Variety (June 1959)

PICTURE GROSSES WRIEfY Wednesday, June 17, 1959 LA/Biz Dives Albeit ‘Compulsion PR t nJ^illys’ Sharp $21,000, Det;‘Watusi’ Okay $14,000* Mansions Fair 15& ‘Hot’ Torrid 12G, ‘Seas’ Sock I9G Los Angeles, June j 16. First-run biz here is taking a fur¬ ther nosedive this stanza despite a majority of schools shuttering for summer. Fine outdoor weather plus a dearth of strong newcomers are combining to make the outlook the slowest in several years. “Green Mansions/* on first general run, is shaping only fair $15,000 in three theatres. “Compulsion,” also in first general release, i looks okay $14,000 in three sites. £ Combo of ‘ Road Racers’?; arid “Daddy-O" looks poor $6,000 or less for two spots. “Some Like It Hot” heads holdovers with sturdy $12,000 in. sight for 10th frame at the Chinese. “World, Flesh and Devil” looks to end third session for two houses with slim $10,000. “D?ary of Anne Frank” is eyeing a mild $10,000 or under in the second round, three locations. “South Seas Adventure/’ i lone 'hard-ticket pic, shapes socko; $19,- 000 for 37th week at Warner Bev¬ erly. j,- Estimates for This Week! Oipheum, Pantages 'Metropoli- tan-RKOi i 2.213: 2,815: 90-$L50>— “Road Racers” AI) and “Dad|dy-0” (AL. Poor $6,000 or less. j. Last week, Orpheum' with Hollywood, “Pork Chop Hill” *tjAi .'2d; wk', “Machete** 'UA> (Ornh) (2d wk', “Man in Net” -UA> 'Holly', $10,900. Pantages with Fox Beverly, “Wom¬ an Obsessed” '20th> '2d wk), "Night to Remember” »UA) (Pan) (2d wk>, “Rally Round Flag. Boys” ?<20th» (repeat' 'Fox Bev>; $3,700. Hillstreet. Hawaii, Wilterri: (Me- tropolitan-G&S-SW» '2,752; il.106: 2,344; 90-$1.50'—“Green Mansions” ‘M-G> ‘1st general release)* and “Forest Rangers** ‘Par) (reissue) fHillst. Hawa), “Mating Game” (M-G>, (repeat; 'Wilt \ Fair Slp.OOO or close. Last week, Hillstreet. “Mysterians” 'M-G>, “Firsts Man Into Space*’ 'M-G' '2d wkL $3,800. Hawaii. “Conquest of Space”/'Par), “War of Worlds” (Pari .(reissue), SI.800. .Willem with Downtown, Vogue, “ft Happened to Jane” «Col>, “Face of Fugitive” I'Col), $12,100. i! * Four Star. Los Angeles, New Fox (UATC-FWC -868: 2.017; 765; 90- $2'—“Compulsion” (20th) (1st gen¬ eral release, 8th wk. Four [Star; 1st wk. L.A., New Fox) and ‘‘Bride Much Too Beautiful” 'Indie i fre¬ issue =. Okay S14.000: Lastjweek. Four Star. $3,800. Los Angeles. “Bride.” “Too B:d She's Bad?’ 'In¬ die? 'reissue'. $5,300. New Fox with Downtown Paramount^ Fox Wilshire, “Shake Hands With •Continued on page 16jf —-:----— '[:■ ‘Capone’ Mighty $22*000 In 6 K.C. Spots; ‘Room' 5G, ‘Hangman’ Nice 7G Kansas City, June 16. Trade, is spotty at first-runs, currently hut some new pix are doing 'well. “A! Capone” playing in six theatres of metropolitan area looms giant. “The Hangman” at Paramount shapes fine. “Count Your Blessings” at Midland shapes slow. “Room at Top” is modest at the Missouri. “Shaggy Dog,” in fifth week, continues sensational, and may hold a sixth. Violent storm last Thursday afternoon knocked out electricity at; some theatres, hut there was no trouble for the weekend. ! Estimates for This Week Brookside (Fox Midwest)!: (750: 75-S1.50) — Currently sub-runs. Last week, “Sleeping Beauty? (BVj Ulth wk), strong $5,000. Capri (Durwoodi (628; >$1.50, $2.25. $2.50) — “South Pacific” (Magna) (12th wk). Good $7,000; : holds. Last week, ditto., Crest, Riverside (Commonwealth) (900 cars each: 85c<—“High School Big Shot” (Indie), and “T-Bird Gang” 'Indie 1 , first-runs, ;■with “Tunnel of Love” (M-G) (2d! run). Mild $6:500. Last week, “Gigan- tis” (WB», “Westbound” (WB». “Teenagers from Outer Space” (WB\ $7,500. Kimo (Dickinson) (504; 90-$1.25) —“Henry V” (Indie) *3d( ; wk.L Oke SI,000, Last week, $1,100. “ Midland (Loew) (3.500; 75,-$!)— “Count Your Blessings” (M-G) and “Seven Guns To Mesa” (AA). Slow $6,000. Last week, “Pork;'Chop Hill” 'UAi; $7,500. Missouri (RKO> (2,585: 75-$D— “Room at the Top” (Cont) and “Gang War” (2Qi.h). Fair $5,000. Last week, “Anna Lucasta” (UA? and “Time Lock” ;UAV $4,500. Paramount «UP'» (1,900; 75f-$l)— j •(Continued on page 16) 1 Key City Grosses Estimated Total Gross This Week .:... .. $2,012,550 'Based on 23 cities and 238 theatres, chicrii) first runs, in- eluding N. Y.) j -Last Year .. //.: . S2,269,000 j i Based on 22 cities and 244 j theatres.) 1 l‘Hand$ Lusty 15(i | Frisco;‘Hof 10G, 8 } San Francisco, June 16. 1 First-run biz here , this session j shapes .sturdy. “Shake Hands With Devil” looms, standout among the r newcomers with a fine take at ! Golden Gate while “Mysterians” is | rated dandy at Warfield. “Horrors ! of Black Museum” looks good at the big Fox! “Some Like It Hot” still is potent in eighth, week at the ;. United Artists.. “Gigi” still is nice in 49th round- at Stag^door. : “H-Man’.’ shapes mild at Para¬ mount: Estimates for This Week ■ Golden Gate <RKO> (2,859; $1.25' —“Shake Hands With Devil” (UA) and “Mugger” 'UA). Fine $15,000 ' or near. Last week. “Pork Chop Hill” 'UA' -and “Machete” tfiAl >2d Wk). $12,000. ' Fox <FWC) (4.651: $1.25-$1.5Q)— “Horrors rif Black Museum’” (20th) and “Headless Ghost” (20th). Good $15,000. Last week, “Go Johnny i Go” (DCA) and “Cosmic Man” : (AAU $10,000. j Warfield 'Loew) ' 2.656; 90-81.25) —“Mysterians” «M-G> and “First Man Tnto Soace” .(M-G l. Dandy S14.000 or close. Last Week, “World» Flesh. Devil” 'M-G) and “Per- . suader” 'AA) (2d wk). S7.500. Paramount 'Par) (2.646; 90-$1.25) ; —“H-Man” (Col) and “Woman Eater” <CoP.. Mild $8,500. . Last week. “Shanef (Par) (reissue) land; ; “Time Lock” (Par). $9,000.! St. Francs (Par' (1.400; $1.25- ' $1.50) — “Young . Philadelphians” <W-B' 1 3d wk>. Hep $9,000 or near. Last week. $10 000. Orpheum (SW-Cir.erama) (1.456; $1.75-$2.65'—“South Seas Adven- . trite” (.Cinerama) '29th wk'. Stout ! $14,500. Last week, $14,000. ! XTnited Artists 'No. Coast) (1.151; ! $1.25-81.50'—“Some Like. It Hot” (UA» '8th wk).'Holding with potent . $10,000. Last week, $10,300. Siagedoor (A-R) '440: $1.25- S3.00'—“Gigi” (M-G) (49th wk). Nice $7,500. Last, week, $8,000. Presidio ( Hardy-Parsons) , (774; S1.25-S1.50) — “Bolshoi Ballet” «Indie) (reissue) (5th wk>. Oke $3,500. Last week, $3,600. Vogue < S.F; Theatres) !364:'$1.25) .—‘ He Who Must Die” (Indie) (2d- ■wk». Good $3,000. Last week, $3,300. ‘compulsion’ m ?g .Providence,June 16. Rainy weekend was little help here as new pix failed, to get much coin. .Loew’s State shapes, .mild with “Count Your Blessings/? . Al- i bee is doing, best with okay biz for “Compulsion/*.. Majestic is • mild with. “The Hangirian.” ! Strand’s third round of “Young j Philadelphians” looks only fair. Estimates for This Week Albee (RKO) (2,200; 65-80)— “Complusion” (20th) and “Terror In Texas Town’?. (UA). Okay $7,6O0_ . Last week, “Tempest” (Par) and. ‘‘Great St. Louis Robbery” iUA> <2d wk), $2,500. * Majestic . (SW( (2,200; 65-80)— "The Hangman” (Par) arid “Born Reckless” Par). NSH $6,000: Last week, ”Pork Chop Hill” (UAI arid “Hey Boy. Hey: Girl” (Col), $7,000. State (Loew) (3,200; 65-80)-'- "Count Your Blessings” (M-G) and “Menace in. Night” (Col), Week ending tomorrow (Thurs.) looks mild $8,000 or under. ;. Last week, [“Green Mansions” (M-G) and i “City of Fear” < UA), $6,000. I. Strand (National Realty) (2,200; ; 80-81.25)—“Young Philadelphians” (WB) (3d wk). Fair $5,000 or a bit ; underi Scored was $6,000: 1SG, ‘Any Girl’ Boffo 1% ‘Life’ 19G Broadway Grosses Taeific’FastJG Omaha, June 16. I Biz is about as bleak at dowrir town first-runs this session as it’s been this year. “Gigaritis Fire Monster*’ is /mild at the Omaha, despite kid patronage; “Shake Hands With. Devil” looks light at Orpheum. . ‘"Tom Thumb” shapes okay for 9. r day second Week, with house being shuttered uritil Friday (19) to get. ready for. “Sleeping Beauty.” Hard-ticket “South Paci¬ fic” still is hotsy in 34th round, at the Cooper. . Estimates for This Week . Cooper (Cooper) (708;. $1.50- $2.20)—“South Pacific” (Magna) (34th wk'. Holding fancy at $7,000. Last week, $7,500. ' Omaha. (Tristates) (2,066; 75-$l) —“Gigantis” (WB). arid ‘‘Teenagers Outer Space” (WB). Slow $4,500 or. near. Last week, '‘Young Phila¬ delphians*’ (WB) (2d wk), $4,800. . Orpheum (Tristates) (2,877; 75- $1)—“Shake Hands With Devil” (UA), DuB $4,500/ Last week, “Night To Remember” (Rank) and “Hey By, Hev Girl” . (.Col), $51000. State (Coboer) (772;. 90)—.‘Tom Thumb’* (M-G) (2d-final wk). Hit okay $5,500 or near in 9 days. ‘Room’ Best in Denver, ! Big 13G; ‘Phillys^ 1(5G | .Denver,-. June 16. ! Filni. : imports dominate Mile ■ High City screens this, stanza as : “Room At Top” arid. “Orders to ! Kill.” both? British, at Centre and ■ Esquire respectively, while. Japa- , nese .“Mysterians’) is /playing Or- • plieum. Paramount offers the; only new American film, “Young Phi- • ladelphians,” with sock results. The Denver holds' “Shaggy Dog? for ! hefty fifth .veek... : ' Estimates for This Week Ceu-lre (Fox) (11270; $1-$L45)— ! “Room At Top” (Cont) great. $13, (Continued on page 16) Gncy Climbs; ‘Capone^Crisp $2ft,(HW|, ‘Any Girl' OK 1M5, ‘Mystenans JIG Cincinnati, June 16. I Film biz is on upbeat here this /week via strength of three new i bills. Heaviest jolt is being sup¬ plied by “Al Capone,” shaping i nifty at Keith’s and day dating at ; Shor’s suburban . Twin Drive-In, /where outlook is rated hotsy. Pal- ; ace is in clover with “Mysterians” • and “First Man Into Space,” and [bidding for downtown lead. -‘Ask ■ Any Girl” looms, okay at flagship ! Albee. ! “Young Philadelphians” remains ‘ firm in third round on main stem, j Hard-ticket “Diary of Anne Frank?’ : has displayed swell staying power ! in fourth frame at outlying Valley, j warranting extension of run. “South Seas Adventuie,” swell in ‘33d week at Capitol, reflects early ' summer improvement in Cinerama series. Estimates for This Week Albee (RKO) (3.100; 90-$1.25)— “Ask Any Girl” (M-G),. Okay $10,- 000. Last week, “Shake Hands With Devil” (UA), $8,000. Capitol (SW-Cinerama) (1,376; $1.20-$2.65)—“South Seas Adven¬ ture” (Cinerama' (33d wk). First lift from vacationers shapes for swell $15,000. Last week, $14,500. Grand (RKO) (1,400; 90-$L25)— “Y o.u n g . Philadelphians” (WB) (m.o.) (2d wk)/ Okay $5,000. Last week. $6,000. : Keith’s iShor) (1,500; 90-$1.25)— “Al Capone” (AA). Robust $8,000. Last week,. “It Happened to Jane” (Col) (2d wk), $6,000. Palace (RKO) (2,600; 90-$125)— “Mysterians” (M-G) arid “First Man Into Space” (M-G). Big $11,000 or near. Last week, “Hangman” /Par), $7,000: Twin Drive-In (Shor) (1,600 cars; 90-S1.25) “AI Capone” (AA). Hotsy $12,800. Showing only on one-side of double screen at this area’s biggest ozoneri Valley (Wiethe) (1,200; $1.50- $2.50) — “Diary, of Anne Frank” *20th) (4th wk). Holding close to pace of last webk’s fairish. $7,100, tops for engagement which.. has ..been extended past the. scheduled four weeks/ Estimated Total Gross This Week /.. . ... $398,100 (Based on 21 theatres) . Last Year .......... $524,600 (Based on 22 theatres). ‘Museum’ Big 18G, Phillyj^ane’lEG Philadelphia. June 16/ New. product is giving needed lift to the film biz scene here cur¬ rently, with weekday trade in¬ clined lagging. “Horrors of Black Museum” looms loud at the Fox while “Shake. Hands With Devil” shapes stout at Randolph among new entrants. “It ‘ Happened to Jane,” too, was solid on initial frame at the Viking. “Young Philadelphians” is rated noisy in fourth round at Stanley while “Imitation of Life” looms big [in ninth week at the Arcadia. “South Seas Adventure” shapes sturdy in 17th stanza at the Boyd. “Shane,” back on reissue, looks good at Goldman but “Diary of Anne Frank” is drab in. fifth round at the Midtown.. Estimates for This Week Arcadia (S&S) (536; 99-$l .80) — “Imitation, of Life” (U) (9th \ykh Big $6,000. Last week/ $6,000. Boyd (SW-Cinerama) (1,430; $1.10-$2.60)—“South Seas. Adven¬ ture” (Cinerama) (17th wk). Trim $10,000. Last Aveek*. ditto. . Fox (National) (2,250; 90-$l;49V —“Horrors of Black Museum” (AI). Loud $18,000. Last: week, “Pork Chop Hill** (UA) (2d wk), $14,000. Goldman (Goldman) (1,200; 99* $1.49)—“Shane?? (Par) (reissue). Good $7,000. Last week, “World, Flesh, Devil” (M-G) i2d wk), $5,- 000 . Midtown (Goldman) (i,250; $1.10-$2)—"Diary of Anne Frank” (20th) (5th \vkh Drab $6,500. Last week. $14,000. Randolph (Goldman) (2,250;: 94- $1.80)—“Shake Hands With Devil” (UA). Stout $11,000 or near. Last week, “Shaggy Dog” (BV) (6th wk), $7,500. Stanley (SW) (2,900; 90-$1.80)— “Young Philadelphians” (WB) (4th wk). Noisy $15,000. Last week, $16;000. Stanton (SW) (1,483; 99-$L40) — “Night of Quarter Moon” (M-G) (2d Wk). Slow $5,000. Last week. $6,500. Studio (Goldberg) (483; 90-$ 1.80) (Continued on page 16) ‘HANDS’ LEAN $8,000, ST. LOUIS; ‘HILL’ 10G St. Louis,'June 16. Strikes at both newspapers will cut first-run trade here this week. Biz is slim for “Shake Hands With Devil” at Loew’s. “House on Haunted Hill” at Fox shapes slow. “Woman Obsessed” at the St. Louis is only fair. “Sleeping Beauty” shapes good at Pageant. Estimates for This Week Apollo Art (Grace) (700; 90- $1.25)—“Crucible” (Indie) (2d wk). Oke $1,500. Last week, $2,500. Fox (Arthur) (5.000; 60-90) —-■ “House on Haunted Hill” (AA) and "Cosmic 'Man” (AA). Slow $10,000. Last week, “It Happened to Jane” (Col) and “Ride Lone¬ some” (Col), $12,000. Loew’s- (Loew) (3.600; .60-90) — “Shake Hands With Devil” (UA) and “Face of Fugitive” (Indie). Slim $8,000. Last week, “Watusi” fM-G) and “Tiajuana Story”; (Col), $ 8 , 000 . Orpheum (Loew) (1,900; 60-90) -r-“Anna Lucasta” (UA) and “Guns, Girls, Gangsters” (Col)/Sad $4,500. Last week, “Last Time I Saw Paris” (M-G) and “Girl Who Had Everything” (M-G) (reissues) $5 r - 000 . Pageant (Arthur) (1,000; 75*. $1.50)—“Sleeping Beauty” (BV). Good $6,000. Last week, “Auntie Marne” (WB> and “Damn Yankees”. (WB) reruns, $3,000/ St. Louis (Arthur) (3,800; 60-90) —‘‘Woman Obsessed” (20th) and “joy Ride” (Indie). Fair $8,500. Last week, “Young Philadelphians?* (WB) (2d wk), $8,000. Shady Oak (Arthur) (760; 60-90) —“Gigi” (M-G) (10th wk). Good $3,000. Last week, $3,500. 4: Detroit, June 16. Plenty of newcomers this. week and plenty -business downtown. “Young Philadelphians” ..looks sharp at the Michigan; “Man in Net” shapes strong, at Palms. “How . to Marry Millionaire” is hotsy at United Artists. “Ask Any Girl” looms great at the Adams. “Gigan¬ tis” is much ., less than that at Broadway-Capitol. “Watusi” looks good at Fbx. Among the. holdovers. ?‘Imitation of Life” continues terrific in eighth . week at the Madison. “Love is My Profession” stays, hot. in third at Trans-Lux Krim. “South Seas Ad¬ venture” remains wow iin. 37th week at. the Music Hall. Estimates .for This Week Fox (Fox-Detroit). (5,000; .90- $1.25). — .“Watusi” (M-G) arid “Angry Hills” <M-G). Good $18,000. j Last week., “Hangman” (Par) and “Blaze of Noon” (Par). $12,000. Michignn (United Detroit) (4.000; $1:25-$1,49) — “Young Philadel¬ phians ( WB) and “Face of Fugi¬ tive” (Col)/. Great .S21.000. Last week, “Naked Mai a” (UA) and. , “Careless Years” (UA). - $16,500. 1 , Palms (UD) (2,961; $L25-S1.49)^- [ “Man in Net” (UA) and “Gunfisht at Dodge Citv” (UA). Strong $17,- j 000. Last week. “Shake Hands With i Devil”. <UA) and “Speed Crazy” ! (AA); $17,000, Mad’son (UD) d.900: $1.25-$i.49) , I—‘‘Imitation of Life’’ (U) (8th wk). ; Big $10,000. Last week, $11,000. i Broadway - Capitol (UD) (3.500; . 90-$ 1.25) — ‘.‘Gigantis” (WB) and- j “Teenagers from Outer Space” ► (WB). Below average $8,500. Last -week. “Shane” (Par) (reissue) and (“Bermuda Affair” (Indie) (2d wk), ! $7,500. i United Artists /UA) (1,667: $1.25- i $1.50) — “How to Marry Million- , aire” i.20thv.,.Good/ S10.000. Last i week/ “It Haonened to Jane” (Col) ; and “Young Land”. (Col). (2d wk), j $5.60.0, I Adams (Balaban) d.700; $1.25- 81.50'—“Ask Any Girl” (M-G). Big ($13,000 or close. Last week. “Mys- r terians” (MrG) and “First Man into Space” (M-G) (2d wk). $7,500/ Music Hall (SW-CineramaV (1,208; $1.55-82.65) — “South Seas Adventure”. (Cinerama). (37th wk). 1 Sensational S15.000. Last vt J eek, ; $15,500: j Trans - Lv\ Krim (Trans/Lux) ! (1.000: S1.49.-$1.65''—“Love Is My ; Profession” (Indie) (4th wk). (Fourth week begins today (16). Last week/$7,000. / i " " “T - ‘Compulsion’ Lively 10G, Toronto; ‘Phillys’ Fat 17G, ‘Museum’ Big 24G Toronto, June 16. Despite three-day heat wave at j start of the week, biz here contin¬ ues on the upbeat. Such newcomers l as “Young Philadelphians” and. [“.Compulsion” are big, especially. I the latter. “Naked Maja” looks not so . good in a, four-house Rank I combo. Excellent/is “Horrors of ( Black Museum” in four Taylor ( houses. Also hep is "Some Like .lt [Hot” in ninth frariie at Loew’s. j “Green Mansions” in second stanza • shapes nice. Still sensational is “Room at the Top” in third frame. Estimates for This Week Carlton, .Dariforth, Fairlawn,. Humber (Rank) (2,518; 1,330; 1,165; 1,203; 75-31.25)—“Naked Maja” (UAL NSG $17,000. Last ■ Week, “Mari In Net” (UA), $7,000 at Carl¬ ton only. Downtown, Glendale, Prince of Wales, State 'Taylor) (1,059; 995; 1.200; 694; 50-75)—“Horrors of Black Museum” (Indie) arid “Head¬ less Ghost” (Indie). Excellent $24,- 000. Last week, “The Trap’? . (Par) •and “Step Down to Terror’’ (U), fair $28,500 for 10-spot tiein, with 9,631-seat capacity. - Hollywood (UP) (1,080; $1-$1.25) —“Sound .; and Fury” (20th) (4th wk). Okay $5,000! Last week, $6,000. Hyland (Bank) (1.057; $l)^-“Cap- tain’s Table” (Rank). Okay $10,000. Last week. “Carry on Admiral” (Rank) (3d wk), $4,000; '■ Imperial (FP) (3,343; *?5-$1.25)— “Young Philadelphians” (WB). Swell $17,000! Last week, “It Hap¬ pened to Jane”. (Col). (2d wk), $8,000 in 4. days. International (Tavlor) (557; $1)-—/ .-.Gigi’* iM-G) /46th . wk). Sturdy 53,000. \v‘6Gk f Scime. Loew’s (Loew) (2,093; 75-$1.25)— “Some Like It Hot” (UA) (9th wk). . Nice. $7,5.00, Last week, $10,000. . Tivoii (FP) (995; $1.75-$2.40)-- . South Pacific” a Magna) (49th wk). (Continued on page 16 )