (M-G) (2d wk). Fast $7,000. ’Last week, $7,600. Chi Still Stout; 'Mating’ Smash 26G, 'Mansions’ Dandy $33,600, 'Some Hot’ Socko 38G, life Huge 37G, Both 2d Key City Grosses Estimated Total Gross This Week .$2,820,300 (Based on 22 cities and 220 theatres , chiefly first runs, in¬ cluding N. Y.) Last Year. ;... $2,910,100 (Based on 23 cities and 251 theatres .) ‘Beauty’ Boff $16,000 In K.C.; ‘Fury’ 8G, Monroe Hotsy 13, ‘Bravo’ 12G Kansas City, Mar. 31. | Easter weekend came through in ; bright weather to welcome big j trade after rain and storm threat- i ened earlier opening days. “Sleep- j ing Beauty” looks huge at the bandbox Brookside. Durwood opened the Capri (former Victoria) with “South Pacific on Monday. “Sound and Fury” at the Uptown I is pleasing and will hold. “Some | Like It Hot” is pacing the second- I weekers with a great take at Mid- j land. “Rio Bravo” shapes wow in j second at Paramount. “Gidget” is fancy at Plaza. Estimates for This Week Brooksiide (Fox Midwest) (750; 75-$1.50)—“Sleeping Beauty” (BV). Opened to , great family trade. Giant $16,000 looms; holding. Crest, Riverside <Common¬ wealth) (900 cars each; 850—“Op¬ eration Dames” (AI> and “Tank Commandos” (AI). Mild $6,000. Eve Meyer, in “Operation Dames,” made personals at both theatres in the rain opening night. Isis, Fairway, Granada (Fox Mid¬ west) (1.360; 700; 1,217; 75-90)— “Sad Horse” (20th) and “Little Savage” (20th): Light $6,000. Last (Continued on page 18) New British Pix Dominate London lst-Runs; ‘Steps’ Mighty $14,000 London, March 24. New British films are dominat¬ ing the scene currently in the West End with Rank’s new version of “The 39 Steps” the leader as it held in second round at the Odeon, Leicester Square, with resounding $14,000. “Carlton-Browne of the F. O..” also was solid at $9,000 in its third Warner session. “Room at the Top” (triple Brit¬ ish Academy. Award winner), after a record run at the Plaza, is con¬ tinuing in the big money in its second West End engagement at the bandbox Rialto. It looks like sock $5,800 in fifth stanza. “Separate Tables” is hqlding in great style at both the Leicester Square Theatre and Odeon, Marble Arch. In the former, it grossed a lofty $5,500 in seventh round, while its third session at the lat¬ ter looks nice $5,000. “Gigi still is capacity at the Columbia in sev¬ enth round. Estimates for Last Week Astoria (CMA) (1,474; $1.20- $2.15) — “Around World in 80 Days” (UA) (91st wk). Big $6,100. Carlton (20th) (1,128; 70-$2:15)— “Carry On Nurse” (Anglo-Amal) (3d wk). Fast $4,800 or near. Sec¬ ond was $5,800. Casino (Indie) (1,155; 70-S2.15)— “Seven Wonders of World” (Rob¬ in) (55th wk). Stout $16,500. Cinephone (Indie) (459; 50-$1.20) —“Nudist Paradise” (Anglo-Amal) and “Liane” (Anglo-Amal) (6th wk). Fifth round was stout $4,500. This has played 105 capacity houses out of a possible 130. Holds indef. Columbia (Col) (740; $1.05- $2.50)—“Gigi” (M-G) (7th wk). Ca- I pacity as usual at $9,900. Stays on, natch! Dominion (CMA) (1,712; $1.05- $2.20) — “South Pacific” (20th) (48th wk). Hefty $15,000 or near. Empire (M-G) (3.099: 55-S1.70)— “Journey” (M-G). Good $15,000 or near. Gaumont (CMA) (1,500; 50-$1.70) —“Whirlpool” (Rank). Poor $2,800. Leicester Square Theatre (CMA) (1,376; 50-$1.70) — “Separate Ta¬ bles” (UA) (7th wk). Lofty $5,500. Sixth was $6,700. “Tiger Bay” (Rank) follows March 26. London Pavilion (UA) (1,217; 50-$1.70)—“First Man Into Space” (M-G) and “High School Confiden¬ tial” (M-G). (2d wk). Average $5,600, Second was $7,000. “Hound of Baskervilles” (UA) opens March 27. • Odeon, Leicester Square (CMA) (2,200; 50-81.70—“39 Steps^(Rank) (2d wk). Heading for great $14,000 or over. First was $16,900. Odeon, Marble Arch (CMA) <2,200; ,50-$l.70) — “Separate Ta¬ bles” (UA) 3d wk). Fine $5,000. Second was $5,600. “Al Capone” (ABP) preems on March 26. Plaza (Par) (1,902; 70-$I.70)—“10 Commandments” (Par) (reissue). Fair $4,500. Rialto (20th) (592; 50-$1.30) — “Room at Top” (IFD) = (5th wk). Smash $5:800 or better than open¬ ing round. Rite (M-G) (432; 50-$1.30)—“Big Country” (UA) (2d wk). Moderate $2,000 or near. Opener was $2,500. Warner (WB) (1,785; 50-$1.70)— “Carlton-Browne of the F.O.” (BL) (3d wk). Heading for solid $9,000 after, a $11,000 for second week. ‘Beauty’ Boff 34G, Philly; Hot’ 30G Philadelphia. March 31. School holiday plus a strong lineup of film product is making for boom days here in current ses¬ sion. Holdovers are holding hefty with long lines. “Night To Re¬ member” is rated big at the Trans- Lux while “Rally Round Flag, Boys” looms hefty in fourth Fox week. “Sleeping Beauty” is real smash in second session at the Goldman. “Some Like It Hot” looms great in second round at the Stanley. Long line of holdovers including “Mating Game,” “Rio Bravo” “Separate Tables” and “Journey,” are surprisingly strong in present frame. Estimates for This Week Arcadia (S&S> (536; 99-$1.80)— “Journey” (M-G> <3d wk). Hearty $8 000. Last week. S10.000. Boyd (SW-Cinerama) (1,480; $1.10-$2.60'—“South Seas Adven¬ ture” iCinerama) (6th wk). Big $17,000. Last week. same. Fox (National) (2.250; $1.10)— $1.80)—“Rallv Round Flag” (20th) (4th wk). Hefty $10,000. Last week. 812.000. 'Goldman (Goldman) (1.200; 99- 81.80) —“Sleeping Beautv” (BV) <2d wk). Bangup $34,000. Last week. S34.600. Midtown (Goldman) (1.250; 99- $1.80)—“Separate Tables” (UA) (6th wk). Neat $7,500. Last w r eek, $ 8 , 000 . Randoloh (Goldman) (1.250; 94- 81.80) —“Some Came Running” (M-G) (8th wk). Fast $8,000. Last week, 89,500. Stanley <SW) (2.900: 99-$1.80)— “Some Like It Hot” (UA) (2d wk). Great $30,000. Last week. $37,000. Stanton <SW) (1,483; 99-$1.40)— “Rio Bravo” (WB) (2d wk). Lush $16,000. Last week. $20,000. Studio (Goldberg) (385; 95-$1.80) —“Third Sex” (Indie) (3d wk). Good $3,600. Last week, $5,800. Trans-Lux (T-L) (500; 99-S1.80) —“Nieht to Remember” (Rank). B’g $8 000 or over. Last week, "Tosca” (Indie) (4th wk). $3,800. Viking (Sley) (1.000: 90-S1.80)— “Matins Game” <M^G) (2d wk). Loftv 89.000. Last week. $11,000. World (Pathe) (604; 94-SI.80)— “Most Dangerous Sin” (Indie). So¬ so $3,000. Last week. “Seventh Seal” (Indie) (3d wk), $2,000. + Chicago, March 31. Last session’s generally brisk-to- fancy trade appears continuing this round. The array of product is unusually socko, with many holdovers displaying welcome stamina. Top newcomers include Woods’ “Mating Game,” expecting a .smash $26,000, and Oriental’s “Green Mansions,” figured dandy $33,000. “Lonelyhearts” initialer at Todd’s Cinestage looks slight at $6,500 while Monroe’s “No Name on Bullet” plus “Money, Women, Guns” should, cop a tall $8,000. Best holdover coin is going to “Some Like It Hot,” smash in second United Artists week, and “Imitation of Life,” giant in same stanza at Roosevelt. Second frame of Garrick’s “Shaggy Dog’’ is solid. Strong longruns include “Sleeping Beauty,” hep in seventh State-Lake stanza, and “Auntie Mame,” shaping solid in 10th round at the Chicago. “Remarkable Mr. Pennypacker” is so-so in Esquire third. World’s fourth frame of "Horse’s Mouth” is busy while “Gisi” at the Loop still is fancy in fifth session. On the hard-ticket, the 27th round of “South Seas Adventure” is okay at the Palace while “South . Pacific is fancy in 53d week at McVickers. Estimates for This Week Carnegie (Telem’t) (485: $1.25) —“Seventh Seal” (Janus) (2d wk). Okay $3,700. Last week, $3,800. Chicago (B&K) (3.900; 90-$1.80) —“Auntie Mame” (WB) (10th wk). Hotsy $24,000. Last week, $23,500. Esquire (H&E Balaban) (1,350; $1.50)—“Pennypacker” (20th) (3d wk). Fair $6,800. Last week, $9,000. Garrick (B&KV<850: 90-$1.25)— “Shaggy Dog” (BV) (2d wk). Socko $20,000. Last week. 822.000. Loop (Telem’t) <606; 90-$1.80)— “Gigi" (M-G) 1 5th wk). Fancy $12,- 800. Last week. $13,500. McVickers (JL&S) (1.580; $1.25- $3.30)—“South Pacific” (Magna) (53d wk). Fast $16,000. Last week, $14,000. Monroe (Jovan) (1.000; 65-90)— “No Name on Bullet” (U) and “Money. Women and Guns” (U). Stout $8,000. Last week, “The Gypsy” (Indie) and “As Lone as They’re HapDy” (Indie), S5.000, Oriental (Indie) <3.400: 90-$1.50) —“Green Mansions” (M-G). Fast (Continued on page 18) ‘SOME HOT’ SOCKEROO $12,000 TOPS L’VILLE Louisville, March 31. Holy Week and a rainy Easter Sunday will cut into biz in current round. But there are some bright spots, notably “Some Like It Hot” wow in second United Artists frame “Rio Bravo” is trim in sec¬ ond but “Sound and Fury” looks tame at Rialto. 'Estimates for This Week Brown (Fourth Ave.) (1,200; 75- $1.25)—“Sleeping Beauty” (BV) (3d wk). Crimped by rainy Sun¬ day (29), with fair $8,000 likely after $12,000 last stanza. Kentucky (Switow) (900; 60-90) —“Gidget” (Col). Good $6,000 or near. Last week, “Ride Lonesome” (Col) and “Man Inside” (Col), $3,000. Mary Anderson (People’s) (1,- 000; 75-$1.25)—“Rio Bravo” (WB) (2d wk). Nice $6,500 after first week’s $11,000. Rialto (Fourth Ave.) (3,000; 60- $1)—“Sound and Fury” (20th), Tame $7,500 or close. Last week, “House on Haunted Hill” (AA) and “Wolf Larsen” (AA) (2d wk), $5,500'. United Artists (UA) (3,000; 60- $1)—“Some Like It Hot” (UA) (2d wk). Still sock at $12,000 after opening week hit $14,000. ‘Life’ Whopping $21,000, Toronto; ‘Journey’ Wow 20G, ‘Mame’ 16{G, 11th Toronto, March 31. With, the Easter holiday season showing an increased attendance plus some 10,000 out-of-town teach¬ ers here in convention current biz is big. Newcomers include “The Journey” at Loew’s and “Imitation of Life” at Uptown, both wham. “Remarkable Mr. Pennypacker” looms nice. Of the holdovers, zooiping above previous week and doiefg phenomenal, trade is “Auhtie Mame” in 11th frame. Ditto is “Carry on Sergeant,” in second stanza, which shows no change at the b.o. Same strength looms for such standards as “Inn of Sixth Happiness,” “South Paci¬ fic” and “Gigi.” Estimates for This Week Carlton (Rank) (2.318; 75-SI.25) —“Pennypacker” (20th). Fine $14,000. Last week, “Sea of Sand” (Rank) and “Blitzkrieg” (CqI), ditto. Hollywood (FP) (1,080; $1-$1.25) —“Inn of Sixth Happiness” (20th) (12th wk). Ud to good $5,500. Last week, $5,000. Hyland (Rank) (1,057; $1)— "Carry On. Sergeant” (Rank) (2d wk). Big $7,000. Last week, same. Imperial (FP) (3.343; 75-$1.25)— Auntie Mame” (WB) (11th wk). Zoomed to wham $16,500. Last week, $14,500. International (T a y 1 o r) (557; $1.25)—“Gigi” (M-G) (35th wk). Good $4,00Q. Last week, ditto. Loew’s (Loew) (2.098; 75-$l.25)— Journey” (M-G). Terrific $20,000. Last week. “Separate Tables” (UA) (6th wk), $8,500. Tivoli (FP) (995; $1.75-$2.40)— “South Pacific” (Magna) (38th wk). Fine $7,500. Last week, $7,000. Uptown (Loew) (2,743; 75-$1.25) —“Imitation ol Life” (U). Wham $21,000. Last week, “Night Quar¬ ter Moon” (M-G), $7,500 for 5 days.