Boxoffice-October.19. 1957

. . Story 

— 

/ke TuAe e^ ine m&tudfv HctuAe 3W^4^ 

ALLIED STATES ASS'N WILL OPEN 

its annual convention Monday (28) at 

the Concord Hotel, Kiamesha Lake, 

N. Y., for a three-day session which 

will be highlighted by a demonstration 

of a cable theatre and exhibitor 

discussions on conciliation and arbitration, 

clearance and business-building 

ideas. Shown at the left and below 

are officers of the national body 

who will preside ot the meetings 

Julius M. Gordon, president; Abram 

F. Myers, chairman of the board, 

Horace Adams, treasurer, William A. 

Carroll, recording secretary, and Ed- 

JULIUS M. GORDON ABRAM F. MYERS 

ward Lider, secretary . 

Page 7. 

on 

HORACE ADAMS WILLIAM A CARROLL EDWARD LIDER 

To Call 

Industry 

Conference on 

l-clou matttr at ttw Pott Ottic* at Kort 

bblittwd v»««klv by Auociote

ELVIS! 

IT'S YOUR 

JAIIHOUSE 

BEST YET! 

M-G-M presents 

ELVIS 

PRESLEY 

JAILHOUSE 

ROCK 

Co-Starrinp 

JUDY TYLER 

With 

MICKEY SHAUGHNESSY 

DEAN JONES 

JENNIFER HOLDEN 

Screen Plav by 

GUY TROSPER 

In CinemaScope 

AN AVON PRODUCTION 

Directed by 

RICHARD THORPE 

Produced by 

PANDRO S. BERMAN

! 

|IUMPING NATIONWIDE I 

Hear This! 

1-TITLE SONG ALREADY INTOP-101 

Imagine! Elvis Presley's record of "Jailhouse Rock" has been out 

only a few weeks, and in both Variety and Billboard box-scores of 

best-selling records it's 

in America's 'TOP 10" song hits. AND 

HAS SOLD MORE THAN A MILLION AND HALF RECORDS! 

2-LAUNCHED IN 1,000 CITIES! 

Off to a flying start with saturation bookings in the deep South, 

spanning exchange territories of Memphis, Atlanta, Charlotte, 

New Orleans, Dallas, Oklahoma City. Plus Detroit, Frisco and 

other hot spots ! The noise will be heard across the nation 

3-CAMPAIGN ROCKS AMERICA! 

Starting in all fan magazines, with M-G-M columns in Look, 

True Story, Satevepost, with combined readership of 75 million! 

Giant newspaper campaign, TV, radio — spanning the nation! 

Plus electrifying exploitation! 

4-TRADEPRESS FORECASTS SMASH! 

"Resounding hit"- M. P. Herald and M. P. Daily. "Handsome 

grosses. Sure-fire ingredients!"— Variety. "A delight. 

Substantial grosses."— Boxoflice. "A real rock-and-roll hit. 

Will 

send fans to Goneville."— Film Bulletin. "Bonanza."—Film Daily. 

5-BIG PROMOTION! BIG GROSSES! 

Every Preview audience rates it the best Presley picture yet! 

M-G-M has the materials to 

job. ACTION! 

help you do a sock showmanship

THE BIG TEENAGE COMBINATION 

FOR ALERT SHOWMEN EVERYWHERE! 

feahinns IRENE RYAN • EUEN CORBY 

intioducitig • 

JUDY BUSCH MARLENE WILLIS

— 

ton 

THE NATIONAL FILM 

WEEKLY 

Published In Nine Sectional Editions 

BEN SHLYEN 

Editor-in-Chief and Publisher 

DONALD M. MERSEREAU. Associate 

Publisher & General Monoger 

NATHAN COHEN. .Executive Editor 

JESSE SHLYEN. .. .Managing Editor 

HUGH FRAZE Field Editor 

AL STEEN Eastern Editor 

IVAN SPEAR Western Editor 

I. L. THATCHER. .Equipment Editor 

MORRIS SCHLOZMAN Business Mgr. 

Published Every Saturday by 

ASSOCIATED PUBLICATIONS 

Publication Offices: 825 Van Itrrmt Rlvit,. 

Kansa.s ni.v 24, Mo. Nallian Cohon, Kspciltlve 

Editor: .lesê Slilven. ^tannql^R 

Editor: Morrt"? Srholzman. Riislne.ss T\I.nnaeer: 

Hugh Fraze, Field Bdltor: t. I,. 

Thatotier. Editor The Modern Theatre 

Septlon. Telephone rlTe.

^H 

^^H 

" 

INDUSTRY CONFERENCE CALLED 

ON ORDERLY PRODUCT RELEASE 

Exhibitors Also Included 

In New York Sessions Business-Building 

Set in November 

NEW YORK—A joint meeting of distributors 

and exhibitors for the purpose of New York— .\ delay in the industry's 

seeking a solution to business-building prnjeots in order to 

^gHîAjj^H the problem of "or- take advantage of 

J^ "^^'"'y distribution of a possible formula 

^j^^H 

^m Quality 

^^^H 

product" will for the orderly release 

of quality 

djI^D ^M be held in New York 

' 

^^K in November. This product may be 

^^^& ^H was revealed here proposed by Leona 

r d Goldenson, 

^^^^^ ^H Wednesday (.23) at a 

^^^^H^ press 

^^P 

luncheon given president of 

^^^^M ^^M by American Broad- .American Broadcasting-Paramount 

' 

^^^H - Paramount 

^^^H ^^^1 Theatres which Theatres. Goldenson 

said at a press 

^^^" ^^^" Leonard Goldenson, 

Edward L. Hyman President, and Edward 

L. Hyman, vice- 

Wednesday (23) 

luncheon here tlrtk 

president, were hosts. 

Leonard Goldenson 

that "you've got 

The joint meeting stemmed from an original 

plan for a meeting of only distribution 

to have product after you gel the customers 

coming back to the theatres." 

heads, but the switch was made, Hyman said, 

Goldenson lashed out at 

when some distribution 

leaders for their laxity 

a "prominent distributor" propo.sed 

that 

in 

exhibitors 

the problem 

of orderly release. 

be invited to the sessions. 

ENDORSED BY TOP ".\re 

EXHIBITORS 

sheep or leaders running this business?" 

he asked. 

"He (the distributor) pointed out to me." The 

Hyman .AB-PT president was particularly 

said, "that important exhibitors all 

resentful over 

around 

the failure of 

the 

the 

country have 

Golden 

endorsed orderly 

Jubilee tours to 

distribution 

materialize. 

and that if and when we meet 

with The fact 

the 

the companies 

distributors, 

couldn't muster 

these leading independent 

enough stars to 

exhibitors make the 

should 

tours is a disbe 

invited to attend 

and add their pleas and endorsements 

to ours." 

take place among distributors in attaining 

In this manner, Hyman told the press, 

this preferential time for their respective 

"Mr. Goldenson and I visualize that we will 

companies." 

have a united exhibitor front which will convince 

the distributors beyond any question 

Hyman said the industry would be much 

better off boxoffice-wise and in the terms of 

that if an orderly distribution can be put 

patron goodwill "if we had three of the best 

into effect, they will receive every cooperation 

pictures playing in 

from 

September and October 

the exhibitors of America. At such a to counteract the big TV attractions which 

meeting, the distributors will be in a position 

to 'count the noses of their customers' flock of inexpensively 

then go back on the air instead of playing a 

and 

produced pictures of 

all the exhibitors will be able to demonstrate 

that they are -putting their money the $64,000 question, he continued, the in- 

a gimmick nature." While much is said about 

where their mouths are.' 

dustry's question is one of 

Both 

approximately a 

Goldenson and Hyman were bitter quarter of a billion dollars invested annually 

over the lack of progress made in establishing 

in production, without saying anything about 

an orderly release arrangement. About the billion dollars or 

two 

more invested in theatres. 

With television at the top of the 

years ago, they conceived a release plan 

which was 

competitive 

list, pictures also have to contend 

acclaimed by the industrv, but 

despite the publicity and acclaim, Hyman with baseball and football (night and day), 

said, little progress has been made. 

fishing, boating, hunting, golfing, etc., he 

SAYS BIG 

said. 

FILMS BUNCHED 

"Now I want to pinpoint the real problems 

After spending about four months in compiling 

tentative releasing plans of each comhibitors," 

Hyman went on. "The pattern in 

that confront producers, distributors and expany, 

Hyman said he found there were 12 our industry has been to release the better 

pictures of unusual boxoffice appeal for the pictures in the major holiday seasons of the 

yearend and holidays. He criticized this arrangement 

strongly. "What a tremendous dif- 

sales effort to have their better product 

year, with most distributors making every 

ference in our industry would be taking place played then. The result is that on Easter. 

right now," Hyman said, "if it were possible Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, Christmas 

to play some 

and 

of these out,standing pictures at minor holidays, there are generally more 

this time when they are needed so desperately. 

Certainly we all realize that there is available theatres. 

quality pictures than can be absorbed by the 

no city in the world that can assimilate 12 "As a consequence, we have the better pic- 

triple-A pictures at one time. And I can 

visualize the tremendous rat-race that will 

To Await Orderly 

tures competing with each other and the 

exhibitor is always busy trying to mollify 

Delay Proposed 

Releasing Plan 

grace to the industry, Goldenson said. 

General Motors, too, is celebrating its 

golden anniversary, but that company is 

"pulling out every stop" to keep the public 

pepped up on its product, he said. 

The business-building projects and the 

orderly release program must go together, 

(loldenson insisteo. He indicated that 

there was no use in putting on a big 

campaign to pull people back to the theatres 

and then not have anything to offer. 

Goldenson said it looked as if some industry 

leaders were hanging out the crepe 

by using a negative approach to many 

problems. Every branch of the industry 

must be mobilized in order to survive, 

he said, pointing out that a few years 

ago people considered radio a dead industry. 

Today, he asserted, it is stronger 

than ever, a goal reached by careful 

planning and cooperative effort. 

"If we can't possess statesmanship with 

the present leaders, then let's get rid of 

them." he said. 

Goldenson said that he hoped the proposed 

exhibition-distribution meeting on 

orderly release would be so well attended 

that a "large hall" would be needed. 

the distributors whose pictures he just can 

not possibly play on the major holidays, because 

you just cannot get a quart into a pmt 

bottle. In reverse, and I'm speaking in generalities, 

since we know there are exceptions 

to every rule, if we look at January, pre- 

Easter. May and June, the latter part of September 

and October and the pre-Christmas 

season, we find that there is not nearly 

enough quality product. The damage in this 

is three-fold. The theatres and the distributors 

suffer from lack of revenue. But most 

important of all, our industry suffers from 

the dissatisfaction of those who attend during 

these weak periods and leave our theatres 

with a feeling of contempt for what they 

have paid to see. This contempt often destroys 

the moviegoing habit for the patrons 

and it requires a long series of fine pictures 

to reinstate this habit." 

Commenting on the May-June period, Hyman 

said the big television shows go off the 

air at that time and that "this period is the 

time when we should come forward with the 

greatest attractions possible but. unfortunately, 

because in years past it was found 

that May-June was not nearly as good a period 

as some of the other preferential periods, 

the old pattern persists." Theatres, he said, 

play reissues and the type of uninviting product 

that must cause the industry to lose prestige 

and, with it, "we experience, in most 

cases, the poorest receipts of the year." 

Hyman said that in advocating an orderly 

distribution of quality product throughout 

(Continued on page 10) 

BOXOFFICE October 26, 1957

BUSINESS-BUILDING IDEAS TAKE 

SPOTLIGHT AT ALLIED MEETING 

But Clearance Problems 

Will Also Be a Major 

Topic of Discussion 

KIAMESHA LAKE, N. Y.—The spotlight 

will be on business-building—practical ideas 

for immediate increasing 

of theatre attendance 

— when Allied 

States Ass'n opens its 

convention at the 

Concord Hotel here 

Monday (28). 

Trade problems, always 

a major point of 

, -V interest at Allied con- 

Mj^pt vent ions, both on the 

^^P «- floor and at the board 

^" " of directors' meetings 

which precede the 

opening convention 

sessions by a day or two will not be ignored. 

OVERSHADOWS OTHER TOPICS 

Yet, the urgent problems of stimulating 

attendance will overshadow all others. Sidney 

Stern, president of the New Jersey Allied 

unit, who is convention chairman, has scheduled 

a full-scale discussion of business-building 

ideas. And, directing this discussion, will 

be a veteran of exhibition, Oscar A. Doob, 

one-time head of advertising, publicity and 

exploitation for Loew's theatres who now is 

executive coordinator of the advertising-publicity 

directors committee of the Motion Picture 

Ass'n which has been fashioning much 

of the business-building program. 

On trade problems, the board of directors 

will look into a variety of current matters, 

including: 

• How to protect established availabilities, 

either by arbitration or other means. 

• What policy to adopt on the re-entry of 

Paramount Pictures in the exhibition field 

through acquisition of the Esquire Theatre 

in Chicago. 

Must Assure Public TV Dates Are Long Way Off 

Time for Clearance Over 

Television^ Says Kirsch 

CHICAGO—It's time for a clearance system 

which will establish the waiting time between 

the release of a feature 

film to theatres and 

its sale for television 

performance, says 

Allied Theatres of 

Illinois. 

Too many potential 

patrons are staying 

away from movie 

houses these days 

simply because they 

expect the current 

pictures to be transmitted 

to their television 

screens within 

Jack Kirsch 

a comparatively short time. Jack Kirsch. 

Allied's president, declared this week. He 

said a recent survey by a leading firm of 

business analysts revealed that 22.5 per cent 

of the lost admissions in July 1957 were 

contributed by persons who said, in one way 

or another, that they decided to stay away 

and wait for the picture to be shown on 

television. 

Kirsch thinks the big reason for this assumption 

is that the public is being educated 

to think that way. The living room is nowbeing 

identified as the outlet for Hollywood 

pictures, and not the theatre down the street. 

The television industry, he is convinced, is 

doing a pretty solid job in educating the 

public to accept this. 

What the industry should do, and with the 

distributors assuming a major role in the 

effort, is to begin assuring the public that 

it will be some years— Kirsch suggested five 

or ten years—before the current features 

brighten up the home screens. If there was 

a definite clearance system exhibitors could 

advertise the fact, Kirsch said. 

"It would be a potent selling point in allaying 

the false impression which the public 

harbors in believing that every motion picture 

will ultimately be seen free on TV in the 

very near future. 

"An educational program along this line 

could be a great advantage to the theatre 

industry, and possibly bring back a portion 

of that audience which harbors this erroneous 

impression," Kirsch said. 

He proposed that major distributors "take 

cognizance of this kind of thinking on the 

part of the public and immediately offer exhibitoi-s 

some kind of assurance as to a period 

of time theatres could stress in their advertising 

that a picture will not be on TV. 

Kirsch also said members of the Illinois 

Allied board were also concerned with the 

drop in color motion pictures. Pictures in 

color, he said, have always been a good selling 

point for the exhibitor, since this medium 

is by far superior to anything the public can 

get on television. 

"If the distributors are cutting down on 

color production for economy's sake, the 

exhibitors take the position that such thinking 

is wrong and that it is false economy to 

do so. Pictures in color are a potent factor 

in motion picture entertainment and our 

exhibitors urge the producers to increase, 

rather than curtail, the quantity of pictures 

in color at this time," Kirsch declared. 

• What steps to take to establish a clearance 

period for features released or sold to 

television—a point being pressed by Allied 

Theatres of Illinois. 

• Whether Allied should return to the 

Council of Motion Picture Organizations, and 

on what basis. 

• The policy Allied will pursue in seeking 

the establishing of an industry arbitration 

system. 

TO SEE CABLE THEATRE 

In addition to these trade matters, the delegates 

will hear both a discussion and a demonstration 

of the cable theatre idea. Jerrold 

Electronics Corp., which engineered the 

Bartlesville, Okla. Telemovie project, has set 

up a cable theatre in the convention hall 

and Milton J. Shapp, president, will discuss 

the various aspects of the system. 

Of the trade matters, the directors greatest 

interest is in clearance problems. 

Clearance, according to Allied leaders, no 

longer has any meaning because major film 

companies "assert that they are no longer 

under obligation to supply a print to a subsequent-run 

exhibitor at the end of the 

clearance period or within a reasonable time 

thereafter." 

Abram F. Myers, chairman of the board 

and general counsel, declared at weekend 

that this view is contrary to law "and makes 

a mockery of the court orders that clearances, 

in order to be legal, must be reasonable." 

The board is expected to ask that clearance 

be redefined, to include waiting time 

between the actual showing of a picture in 

the prior-run theatre and in a subsequentrun 

theatre in the same area. Myers will take 

up the whole subject of clearance in an 

address to be given at Wednesday afternoon's 

session. 

Allied is also concerned over the decline in 

advertising of attractions in recent months. 

Myers said, and hopes to have figures showing 

the close affinity between advertising 

and theatre attendance. "In the event the 

figures are not fully available by convention 

time, they will be disclosed later, as Allied 

believes they teach a lesson," Myers said. 

"Now that theatregoing is no longer a 

habit, and is almost wholly upon a selective 

basis, the need for advertising and exploitation 

is greater than ever," he declared. 

Doob will discuss various business-building 

projects evolved in the past and under current 

consideration, especially the "new' look" 

of the Academy Awards program now to be 

sponsored by the industry. Convention chairman 

Stem W'ill describe a ticket-selling plan, 

which involves the presentation of gifts rather 

than discounts in the sale of group tickets, 

and representatives of the Pepsi-Cola Co. will 

describe a kiddie show tie-in. Other suggestions 

are being prepared for presentation during 

a question-and-answer period. 


I 

TREMENDOUS BOX 

CHECK THE ELECTRIFYING RESULTS 

AND HERE ARE THE HK 

THE 

,.CE«E.V SEUEVE. 

THAT 

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The 

StorV 

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Esther 

CosteWo 

OFFEND fVNV 

EMOTIONALUV 

„^,U«E PERSON 

OF EITHER 

SEX 

I'M 

THE 

MANAGEMENT 

JINCERELY BELIEVES 

THAT 

THE Story of 

Esther Costello 

WILL NOT OFFEND 

ANY EMOTIONALLY 

MATURE PERSON 

OF EITHER 

SEX 

forOUV:uUUt 

s\\w 

vcciîv^:'^^^"* 

IMPORTANT 

In all fairness, 

we urge you not to 

disclose whot hoppoi 

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JOAJV C/?Al 

RP55ANO 

THE STORY OF Esther c 

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! 

OFFICE STORY 

AT THE WOODS IN CHICAGO- 

WHIMIE WS TlWr M TK JOB!

^ciUc SWe^ 

New Board of Loew's In; 

To Meet October 30 

Joseph R. Vcgel, president, will be in control 

with 13 of 19 members of enlarged group 

supporting him: on agenda is discussion of 

dividend declaration postponed since September 

when Josepli Tomlinson had a majority 

of 

directors. 

Three Post Bonds in L.A. 

For Toll TV Franchises 

* 

Fox West Coast-Telemeter, Harriscope and 

Skiatron comply with legal requirements by 

making cash deposits as a prerequisite to 

operate subscription TV within the city. 

* 

Mervyn Le Roy to Produce 

Pictures for 20th-Fox 

Lon.u-tcnii contract .signed calls for series 

which will be started as soon as Le Roy 

completes "The F.B.I. Story" for Warner 

Bros.: will continue to produce for WB as 

wpll as 20th-Fox. 

* 

Actor Rod Steiger Wants 

To Try Directing Films 

Plans to direct and .star in his own screenplay, 

tentatively titled "The Untold Story," 

and hopes to make it in England with John 

Stafford producing: Steiger recently completed 

the starring role in "Across the Bridge," 

his first picture for J. Arthur Rank. 

* 

Sir Arthur W. Jarratt Seen 

Next President of KRS 

Candidates committee of Kinematograph 

Renters Society of Great Britain widely anticipates 

the late D. E. Griffith's successor to 

the :iost will be Jarratt, who is expected to 

resign as deputy chairman and managing 

director of British Lion Films. 

• 

Return of German Pictures 

Welcomed by Eric Johnston 

MPAA president says major companies will 

consider distributing them in speech honoring 

Heinz L. Krekeler, ambassador of West 

Germany, at opening of festival at Museum 

of Modern Art in New York. 

* 

MPEA Continuing Official 

Ban on Exports to Spain 

Board reiterates jjolicy following unexpected 

sale by RKO of its interests, including 

18 films, to a leading circuit; observers said 

.sale weakened embargo: negotiations for settlement 

of rii.'-niirc still active. 

Pepsi-Cola Sales. Earnings 

Highest in Its History 

Net income lur nine months ended September 

30 reixjrled by Alfred Steele, board chairman, 

and Herbert Barnet, president, as 

$8,105,000, equal to $1.37 a share, a gain of 

12 per cent over same period earnings in 1956. 

Industry Conference 

(Continued from page 6) 

the year-, particularly in May-June, he did 

not expect the distributors should take the 

entire risk. He said he felt that exhibitors 

would show their confidence in boxoffice receipts. 

If given quality product, he insisted, 

the exhibitors will be willing to guarantee 

top terms and additional playing time. 

Admitting that some quality pictures have 

not done well during the so-called "orphan" 

period while others did good business. Hyman 

said that, with respect to most films that did 

not do w-ell, "their performances probably 

would not have been any better if released 

during the better seasons," adding that "in 

today's unpredictable market, I am sure we 

all will agree that there have been quality 

pictures which have played at the best time 

of the year to grosses that have been disappointing." 

•RESTORE PUBLIC CONFIDENCE' 

Hyman said all of the proposed benefits 

could not be proved without necessary time. 

But. he continued, "if we can have something 

good going every month of the year, it will 

give us the opportunity to build up in the 

eyes of our public the fact that they can at 

any time obtain fine entertainment in some 

theatres in any town; and after a long 

enough period of this, we can restore the confidence 

of our public in our form of entertainment, 

in our theatres and in our industry." 

There are only two classifications of pictures 

that can make money. Hyman said. One 

is the big, lush and costly attraction and the 

other is 

the "gimmick" and exploitation type 

of picture. If a practical and orderly release 

system can be worked out far in advance for 

the quality pictures, this could lead to more 

fluid and intelligent booking by exhibitors. 

"What I mean is." Hyman said, "that if 

an exhibitor could know far enough in advance 

what the big quality attractions will 

be. and when they will be available, he can 

then plan his bookings around these quality 

pictures far in advance. In this way, the 

gimmick pictures which will fill the spaces 

could be given the proper attention exploitationwise. 

It certainly cannot be disputed that 

if an exhibitor could plan his attractions in 

this fashion, far in advance, he can be free 

to devote a good deal of his time to his advertising, 

his expoitation. his public relations 

and ways and means to focus attention upon 

his theatre, all of which ai-e sorely needed by 

us today." 

STEADY ATTENDANCE DROP 

Hyman said that one of the disheartening 

factors is the steady drop in attendance. He 

said he recognized that grosses had not been 

declining at the same rate as attendance and 

that in many cases grosses appeared to be 

stabilized, but, he added, "let us not fool ourselves." 

He pointed out that admission prices 

had been raised generally, taxes had been 

added to the grosses and that a number of 

roadshow pictures were getting higher admission 

prices. But, he said, attendance still 

declines. 

"I say it behooves us to do evei-ything in 

our power to stop this decline and reverse 

this trend," Hyman stated. "And I maintain 

that an orderly distribution of quality product 

throughout the year wôuld be a most 

constructive step in that direction." 

Hyman said he did not foresee a problem 

in working out the mechanics of a plan. An 

37 Pictures in Work 

In 

Hollywood Studios 

New York — Production in Hollywood 

studios hit the highest mark in several 

years last week when 37 pictures were 

in work, according to a checkup of home 

offices. The stepup in activities started 

about six weeks ago. Of the 37 features in 

work, il were in color. 

On the television side, 65 units were 

in production last week. 

orderly distribution plan can be developed, 

he contended, if each distributor would make 

the effort necessary to survey the needs ot 

the situation. The important thing, he said, 

was to get started immediately and that "it 

should be kept in mind that all planning for 

an orderly distribution should be made very 

far in advance of actual release dates in 

order to give the exhibitors a chance to use 

this experience and showmanship to properly 

exploit each picture, thereby benefiting their 

theatres and the industry." 

RKO Sues Universal 

Over 'Delay' of 'Pilot' 

HOLLYWOOD — RKO's distribution deal 

with Universal was sent to Superior Court 

in a $324,757 argument over whether "Jet 

Pilot" was or was not delayed. The suit is 

concerned only with the possible delay in 

release since June 1 of this year and not 

with the delays preceding the seven years 

since Howard Hughes made the pictui-e. 

Declaratory relief action filed in Superior 

Court by RKO Teleradio Pictures asks the 

court to decide the issue. 

RKO claims it signed a distribution agreement 

with U-I on January 21 and that "Jet 

Pilot" W'as of great importance to the deal. 

Under the terms of the contract. Universal 

was to take 15 per cent of the gross on a 

block of pictures, including "Jet Pilot," as 

its distribution fee. If the film was not available, 

however, by June 1, U-I could take an 

additional 10 per cent of the gross from the 

remaining pictures in the group. 

RKO further says it gave Universal the 

right to place a print order with Teciinicolor 

on May 23, this constituting delivery. However, 

Universal reported that Technicolor had 

said it was under orders not to release the 

prints and RKO subsequently cleared the 

matter up and pruits were delivered for 

distribution. 

Universal, however, applied the terms of 

the additional 10 per cent levy and has thus 

far collected in excess of its regular 15 per 

cent fee, RKO contends, and asks that the 

court order this money returned on the 

grounds that there actually was no delay in 

delivery of "Jet Pilot." 

Ascap Biannual Meeting 

NEW YORK—The biannual meeting of the 

general membership of the American Society 

of Composers, Authors and Publishers, will 

be held October 29 at the Waldorf Astoria 

Hotel, according to Paul Cunningham. Ascap 

president. The meeting will begin at 2:30 

p.m. 

10 

BOXOFFICE : 

: October 

26. 1957

I 

COLUMBIA ANNOUNCES 

THE FINAL TITLE 

FOR THE WIDELY-PUBLICIZED 

CARL FOREMAN PICTURE 

STARRING • 

iWi 

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FCC ESTABLISHES REGULATIONS 

FOR TOLL TELEVISION TESTING 

Limited to Areas Having 

4 Top-Quality Signals; 

Other Restrictions 

WASHINGTON—The Federal Communications 

Commission has established the 

provisions under which it will permit testing 

of subscription television. 

IN A 30-PAGE REPORT 

A 30-page report, prepared by the FCC staff 

and approved by the Commission was made 

public Fiiday (18 1 and sets up these basic 

regulatory measures: 

• Subscription television testing can be 

established only in cities which have a minimum 

of four top-quality signals. 

• No system can be tested in more than 

three of the markets. 

• There is no limit on the number of systems 

which can be tested in a single city, 

and each participating station can test more 

than one system. 

• Participating stations can be either VHF 

or UHF, and individual stations assume complete 

control over the selection, scheduling 

and rejection of programs, and the establishment 

of maximum fees to be charged patrons. 

On the basis that a testing area must have 

at least four top-quality stations, about 20 

cities would be eligible to participate in the 

testing. These include: Chicago, Dallas-Fort 

Worth, Fresno, Denver, Harrisburg, Hartford, 

Los Angeles, Miami, Milwaukee, Minneapolis- 

St. Paul, New York, Phoenix, Portland, Ore., 

St. Louis, San Antonio, San Francisco. Seattle, 

Washington and Wilkes-Barre. By testing 

time others may be added. 

CANT BE EXCLUSIVELY TOLL TV 

None of the stations may become exclusively 

subscription TV operations, the FCC 

ruled. They must telecast a minimum number 

of hours of free television, provide equal time 

to political candidates, and apply uniformity 

of fees to all subscribers within reasonable 

classifications. 

The drafting of these regulations was ordered 

by the FCC September 18, when it 

announced that it intended to authorize a 

three-year test of toll television. At that 

time, the Commission indicated that while it 

would begin receiving applications from in- 

Telemeter in 

Operation 

By Middle of 1958 

New York—Telemeter will be in operation 

in several situations in the United 

States and Canada by the middle of 1958, 

a spokesman for International Telemeter 

Corp. said here this week. Announcements 

of completed deals will be made 

before the end of this year, he said. 

Practically all of the prospective franchise 

holders are exhibitors, it was said, 

but there are a few "outsiders." 

Sarnoff Says Toll TV Will 

'Devour' Free Television 

Pittsljurgh—There's only one way that 

toll television can succeed, and that's by 

"devouring the substance" of free TV, 

Robert W. Sarnoff, president of the National 

Broadcasting Co.. declared here 

Wednesday (23). His company is against 

it because the network is convinced that 

pay TV is against the public interest. 

"Of course," he said, "this view may 

not prevail and the pressures behind pay 

television may succeed in putting it over 

on the public." If this does eventually 

come to pass. Sarnoff said. NBC would 

have no other choice but follow the tide. 

Pay television, he further warned, could 

ultimately sweep away the nation's free 

broadcasting system. It would be a system 

under which the public would pay 

for entertainment now offered free, and 

"might lose all the other benefits of free 

television." 

dividual stations for the tests, the tests themselves 

would not begin until after March 1. 

1958 when it would begin processing the 

applications. 

How long the processing will take FCC has 

not indicated, but once a station has received 

authority to go ahead, it must undertake the 

tests within a six-month period. This could 

put first toll television experiments well into 

1958. and the end of the testing period sometime 

in 1962. when the FCC would once again 

be faced with the question of whether 

subscription television is in the public interest, 

and should be authorized on a countrywide 

basis. 

Meanwhile, the whole subject may become 

an academic one, if some members of Congress 

have their way about establishing a 

federal policy on the use of free air waves 

for channeling of pay-as-you-see programs. 

READY TO MOVE IN CONGRESS 

Such aggressive opponents of subscription 

television as Representative Harris 

of Arkansas, chairman of the House Commerce 

Committee, and Rep. Emanuel Celler 

of New York have announced they will take 

action to forestall the tests as soon as Congress 

gets back into session. That will be 

early January. There are a number of others, 

in both Houses, who are ready to step into 

the battle to outlaw pay television, and it 

could well be that the proposed tests may 

not even take place. 

The Committee Against PAYS TV, which 

is headed by two exhibitors. Phil Harling, an 

executive of Stanley Warner Corp., and Trueman 

Rembusch, former president of National 

Allied, will meet before the end of the year 

to consider its approach to Congress. 

As to the tests, Harling said: "I don't think 

the FCC will know anything more about 

whether toll television is in the public interest 

three years from now than it does today." 

On the questions of what the tests would 

prove, there were varying first-week opinions. 

One telecasting executive questioned whether 

major stations, now operating on a profitable 

scale, would care to jeopardize earnings by 

experimenting with pay TV or disturbing 

present network relations. Another spokesman 

said the various toll TV system companies 

themselves might clash in determining 

which of the markets each was to enter, 

limited as they are to three cities each. 

COMPANIES APPEAR SATISFIED 

Nevertheless, the companies tliemselves, 

while not getting all they wanted, appeared 

to be satisfied, at least on tlie surface. 

E. F. McDonald jr., president of Zenith 

Radio Corp., whose Phonevision system was 

the first to be projected as a method of telecasting 

pay-as-you-see programs, announced 

in Chicago that his company would begin 

preparations immediately to begin the tests. 

A number of stations in different markets 

have filed requests for use of the Phonevision 

system, he said, and first decisions will be 

on "where to begin and with what stations." 

He said, too, he thought the order appears 

to be "a reasonable and thoughtful document 

that protects the rights of American businessmen, 

large and small, to launch a new 

enterprise on the market place, aiid the public's 

right to maximum service over the publicly 

owned air waves." McDonald said he 

thought the FCC regulations eliminated any 

possible need for congressional action because 

it gave the public an opportunity to 

decide whether it wanted to pay or not to 

pay, and if the decision was against paying 

for the entertainment, toll television would 

die a natural death. 

Michigan Dismisses 

Tax on Theatre Ads 

DETROIT— Michigan exhibitors have won 

a final victory in their three-year battle 

with the Michigan State Department of 

Revenue over the latter's imposition of a 3 

per cent sales or use tax on theatre advertising. 

Allied Theatres spearheaded the long 

fight through David Newman, general counsel, 

and a final court order has now been 

filed, dismissing the State's appeal of the 

prior court decision. 

In nonlegal terms, it means that henceforth 

the major portion of all advertising 

used by exhibitors (as obtained from National 

Screen Service) will be exempt from 

this 

tax. This includes one and three sheets, 

11x14" photos, 22x28" posters, 14x36" inserts, 

and 40x60" specialty posters. Other miscellaneous 

items are still .subject to the tax, and 

include stills, 6 and 24 sheets, and window 

cards. 

In the stipulations by which this victory 

for exliibitors was achieved, it was agreed 

tliat all unpaid back taxes on rental or sales 

on any kind of advertising material will be 

waived by the State, while in turn exhibitors 

agree to waive any claim for refund on such 

taxes which .some exhibitors paid under protest. 

This will eliminate endlass petty bookkeeping 

procedure and permit a fresh start. 

12 


3rd Quarter Theatre 

SOO subscribers Reported by GriHing 

BusinessUpfor AB PT first Month of Telsmovies 

NEW YORK — Business 

was particularly 

good in July and August in the 550 theatres 

operated by American Broadcasting-Paramount 

Theatres, and boxoffice earnings lor 

the third quarter of the year were ahead of 

1956, Leonard Goldenson, president, reported 

to stockholders this week. 

The uptrend in the motion picture end of 

the corporation's activities was one of the 

real bright spots in the report. In the overall 

picture, however, the net operating profit of 

AB-PT for the first nine months of the year 

was under the 1956 total. Earnings this year 

were estimated at $4,033,000 or 91 cents a share 

compared to $5,686,000 or $1.31 a share for 

the same period a year ago. 

For the third quarter alone, net profit 

reached an estimated $1,330,000 or 30 cents a 

share compared with $1,484,000 or 34 cents a 

share a year ago. Goldenson noted the unusual 

seasonal summer decline in broadcasting. 

He said that, as reported previously, ABC 

had been running behind for the year, but 

that the difference between the results for 

the two years was steadily narrowed in each 

quarter, continuing through the third quarter 

as well. 

"Overall," Golden.son said, "the new ABC 

television programs for the 1957-58 season are 

indicating good audience gains over what the 

network was delivering a year ago. The initial 

program ratings are pointing up the network's 

ability to deliver a more competitive 

share of the total audience than heretofore." 

Paramount Sets 12 Films 

For October-March Dates 

NE'W YORK—Paramount will release 12 

features during the six month period, beginning 

in October and ending in March 

1958. These 12 are in addition to the special 

engagements of Cecil B. DeMille's "The Ten 

Commandments," which is approaching the 

first anniversary of its opening in New York. 

The October releases, already announced 

are: "The Devil's Hairpin," in Technicolor, 

"The Joker Is Wild" and "Hear Me Good." 

The November releases will be "Zero Hour!" 

and "The Tin Star," both in VistaVision. 

Paramount's Christmas release will be "The 

Sad Sack," Jerry Lewis' second film as an independent 

actor, in 'VistaVision. with David 

Wayne, Phyllis Kirk and Peter Lorre. 

The New Year will begin with the January 

release of "Spanish Affair," in Technicolor, 

produced by Bruce Odium, starring Richard 

Kiley and Carmen Sevilla, and the Arthur L. 

Mayer-Bruce Balaban production of "High 

Hell," made in Europe with John Derek and 

Elaine Stewart. 

February will bring the release of Don 

Hartman's production of Eugene O'Neill's 

'Desire Under the Elms," starring Sophia 

Loren. Anthony Perkins and Burl Ives, and 

Hal Wallis' production of "Wild Is the Wind." 

starring Anna Magnani and Anthony Quinn. 

both Academy Award winners, with Anthony 

Franciosa. 

In March, the releases will be: "Country 

Music Boy," with Ferlin Husky. Rock Graziano, 

Faron Young and Sam Levene, and 

"St. Louis Blues," based on the life of W. C. 

Handy, starring Nat "King" Cole, Eartha Kitt, 

Cab Calloway, Pearl Bailey and Ella Fitzgerald. 

Satisfactory to Video 

BARTLESVILLE, OKLA.—Bartlesville took 

time out this week to formally celebrate the 

fact that it is the first Telemovie city in the 

world—and at a civic luncheon attended by 

more than 400 local and state leaders, Henry 

S. Griffing, president of 'Video Independent 

Theatres, told the gathering that the test 

has "outrun our expectations." 

This has been a week-long celebration, 

heralded by a 20-page special Telemovie section 

in the Bartlesville Examiner Enterprise 

Sunday. On Monday, there was the civic 

luncheon with Senator Robert Kerr and state 

officials participating. City officials of Tulsa 

and Oklahoma City were present, to inspect 

the wire-television system, as their towns are 

scheduled to be next in 'Video's expanding 

program. And, all through the week guided 

tours of the Telemovie Theatre and the cable 

system which extends 38 miles and can reach 

5,800 homes were conducted by 'Video officials. 

EXPECTED ONLY 200 CUSTOMERS 

Griffing told the luncheon guests that his 

company is more than pleased with the initial 

response. 

"I am amazed that more than 500 families 

would invite Telemovies into their homes almost 

sight unseen," he said. "When we 

planned this test, we predicted we would have 

200 by this date." 

These 500 connections mean that Telemovies 

have moved into one out of every 

nine potential customers homes in the first 

six weeks of operation. 

"And," he pointed out, "only 30 subscribers 

have cancelled after their first month of 

service." 

This, Griffing declared, is better than the 

company had a right to expect, on the basis 

of its experience with community antenna 

systems. He accepts the fact that this rapid 

rate is basically the result of first enthusiasm, 

without an intensive sales program, and says 

that "we are now ready to settle down for 

the long slow pull." 

Despite reports that there is the possibility 

of a metering device which would enable 

subscribers to get the service at less than the 

present $9.50 a month, he said such a device 

is still something to be developed, and there 

are no plans to reduce the fee. 

As to the future of Telemovies, he said: 

"We are confident the public will find them 

desirable. We believe they are financially 

feasible, and it is our job to prove they are 

salable." 

HEADLINES NOT ENOUGH 

But, he acknowledged, it will take more 

than national attention to make Telemovies 

a success. "It is nice to have pictures in 

Life magazine and to read stories in magazines 

and newspapers everywhere which put 

Video and Bartlesville in the headlines," he 

said. 

"But many of us are not willing to buy 

something month after month merely because 

we are 'honored' to be the first customers. 

We know that after all the publicity 

has faded out and the distinction of being 

Gov. Raymond Gary of Oklahoma 

issued a proclamation making the week 

of October 21 "Telemovie Fall Festival 

Week" in honor of Bartlesville, Okla., the 

nation's first Telemovie city. Here the 

governor, right, presents the proclamation 

to C. O. Fulgham, vice-president of Video 

Independent Theatres, Inc., which is 

pioneering "TM" at Bartlesville. 

a national 'first' has worn thin, this thing 

will boil down to a question of our ability to 

provide something attractive to Bartlesville 

families at a price they are willing to pay. 

"The success of Telemovies," he added, realistically, 

"is bound to depend to a large extent 

on the quality of motion pictures. Being 

in the theatre business, we have always felt 

proud of movies as something everybody 

could enjoy. Now that we can deliver them 

right into the living room, we believe we are 

on our way to the greatest era in home entertainment 

this nation has ever seen." 

Griffing said he doesn't claim to have the 

cable theatre in its final form, and intends 

to explore every possible way of improving it. 

Senator Kerr, pointing out that Oklahoma 

was celebrating its 50th anniversary, told the 

luncheon guests that he couldn't think of a 

better way of celebrating the Golden Jubilee 

than with an enterprise as new as Telemovies. 

The senator, who is a per.sonal friend of 

Griffing, turned to the circuit president and 

said, "From the looks of this crowd, I would 

say the people are coming to you for Telemovies. 

I don't think you will have to go to 

them." 

Five Companies Providing 

November First Runs 

BARTLESVILLE, OKLA.—Five film companies 

will provide first-run product for 

showing on Video's Telemovie system in 

November. There will be 14 features, with 

the lineup including: "Twelve Angry Men" 

(UA), "Loving You" (Para.), "Abandon Ship!" 

I Col.), "Fuzzy Pink Nightgown" (UAi, "Operation 

Madball" (Col.i, "Pawnee" (Rep.i, 

"Beyond Mombasa" iCol.i. "Beau James" 

iPara.i, "The Lonely Man" (Para.), "Pickup 

Alley" (Col.). "Bombers B-52" (WB), "The 

James Dean Story" (WBi, "Johnny Ti'ouble" 

iWBi and "The Story of Mankind" (WB). 

In addition, 22 re-run features will be shown 

on the second Telemovie channel. 

BOXOFFICE October 26, 1957 13

Charles J. Feldman Dies; 

Vice-President of U-l 

NEW YORK—Charles J. Feldman. vicepresident 

and general sales manager of Universal 

- International, 

died of a heart attack 

Wednesday night (23) 

^^^ at his home here. He 

C^X'7.^^H would have been 58 

years old on Friday. 

^ '"^ Feldman was wellknown 

as an industrj' 

leader. He was a past 

chairman of the distributors' 

committee 

of the Motion Picture 

Ass'n of America, a 

Charles J. Feldman 

member of the Motion 

Picture Pioneers and 

a vice-president, member of the board and 

chairman of the distributors committee of 

the Will Rogers Memorial Hospital. 

Feldman entered the industry as a United 

Artists salesman in Omaha in 1927. He joined 

Universal the next year as branch manager 

in Sioux Falls. Then, after .serving as branch 

manager in the Denver, San Francisco and 

Salt Lake City exchanges, he became western 

division sales manager, and the eastern 

division sales managership followed. He became 

general .sales manager in 1950 upon the 

resignation of W. A. Scully and was named a 

vice-president in 1953. 

He leaves his wife Mary, a brother Philip 

of Omaha, and two sisters, Jennie of Omaha 

and Claire of Los Angeles. 

Funeral services were held Friday at the 

Riverside Memorial Chapel and attended by 

many industry leaders. Interment will be 

at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Los Angeles. 

His death brought many expressions of 

sorrow. Among them were: 

N. J. Blumberg, U-I board chairman—"His 

passing is a great personal loss to me and 

will be mourned by literally thousands of 

his friends in the motion picture world. His 

name and his works were a credit to the industry 

in which he toiled for so many years." 

Al Daff, executive vice-president of U-I— 

"Charles Feldman, who has now been taken 

from us. wrote, in the way he led his life, the 

eulogy that now could be written about him. 

He put his stamp upon all that he achieved, 

and his mark was that of the unselfish leader 

who never sought glory for himself, whose 

greatest delight was in sharing with his 

friends and associates each of the achievements 

that will win him eternal recognition 

where motion pictures are known." 

Eric — Johnston, president, Motion Picture 

Ass'n "Never was there a time when the 

industry more needed men of his skill, wisdom 

and foresight to carry it forward. 

Charlie Feldman filled this description preeminently. 

We shall always miss him as a 

companion and as a friend, and the business 

will miss him as an industry statesman." 

Ernest Stellings, TOA president—"Charles 

Feldman was a gentle man. He was a capable, 

conscientious servant for whomever he 

worked. His contributions to the industry 

were legend. Exhibition, especially, has lost 

a true and great friend. The late Charles 

Feldman was never unmindful of the needs 

and problems of exhibition, and did everything 

he could whenever he could to be of 

assistance. We shall miss him." 

Colonel Cole and Texas Allied 

Call it Quits; Close Dallas Office 

DALLAS—Colonel H. A. Cole, stalwart 

leader and current president of Allied Theatre 

Owners of Texas 

—and one of the 

founders of the Allied 

States Ass'n — is resigning 

as president 

and dissolving the 

Texas Allied headquarters 

office here. 

In a letter to his 

members Colonel Cole 

stated: "Almost desperately, 

I have been 

Col. H. .\. Cole 

attempting to get some 

kind of meeting of the 

Allied members, to 

come to a conclusion on the association. Up 

to the present time I have not been successful 

in this attempt. I do not believe, in view 

of the shrinking membership— and .shrinking 

trea.sury— that there can be a continuation 

of this organization. I am, therefore, 

giving notice to all members that as of October 

31, I hereby resign as president and 

member of Allied Theatre Owners of Texas." 

His letter to the members was dated October 

The Colonel also said he was resigning his 

14 

membership in the national organization. 

"I regret very much the necessity of such 

action, but I cannot see any chance for the 

future," he said. "After all, I am now over 

75 years of age and in veiy poor health; thus, 

I cannot pick up the reins and try to carry 

on. In case some of you do not know, I have 

not even been to the office since June 1. and 

even dictating this bulletin has been quite a 

labor on my part." 

Colonel Cole's first organization was known 

as the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of 

Texas in the early 1920s, and was organized 

at least five years before Allied States 

Ass'n was formed. He has been active in an 

official capacity in the Texas Allied unit 

since its inception, as well as serving a--; president 

and board member of the national association. 

Last November the Allied States convention 

in Dallas was dedicated to Colonel 

Cole as a tribute to his 40 years in the motion 

picture industry. 

His Texas Allied was one of the spearheading 

units of the national association, and was 

known as a crusading organization for the 

independent exhibitor — championing the 

cause for many major reforms within the industry 

during its 30-year span. 

$1 Million Production 

Center Opens in N.Y. 

NEW YORK— Caravel Films, Inc., which 

has been specializing in television commercials, 

opened its new four-story, $1,000,000 

production center at 60th Street and West 

End Avenue Wednesday i23>—the first completely 

new film studio built in Manhattan in 

over a quarter of a century. 

This new studio is also built and designed 

specifically for both commercial television 

and motion picture production, according to 

David I. Pincus, president and founder of 

Caravel in 1921. The decision to build was 

dictated by Caravel's 25 to 33 'a per cent increase 

in business in the last two years, particularly 

in TV commercials, w'hich need a 

proximity to advertising agencies to facilitate 

faster production, Pincus said. 

The installation provides for production of 

TV commercials in as many as 19 or 15 sets 

without the necessity of striking. The main 

stage, 75x100, has a ceiling of 26 feet and 

is the largest independently operated stage 

in the midtown area. One other stage, 27x54, 

will be used for shooting inserts and production 

requiring small sets. A third stage is 

planned in the 26,000 square feet of working 

space. Caravel's new center has six cutting 

and editing rooms, seven costume, makeup 

and dressing rooms, complete projection, animation, 

opticals and special effects departments, 

a carpenter's shop and property department, 

a permanent cyclorama. offices for 

clients and staff, vault and storage space and 

an elevator capable of carrying a Cadillac or 

a medium-sized truck. Designed by Horace 

Ginsbern Associates in New York for expansion 

potentials over a 15 year period, the steel 

frame and concrete building is sound-proofed 

and air-conditioned throughout. 

Mayor Robert F. Wagner, who is spearheading 

the campaign for motion picture and 

television production in New York, attended 

Caravel's "open house" to celebrate the 

studio's completion Wednesday i23i. 

Ilarnld 

Kand 

Harold Rand Appointed 

To Buena Vista Post 

NEW YORK— Harold Rand has been appointed 

publicity manager for Buena Vista 

Film Distribution Corp. 

by Charles Levy, director 

of advertising, publicity 

and exploitation. 

Rand has resigned as 

newspaper contact of 

20th Century-Fox to 

accept the new post 

which he will assume 

the first week in November. 

Employed by 20th- 

Fox for the last seven 

and a half years. Rand 

served in a variety of 

publicity contact and writing positions. During 

the last year he has been newspaper contact 

and prior to that he was trade press 

contact for five years. 

To Reissue 'Bernadette' 

NEW YORK—Twentieth Century-Fox will 

make new prints of "The Song of Bernadette" 

available to exhibitors during 1958 as part of 

the international observance of the centennial 

anniversary of the Miracle of Loiu-des. 


" 

Mrs. Dawson Resigns 

Position with MPAA 

NEW YORK— Mrs. 

M. Hem-y Dawson has 

resigned as associate director of community 

relations of the Motion Picture Ass'n of 

America, effective November 1. 

Appointed to take her place was Mrs. Margaret 

G. Twyman, formerly administrator of 

the Ass'n of the Junior Leagues of America, 

Inc. Mrs. Twyman. who has had experience 

in the community relations field, in communications 

and with women's audience.";, 

will work under the direction of J. Stanley 

Mcintosh, director of Educational and Community 

Services. She is al.so a trustee of 

Knox College. 

Mrs. Daw.son joined the MPAA in 1946. She 

was liaison between the nine member companies 

and 14 national organizations with a 

membership of 40,000,000 women. She personally 

saw every feature, domestic and foreign, 

exhibited in this country as editor of 

a semimonthly publication. Joint Estimates 

of Current Motion Pictures, made up of clubwomen's 

composite reviews of the pictures. 

She also directed the Children's Film Library, 

and spoke and wrote articles on motion picture 

subjects. She originated the "wiggle test" 

through which children's reactions to films 

were learned. 

Before joining the MPAA, Mrs. Dawson was 

associated with Geyer, Cornell & Newell, advertising 

agency. 

De Laurentiis Discussing 

Italo-U.S. Co-Production 

NEW YORK—More co-production deals between 

Italian producers and American companies 

is the hope of Dino De Laurentiis, 

long associated with Carlo Pontl in the production 

of such pictures as "War and Peace 

and "Ulysses," both of which were made in 

Italy and distributed here by Paramount. 

De Laurentiis, who recently completed "The 

Sea Wall," in association with Columbia 

Pictures, in Europe, is in New York to discuss 

future co-production deals with the major 

American companies. He will also attend 

the New York opening of his "Cabiria," made 

in Italy and directed by Federico Fellini, 

which will open at the Fine Ai-ts Theatre 

October 28. The picture, which stars Fellini's 

wife, Giulietta Massina (she also starred 

in Fellini's "La Strada"), w-on her the "best 

actress" award at the recent Cannes Film 

Festival and. despite the fact that it deals 

with a prostitute, also won a Catholic award 

at the same Festival, according to Ilya Lopert, 

who is distributing the picture in the U. S. 

De Laurentiis said he will concentrate on 

productions to be made with Italian producers 

and directors and American actors and 

cameramen in the future. These productions, 

like "The Sea Wall," i tentative title) will be 

made in the English language and later 

dubbed into Italian for the home market, 

where moviegoers are used to dubbing and 

"attach little importance to it," he said. 

Fellini. who is in America primarily to attend 

the Fine Arts Theatre opening of 

"Cabiria." will also screen the picture for 

the Screen Directors Guild in Hollywood early 

in November. Three of his pictures, "La 

Strada," one of the most successful Italian 

pictures ever shown in the U. S., and "Vitteloni" 

and "The White Sheik," have been 

shown here but "The Swindler," which stars 

Broderick Crawford, Richard Basehart and 

Miss Massina, has yet to be shown in the U. S. 

Independent Distributors 

To Handle IFE Films 

Budd Roser.s (center) coordinates dealings with independent distributors. The 

others, left to right, are: E. K. Zorgniotti, board chairman; Dr. Guissepe Tavazza, 

ANICA vice-president; Seymour Foe, executive vice-president, and Dr. Renzo Ruffini, 

president. 

NEW YORK—IFE Releasing Corp. has retained 

Budd Rogers as coordinator of activities 

with local independent distributors, 

according to Seymour Poe, executive vicepresident. 

Contracts with nine local distributors 

have been signed to date. The company 

is changing over from direct distribution of 

films to the use of local distributors. 

The new program covers the marketing of 

Italian and specialized films. It affects 35 

IFE films already in release and six new films, 

four of the latter in color. It w'as decided on 

at a recent meeting at the Warwick Hotel. 

Among those at the meeting and taking 

part in the new plan were: Rogers, Jo.seph 

Levine. president of Embassy Films, who will 

cover New England: Judd Parker and Joe 

Wolf, also of Embassy: Robert Hartgrove of 

Exhibitor Pictures, covering Texas and Oklahoma; 

Sherman S. Krellberg and Richard 

Perry. Principal Film Exchange, metropolitan 

New York: Newton D. Jacobs, Favorite Film 

Exchange, U western states. 

Also, George Waldman, Waldman Pictures, 

upstate New York: Jack Harris, Exploitation 

Productions, Philadelphia and 

Washington: Sam Kaplan, Sam Kaplan Distributing 

Co., greater Chicago, and Jack Zide, 

Allied Film Exchange and Imperial Pictures, 

Detroit and Cleveland. Robert Pinson will 

cover the Charlotte territory but did not attend. 

Present to sign the contracts were Poe, 

Dr. Renzo Ruffini, president of IFE Releasing 

Corp.: Dr. Guissepe Tavazza, vice-presideant 

of ANICA, and E. R. Zorgniotti, board 

chairman of IFE. 

Tlie pictures include "Neopolitan Carousel," 

in color and starring Sophia Loren; "Con 

Men," starring Broderick Crawford and Richard 

Basehart: "Torpedo Zone," "Tales of 

Rome," in Cinemascope and color, starring 

Sylvana Pampanini and Vittorio DeSica; 

"Symphony of Love," in Technicolor and 

starring Marina Vlady, and the color adventure 

film, "Fabulous India." 

Get More Out of Life-Go Out to a Movie' 

Adopted As AIMndustry Promotion Slogan 

NEW YORK—"Get more out of life—go 

out to a movie" has been adopted as the 

long-range promotion slogan of the industry, 

according to Paul Lazarus of Columbia 

Pictures, chairman of the advertising-publicity 

directors committee of the Motion Picture 

Ass'n of America. 

Lazarus said all segments of the industry 

will be asked to use it in every possible manner, 

and that the institutional advertising 

campaign, when finally approved, will use 

the slogan as its theme. He noted the avoidance 

of the "customary superlatives .so traditional 

with our business." 

"After long research." he said, "the conclusion 

was reached that we must try to remind 

the public of the plus value of moviegoing—that 

in addition to entertai:iment, 

the movie theatre provides an added psychological 

lift so important in these modern 

times. 'Get more out of life' is a fundamental 

hope of all humans today. There can 

be no argument against the truth of that 

statement, that movies help one get more out 

of life. Sui-veys indicate that the urge for 

a fuller life is one of the primary desires of 

the masses. And, of course, the last five 

words of the slogan point to the one place 

where movies can be seen at their best—the 

movie theatre." 

Lazarus asked that the slogan be repeated 

on screens, in lobbies, in pressbooks, on marquees, 

in ads, on the air and in countless 

other ways. He made a special plea for the 

cooperation of theatre circuit publicity men, 

Loew's, Inc., is switching from its old slogan, 

recently revived, "Loew's brings happiness to 

millions." 

The Cool and the Crazy' 

To Be AIP Release 

LOS ANGELES—"The Cool and the Crazy," 

starring Scott Marlowe and Gigi Perreau, 

has been acquired for release by American 

International Pictures, it is announced by 

James H. Nicholson. The feature, Elmer 

Rhoden jr.'s second production, will be AIP's 

first 1958 release, Nicholson said. 

"The Cool and the Crazy" was directed by 

William Witney from an original by Richard 

C. Sarasian. and was recently completed on 

location in and around Kansas City. Rhoden's 

first picture was "The Delinquents." 

BOXOFFICE October 26, 1957 15

^WâyneIh€tsHis SrciMtd 

IN THE 

ADVENTURE 

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Jk-: 

John 

aj^ne 

Sophia 

Loren 

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TECHNI RAMA and TECHNICOLOR with 

SONIA MOSER • ANGEU PORIAIURI 

Produced and Diiecled by 

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JNDER THE SUN! 

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BETWEEN THE LINES 

By AL STEEN 

The Patron's Angle 

TN the last couple of weeks we've been sort 

of bouncing around the country and 

talking with people who were not even remotely 

connected with the motion picture 

business. At a party in the midwest one 

night, we were able to pin down a few 

guests on the subject of motion pictures in 

general and the matter of theatre attendance 

in particular. 

Some of the comments we heard were 

eye-openers. At this particular get-together 

the men folks were in the real estate, 

banking, insurance, manufacturing, 

food, live stock and some other industries. 

And their opinions were substantiated by 

their wives. 

To give a blow-by-blow description of 

what they said would take volumes to tell, 

but in essence it seemed to boil down to 

this: The urge to attend a theatre was 

measured by the extent to which the exhibitor, 

himself, was sold on a picture. 

The.se laymen—and women—pointed out 

that they could sense the importance of a 

feature by the way their local exhibitor 

advertised it. A weak, run-of-the-mill type 

of newspaper ad got the same kind of public 

attention and reception, they said. 

A bank president remarked that, while 

on vacation in Minnesota, he had seen the 

most enjoyable picture in years. He said 

it was one of the few pictures he would like 

to see for a second time. But he couldn't 

remember the title. He told us the star 

names and the story line. 'We asked him if 

ho meant "Love in the Afternoon." 

"That's it," he said. "I'm waiting to see 

it again when it plays a neighborhood theatre 

here." 

Oddly enough, it was playing in this particular 

city and had been for several days. 

The banker's sentiments were echoed by 

others present, but none knew that it could 

be currently seen. Perhaps this was strictly 

a local situation, but what the people said 

appeared to make sense. Dreary ads can 

result 

in dreary business. 

ers and campaign on one picture stimulated 

interest and attendance on the upcoming 

program. Although business, insofar as the 

Shea circuit was concerned, in the third 

quarter of this year was somewhat below 

the corresponding quarter of a year ago, 

he said that the product outlook for the 

rest of this year looked very good. He was 

hopeful of heavy patronage during the 

balance of the year. However, the circuit 

is exploring all avenues for extra revenue. 

Dishes as premiums were started as a stimulant 

in McKee's Rocks, Pa., in May and 

the interest in the gimmick has been so 

good that "dish nights" will be started 

shortly in Zanesville, O. 

During the first quarter of 1958. the circuit 

will give away cars in Zanesville. New 

Philadelphia. Dover and Ashtabula. Arrangements 

have been completed to give 

Chevrolets in New Philadelphia and Dover, 

Fords in Zanesville and Oldsmobiles in 

Ashtabula. The new cars are obtained at 

and the drawings will 

rock bottom prices 

be conducted in a tieup with local merchants. 

Several Shea houses have been doing an 

odd piece of promotion for several years, 

with pay-off results. A 24-sheet is glued 

to the lobby floor and then given a coat 

of varnish. It's an attention-grabber. Shea 

said, because an incoming patron can't help 

but see it. It's a simple matter to take it up. 

Slight Exaggeration 

fÔBERT S'^L.VESTER, who writes the 

"Dream Street" column in the N. Y. 

Daily News, tells about a friend of his who 

attended one of those long pictures and 

during the intermission heard a couple of 

women talking in the lobby. One of the 

women said she was enjoying the picture 

immensely but was going home. Her companion 

asked why. 

"I just looked in the mirror," said the 

first, "and my hair's beginning to grow 

back to its natural color." 

DCA Will Release 14 

In Current Quarter 

NEW YORK — Distributers Corp. of 

.^merica. which has released 18 featui'eji during 

the first nine months of 1957, the majority 

of them British or French-language 

pictures, will distribute 14 more features in 

October, November and December to make 

a total of 32 new pictures for 1957. 

The October releases are; "Hell in Korea," 

British film starring George Baker and Stanley 

Baker; "The End of the Road." another 

British picture with Finlay Currie and Edward 

Chapman, and "Please Mr. Balzac," a 

French-language film starring Brigitte Bardot 

and Daniel Gelin, which w'as originally titled 

"Mademoiselle Striptease." 

The seven releases for November will be; 

"Cast a Dark Shadow," starring Dirk Bogarde 

and Margaret Lockwood; 'The Blue 

Peter," with Kieron Moore and Greta Gynt. 

and "Panic in the Parlor," with Peggy Mount 

and Shirley Eaton, all three of these Britishmade; 

"Every Second Counts," a French picture 

with Barbara Laage and Jean-Marc Thibault; 

an Italian film, "Of Life and Love," 

starring Anna Magnani; "Rodan!" a sciencefiction 

film in color, and an exploitation package 

composed of "The Flesh Is Weak" and 

"Blonde in Bondage." 

For December 1957. there will be two British 

films, "Tiiree Men in a Boat." in color, 

starring Laurence Harvey and Jimmy Edwards, 

and "Time Lock," with Robert Beatty 

and Lee Patterson; "Rouge et Noir," a French 

film in color, starring Gerard Philipe and 

Danielle Darrieux, and a teenage combination, 

"Teenage Bad Girl" and "Teenage Wolf 

Pack." 

For the first nine months of 1957, DCA released 

nine British-made features. 

Moore and DeBerry in New 

Paramount Field Posts 

NEW YORK—Paramount ha.« named John 

G. Moore its mideastern division manager, 

the post which Howard G. Minsky recently 

left to become eastern sales manager of In- 

The Exhibitor's Angle 

^Ê were discussing the above incident 

this week with Gerald Shea, head of 

the Shea circuit which operates quite a 

string of theatres, principally in Ohio. 

Shea was of the opinion that the "onus" 

should not be placed entirely on the exhibitor 

when a picture takes a nosedive. Preselling 

by distribution plays a very important 

part in the promotion of a picture, he 

said, and the theatres should follow through 

after the pre-selling seeds have been 

planted. He also stated that saturation engagements 

had paid off very well in his 

situations. 

Shea declared he had found that, when 

there was a flow of good pictures, the trail- 

Lobby Chatter 

n BRONX exhibitor says he heard two 

women — spinster-type — talking 

his lobby. 

the other night and found a man in her 

apartment. 

'"What did you do?" her friend asked. 

in 

One of them said she came home 

"I told him I'd give him just 24 hours to 

get out." 

Don't Believe It 

fHEN there was the exhibitor who visited 

a former competitor who was an inm.ate 

in a city institution. 

"Why are you in the Poor House?" 

"Poor house." 

John G. Moore Edmund C. DeBerry 

ternational Telemeter Corp., and Edmund C. 

DeBerry, Cincinnati branch manager, has 

been named to succeed Moore as eastern division 

manager, according to Hugh Owens, 

vice-president. 

Moore has moved to the mideastern headquarters 

in Philadelphia and DeBerry to the 

eastern headquarters in Boston. Moore joined 

Paramount in 1921 as assistant shipper in 

Boston. He became eastern division manager 

in 1955. DeBerry joined Paramount in 1940. 

He became Cincinnati branch manager last 

year. 

18 BOXOFFICE October 26, 1957

. 

ARAMOUNT HAS THE 

TWO TOP "STARS OF TOMORROW'.' . 

ANTHONY PERKINS 

SOPHIA LOREN 

in a picture powerfully dramatic . . . unusual and 

frank . . . written by Eugene O'Neill, America's 

greatest dramatist — Nobel Prize Winner — four 

times awarded the Pulitzer Prize. 

Paramount Presents 

SOPHIA LOREN 

ANTHONY PERKINS 

BURL IVES 

In The Don Hartman Production of 

Eugene O'Neill's 

DESIRE UNDER THE ELMS 

Directed by Delbert Mann -Produced by Don Hartman 

Screenplay by Irwin Shaw -A Paramount Release 

VISTAyiSipH' 

NOW EDITING 

Anthony Perkins and Sophia Loren. . .selected by the nation's exhibitors as the numbers 1 and 2 

"Stars of Tomorrow" in the 17th annual Motion Picture Herald Poll.

— 

. . Gay 

. . Veteran 

. . Lola 

. . 

'iôUfâ^wid ê^tont 

Academy Makes New Rule 

On Oscars lor Actors 

Hollywood actoi.s in their added pursuit of 

an Oscar no longer will be permitted to carry 

water on both hips. From now on, they will 

be made to compete as either stars or supporting 

players and no longer will be allowed 

to make the 11th hour switch from one status 

to the other, which nimble activities reached 

a high point last year and generated no small 

amount of criticism regarding Academy 

modus operandi. 

A rule change which would invalidate such 

moves in the future was disclosed by Academy 

president George Seaton. follow-ing a meeting 

of the board of governors. The change gives 

the Academy, rather than the producer or 

the production company, the prerogative of 

making a final decision on the classification 

of performances. 

Studios will, as in the past, submit information 

to the Academy regarding billing 

of all concerned with each production. This 

information w-ould be used automatically, 

again as in the past, unless a classification 

Is questioned in which ca.se the matter will 

be referred to a special Academy committee 

which will make the final determination. 

Seaton emphasized that the new rule also 

will give the Academy the final decision in 

the case of disputes over certain technical 

credits. 

Ponti and Girosi to Make 

Two for Paramount 

Italian producers Carlo Ponti and Marcello 

Girosi have completed arrangements whereby 

they will make two pictures for Paramount 

during the coming year. Both will star Sophia 

Loren and w-ill be made at the Hollywood 

studio, to be released by Paramount on a 

profit-sharing basis. 

Paramount's contract with Miss Loren calls 

for one film to be made in 1958, but with 

the consummation of the Ponti-Girosi pact 

this picture will be put over to 1959. 

The selection of properties under the Ponti- 

Girosi pact are to be mutually agreed upon, 

and under consideration are "Blaze of the 

Sun." a French novel by Jean Hougron; 

"Bahia." a Brazilian novel by Jorge Amado; 

ChekhoVs "The Three Sisters," and an untitled 

original screenplay now being written 

by Cy Howard. 

While Ponti has left for Europe with his 

wife. Miss Loren, Girosi will remain at the 

Paramount studio to wôrk on the two upcoming 

productions. 

Five Westerns Will Roll 

At MGM in 5 Months 

"Go wt'st young man" would seem to be 

the advice being taken by MGM these days 

wîth the information that the studio is rolling 

five oaters in precisely that many months, 

the largest number of westerns the company 

has shot in any half-year in its history. 

Possibly, Leo the Lion has been keeping 

its feline eye on the sudden boom in popularity 

of sagebrush sagas in that other me- 

— By IVAN SPEAR 

dium called televi.sion, and has determined 

to ride in on the horse's tail. 

Whatever the impetus, MGM's quintet appears 

to be toppers in the western field 

"The Law and Jake Wade." which William 

Hawks w'ill produce and John Sturges direct; 

"The Trail West" and "The Badlanders," 

both to be produced by Aaron Rosenberg: 

"The Thunder of Drums," an Edmund Grainger 

production, and "The Unvanquished," to 

be produced by Albert Zugsmith. 

"The Sheepman." also a western, is currently 

before the cameras at Metro, and 

"Saddle the Wind," another oater, is in the 

final editing stage. 

Literary Market Booms 

With 14 Story Buys 

Fourteen story buys reported for the week 

would indicate that the literary slump of 

the past month or so has been hurdled and 

cinema scribes are again in full action. 

Prominent among the purchasers was Jerry 

Wald, with the announcement that he has 

acquired two properties—Curtis Harrington's 

original story, "Romantic Comedy." to star 

Robert Wagner. Tony Randall and Jeff 

Hunter, and John McPartland's new novel 

"The World of Crime." 

Film rights to the Joseph 'Viertel novel, 

"The Last Temptation," Britain's Literary 

Guild Award Selection for 1957, were acquired 

by Herschel Gilbert: Edwin F. Zabel, 

Aubrey Schenck and Howard Koch purchased 

"Cheyenne Saturday," a Gold Medal original 

by Richard Jurow, for their Lakeside Productions 

schedule; "The Wreck of the Old 

97," an original yarn by Max Wilk and Norman 

Katkov, was bought by Columbia and 

assigned to Richard Quine's production slate; 

Robert Traver's book, "Anatomy of a Murder," 

was bought by Eliot Hyman and Ray 

Stark for future filmization: Robert Aldrich 

.sold 20th-Fox his film rights to "Machine 

for Chuparosa," the Teddie Sherman screen- 

TRIPLE DKBIT—Inger Stevens makes 

her debut in "The Buccaneer" at Paramount, 

her first picture at her own lot 

which signed her to a lonjr-term contract 

last spring. Two other debuts on this 

production include actor .Anthony Quinn 

(right) as director and Henry Wilcoxon 

(left) a full-fledged producer. 

play from the novel by Jack Wagner and 

Bert Hackle. Samuel G. Engel will produce 

it under his own banner for 20th-Fox release. 

"The Aristocratic Cowboy," an original tale 

by Montgom.ery Pittman, w'as purchased by 

Universal-International; Bob Hope bought 

"Westward Ho," by Bert Lawrence, for independent 

production; Joseph Kaufman obtained 

the film rights to "The Wolf Man." 

by Alfred Machard; YvX Brynner announced 

the purchase of Arthur Koestler's novel "The 

Gladiators," which Brynner will produce as 

his first independent Alciona Production: 

Trevor Howard, English actor, purchased 

"The Duke Goes West," by Desmond Farnel, 

and will do it as his fu'st for his independent 

unit. Union Jack Productions; and "The Last 

Outlaw," a novel by Clifton Adams, was 

bought by U-I and assigned to Maxwell Shane 

to produce as his first under his recently 

signed producer contract. 

Nicole 

Maurey Gets Role 

In 'Me and the Colonel' 

. . . 

Casting highlights: French actress Nicole 

Maurey will team with Danny Kaye and Curt 

Jurgens in the William Goetz production. 

"Me and the Colonel" Madge Kennedy. 

star of silent pictures, has been signed by 

Paramount to portray Gary Grant's motherin-law 

in "Houseboat," starring Grant and 

May Hallat and Pi-iscilla 

Sophia Loren . . . 

Morgan of the London company of Terence 

Rattigan's play. "Separate Tables." have been 

. 

. . Joanna 

. 

. 

. 

. . . 

set to re-enact their top supporting roles in 

the Hecht-Hill-Lancaster film Albright 

and Charles Quinlivan were inked for 

top roles in Allied Artists' "Seven Guns to 

Sin." a William Broidy production . 

Moore. U-I's "Georgia peach" blonde, takes 

her first step into stellar ranks with a costarring 

role opposite Jeffrey Hunter in "If 

I Should Die" screen players 

Minta Durfee and Snub Pollard have been 

signed for roles in "The Big Country." the 

William Wyler-Gregory Peck production 

Efrem Zimbalist jr.. Warner contractee. was 

cast in "Stampede," a segment of the Maverick 

series . . . Roger Corman. who has produced 

and directed some 23 independent 

films, will make his thespian debut in "The 

Cry Baby Killer." on which he is executive 

producer. The film's co-producer. David 

March, also will essay a bit role as a bartender 

MacEldowney. daughter of 

film producer H. K. MacEldowney and publicist 

Malvina Pumphi-ey. was set by producer 

Henry Wilcoxon for a supporting role in "The 

Buccaneer" Nina Shipman. 19-year-old 

daughter of writer Barry Shipman. makes 

her film debut in Alfred Hitchcock's "From 

Amongst the Dead" . . . Belita. English stage 

and screen star, has been signed by Carl 

Foreman for "The Key." 

Ingrid Bergman's Next 

For 20th-Fox Is Set 

Ingrid Bergman's next starring role for 

20th Century-Fox will be in the production, 

"The Inn of the Eighth Happiness," it was 

announced by Buddy Adler, studio production 

chief. Mark Robson will direct. 

The picture, being scripted by Isobel Lennart 

from Allan Burgess' novel. "The Small 

Woman," is slated to go before the cameras 

in February in Formosa. 

Mi.ss Bergman's last screen appearance was 

also in an Adler production, "Anastasia," for 

which she won an Academy Award. 

20 BOXOFFICE October 26, 1957

CALENDARiEVENTS 

OCTOBER

. 

LETTERS 

Reasons for 

Patronage Loss 

Being a theatre manager, I am naturally 

asked a niunber of times a week the old 

question: "What effect is TV having on motion 

pictures?" And I always come up with 

the same answer that we always used. "TV 

isn't to any great degree having any effect 

on movies." 

I don't, however, tell them the real reason 

that movies are being affected, but they can 

see for themselves if they look at some of the 

old film programs being shown on Sunday 

nights on various TV stations throughout the 

country. 

For example. Sunday night. October 6. on 

a TV channel in our area, they presented 

•King's Row." with such names as Ronald 

Reagan, Bob Cummings. Ann Sheridan. Betty 

Field. Claude Rains. Charles Coburn. Sunday 

night. October 13. they presented "Night and 

Day," the story of Cole Porter, with such 

names as Cai-y Grant. Alexis Smith. Monty 

WooUey. Ginny Sims, Ann Sheridan. Jane 

Wyman. Eve Arden. 

I haven't played a picture in two years that 

had as many names as these two pictures. Of 

course, the movies were old, but it was still 

good entertainment with names that have 

a certain boxoffice appeal. 

What has happened to the pictures of this 

kind and the stars that used to appear in 

them? If you see Claudette Colbert. Joan 

Crawford. Barbara Stanwyck, or Clark Gable, 

Joel McCrea, James Stewart or Randolph 

Scott, they usually have a feminine lead and 

no other names. 

We. who are also a part of this great Industry 

and who are suffering in a greater 

degree, becau.se we have no name attractions 

to sell, have to sit back and pay big percentages 

for something you can't even make a 

dime on at a flat rental that's too high. 

How many years has it been since you were 

able to buy a new Roy Rogers or Gene Autry? 

How many years has it been since they even 

made one? Or a Hopalong Cassidy or Bob 

Starrett? Then, again, why should the producers 

make an Autry or Rogers when TV 

presents them all day Saturdays (and also on 

Sunday). I think we could pull the kids 

away from TV because of our big screens. 

On TV you can't even see a bullet bounce off 

a rock. 

TV cannot present the excitement that the 

big movie screen gives to a kid. 

But he does 

sit at home and watch it because of a Rogers 

or Autry. And when he does come to the 

theatre, he asks why we don't show a Roy 

Rogers picture sometimes? I saw Bob Steele 

in a very pitiful bit .scene, recently, as a 

jockey. He used to pull them in at the box- 

22 

Working Together 

I believe it will tokc all of us working together 

to whip the many problems encountered 

in the theatre business today. 

I can truthfully soy I believe BOXOFFICE 

is doing a great job for all of us, and anything 

I can do to help, I am certainly glad to do. 

Manager, 

Sunset Drive In Theatre, 

Myers Flat, 

Calif. 

G. R CHEVERTON 

office on Saturday until you couldn't hold 

them, and he was one of the scrappingest 

cowboys to ever hit the screen. 

Where are the Hardy family types? Where 

are the Blondies and Dagwoods? Where are 

the Tarzans? Where are the Kildares? They 

used to mean boxoffice. These few things that 

I've pointed out offer the big reason movies 

are not what they used to be. Give me one 

new Roy Rogers on a Saturday and I would 

get every kid in town and every kid would 

buy a bag of popcorn. Don't take my word 

for it. ask any showman. 

In the place of these pictures I've outlined 

we get "Tlie Monster." "The Claw." "The 

Crab." "Grassihoppers and Spiders." "Teenage 

Ghouls." You get a few kids out and 

then .scare the hell out of them. They stand 

in the lobby and pull your curtains down, wet 

the floor in the auditorium, choke to death 

on a mouthful of popcorn because they didn't 

swallow it before the monster grabbed the 

gal. They go home and can't sleep at night, 

then their mothers dare them to ask to go 

back to the theatre. I had 15 calls one Saturday 

from irate mothers threatening never to 

send their children back for me to baby-sit 

because I had scared hell out of them. 

Let's get one more variant that will destroy 

all the others and put an end to this entertainment 

(?). 

ALABAMA THEATRE MANAGER 

In Defense of Kazan Pictures 

This is in reply to Mr. McLean's .scolding 

letter in the October 19 issue of BOXOFFICE. 

Ever since the World War II boom ended, 

ever since demon television creeped in to 

steal the theatre's thunder, distributors and 

exhibitors, alike, have been searching for 

reasons to explain the decline in movie 

popularity. It is a bit narrow-minded to pin 

the blame on such men as Elia Kazan, simply 

because Kazan's films have not gone over 

with the people of Mr. McLean's town, 

Coulterville, 111. 

One of the remarkable things about 

America is how public tastes differ with locale. 

Coulterville, III., does not any more 

represent American public taste than New 

York City does. Because Kazan does not sell 

in small towns is no reason to discredit Kazan 

and others like him. It is a lopsided 

viewpoint to think that Mr. McLean is Mr. 

American Public speaking. He is not. Millioiis. 

including myself, have been entertained 

by his pictures. 

Mr. McLean states, "What one of Mr. Kazan's 

puny, sordid efforts will live to be 

named as one of the great pictures of motion 

picture history?" Come now. Where were you 

hiding when "A Streetcar Named De.sire." "On 

the Waterfront" and "East of Eden" were 

playing? Where were you the night "Waterfront" 

won all the Academy Awards including 

that as best picture of the year? 

These pictures may have been boxoffice 

busts where your situation is concerned, but 

there were countless other theatres where 

these pictures were pure bonanza. And even 

if they weren't big financially, by what right 

do you rap him and all those who enjoyed 

these films? 

If you rap .so-called "problem" or "think" 

pictures, why don't you rap all those socalled 

"family" pictures that were not boxoffice 

successes? Certainly there are pictures 

like "The Brave One," "The Happy Road" 

and "The Little Kidnappers" that were great 

family pictures but just were not bought by 

the folks. 

Most of the letters I have read in the magazines 

such as BOXOFFICE sing the same 

old. tired song. I 

write to represent the other 

faction: the patron who is not shocked, disturbed 

or disgruntled because a film dares to 

present a problem and or offer a solution. I 

also go to a movie to be entertained. Mr. Mc- 

Lean, and I am also entertained by "12 

Angry Men," "The Rack," "A Hatful of Rain," 

"Time Limit" and films of this nature. 

There is a valuable place in Hollywood for 

the producer who shouted, "If I want a 

message, I'll go to Western Union." But there 

is also a place in Hollywood for an Elia Kazan, 

Stanley Kramer and Rod Serling, who 

think that life goes a little deeper than . . . 

." 

"And They Lived Happily Ever After . 

Assistant Booker 

Belpik Theatre Corp. 

Cleveland, Ohio. 

FRANK BOWERS 

The Screen and the School 

I was doubly shocked upon having called 

to my attention the article concerning the 

request for school discipline by the Mis.souri- 

Illinois Theatre Owners which appeared in 

your publication of September 14. 

I was slightly shocked to leani that the 

theatre owners were particularly concerned 

about the condition of teenagers and their 

respect and dignity of the teaching profession. 

This was a pleasant shock. 

The severe shock I received was to learn 

that the theatre owners did not call upon the 

producers of films to build respect and 

dignity for the teaching profession through 

their releases. We cannot expect to build 

respect for teachers and their profession in 

minds of teenagers when the film producers 

are constantly depicting the classroom 

teacher as a helpless, frustrated, abnormal 

person in their films. 

I might add in passing, that the hickorystick 

discipline in the classroom is a thing 

of the past. We can no more return to this 

kind of discipline than the present-day employer 

can return to the tactics job foremen 

used to control their men a generation ago. 

The use of the theatre screen in cooperation 

with the National Parent -Teachers Ass'n is 

a likely suggestion and would be a welcome 

help. It will not. however, help us to control 

students by force. If we wish to control 

them by force then there is little need for 

the educational program through the medium 

of the theatre screens. 

Principal. 

Kankakee Senior High School, 

Kankakee, 111. 

W. W. KNECHT 

Nash to Do 'Porgy' Script 

NEW YORK— Samuel Goldwyn has engaged 

plaj^vright N. Richard Nash to write 

the screenplay for "Porgy and Bess." Nash 

wrote the Broadway hit, "The Rainmaker," 

among other stage plays, and also the screenplay. 

His son. Christopher Nash, last spring 

won the annual Samuel Goldwyn Creative 

Writing Award at UCLA, with his first novel, 

"The Crvstal Tree." 


Wa6Ju*i

— 

— 

— 

— 

les Girls' Has Smash Third Week 

As New Broadway Films Are Mild 

NEW YORK—Queen Elizabeth's visit and 

the continuance of the influenza epidemic, 

plus the absence of strong new product, hurt 

business in the Broadway first-run houses. 

Les Girls," which had a third week bigger 

than the smash second week at the Radio 

City Music Hall, was the leader, followed by 

Jet Pilot,^ which continued to do strong 

business in its Ihiid week at the RKO Palace, 

And the three two-a-day attractions, Around 

the World in 80 Days,^' in the first week of 

its second year at the Rivoli; 'The Ten 

Commandments, in its 50th week at the 

Criterion, and •Search for Paradise," in its 

fourth week at the Warner Theatre, were 

again absolute capacity C'SO Days") or close 

to it. The new Cinerama feature is building 

its advance sales over the opening weeks. 

The four new pictures were in and out 

"Mister Rock and RoU'^ staying just one 

fast, 

week at Loew's State, although it attracted 

the kids during the day: 'The James Dean 

Story'^ being added for one week only during 

the second week of The Black Scorpion^^ at 

the Paa-amount: That Nighf staying just 

a bit over one week at the 5oth Street Playhouse 

and Every Second Counts^' doing the 

same at the Guild Theatre. Loew's State, 

where The Tin Star'^ opened Wednesday 

(23 1 hasn't had any picture stay longer than 

two weeks since "Sweet Smell of Success" 

played eight weeks ending in August. 

In addition to "The Tin Star," the new 

pictures included "Pal Joey" at the Capitol, 

Time Limif at the Victoria, 'The Amazing 

Colossal Man" at the Paramount and five 

new art house foreign-made pictures. 

Average Is 100) 

Astor—The Helen Morgon Story (WB), 3rd wk. ..110 

Baronet— Deadlier Thon the Mole (Cont'l), 

2nd wk 125 

Copitol—The Joker Is Wild (Para), 4th wk 120 

Central— Piaymq Stnp-Teose films 

Criterion—The Ten Commondments (Para), 

50th wk. of two a dov 140 

Fine Arts—The Mystery of Picosso (Uopert), 

2nd wk 110 

Fifth Avenue—Oedipus Rex (MPD), 5th wk 95 

55th Street—Thot Night U-l) 105 

Guild—Every Seeond Counts (DCA) 105 

Little Carnegie— Sins of Casanova (Times), 

2nd wk 1 50 

Loew's Stote—Mr. Rock and Roll (Poro) 1 20 

Normondie— Perri (Bueno Vista), 3rd wk 140 

Palace Jef Pilot (U-l), 3rd wk 125 

Poromount—The Black Scorpion (WB), 2nd wk.; 

The Jomes Dear» Story, one wk 110 

Pans The Girl in Black (Kingsley), 5th wk 105 

Plozo Love in the Afternoon (AA), 9th wk. ...130 

Radio City Music Hall Les Girls (MGM), 

plus stage show, 3rd wk 165 

Rivoli Around the World in 80 Days (UA), 

53rd wk. of two-Q-doy 200 

Roxy My Mon Godfrey (U-l), plus stage show, 

2nd wk 120 

Sutton—An Alligator Named Daisy (Rank), 2nd 

wk 115 

Trans-Lux 52nd— Four Bogs Full (Trons-Lux), 

7th wk 110 

"Victoria—The Three Foces of Eve (20th-Fax), 

4th wk 105 

Warner— Search for Paradise {Cinerama), 

4th wk, of two-a-day 145 

World It Happened in wk..l05 

the Park (Ellis), 10th 

Paramount Dual Is Bright 

Spot at Buiialo 

BUFFALO — The Paramount with "The 

Devil's Hairpin" and "Mr. Rock and Roll" 

was one of the few bright spots. Boxoffices 

elsewhere were quiet. The Center pulled its 

reissue combo, Satellite in the Sky" and 

"Destination Moon." after a five-day run. 

Buffalo— Until They Soil (MGM), 2nd wk 95 

Center Satellite in the Sky [WB), reissue, 

5 days 75 

Century Young ond Dangerous (20th-Fox); 

Rockabilly Baby 20th-Fox) 75 

Cinema The Lost Continent (DOC), 2nd wk. ... 80 

Lafayette The Land Unknown (U-l); 

The Deadly Mantis (U-l) 80 

Poromount The Devil's Hairpin (Para); 

Mr. Rock and Roll (Para) 100 

"No Do-wn Payment' Does 

Best Baltimore Business 

BALTIMORE — Three of the downtown 

first runs offered double bills, but none of 

them was busy at the boxoffice. The week's 

best business went to "No Down Paymenf 

AN ASTRONOMICAL PLAN TO STIMULATE 

ATTENDANCE IN ALL THEATRES IS 

CcunUtXf. 

ORTH 

MERICAN 

Saan FROM 

ISTRIBUTORS, 

842 HAMILTON ST. 

ALLENTOWN PA. 

INC. 

NOW COMPLETE 

yj 

at the Century. "The Joker Is Wild" did well 

for a second weekend. 

Century—No Down Paymenf (20th-Fox) 120 

Cinema—Mademoiselle Striptease (DCA), 

3rd wk 90 

Film Centre Around the World in 80 Days 

(UA), 44th wk 95 

Five West Brothers in Law Xonfl), 2nd wk. . . 90 

Hippodrome The Joker Is Wild (Para), 2nd wk. 95 

Little—The Rising of the Moon (WB) 100 

Mayfoir—Beyond Mombasa iCol); The Brothers 

Rico (Coij 90 

New— Mr. Rock ond Roll iPoro); Heor Me Good 

(Pora) 85 

Playhouse— The Happy Rood (MGM), 2nd wk. . . 90 

Towne—This Is Cinerama (SW), 7th wk 100 

Stanley—The Devil's Hairpin (Poro); Short Cut 

to Hell Paroj 90 

Newest N.Y. Art Theatre 

To Show German Films 

NEW YORK—New York^s newest first-run 

art house, the 72nd Street Playhouse, between 

1st and 2nd Avenues, will be opened November 

6 by Adolph Herman, with a new series 

of German-language pictures with English 

subtitles. 

The opening attraction will be Cabaret,'^ 

a Sam Baker Associates release, starring Paul 

Henreid, Hollywood star, and Eva Kerbler. 

Cabaret" will be the first German musical 

released in the U. S. since 'World War II. according 

to Herman. The majority of German 

films shown in the U. S. in recent years 

played in German-language houses, without 

English subtitles. 

Tenafly Playhouse Cites 

Many Defendants in Suit 

NEW YORK—Tenafly Playhouse, Inc., has 

filed a SI.950,000 antitrust suit in Federal 

District Court in behalf of its North Bergen 

Theatre, Tenafly, N. J., against the seven 

major distributors. Allied Artists, Republic, 

Stanley Warner Corp.. Lopert Films, Times 

Film, Distributors Corp. of America, Buena 

Vista, United Motion Picture Organization, 

Skouras Theatres and various subsidiaries. 

RKO is not a defendant. The suit was filed 

by Harry M. Pimstein. former RKO attorney, 

and charged discrimination in rentals, runs 

and clearances, admission prices and advertising 

allowances. 

Two DCA British Pictures 

Open in N.Y. Art Spots 

NEW YORK—Two British pictures distributed 

by E>CA will open in New York firstrun 

art houses during the final week of October. 

They are: "The Colditz Story,'^ starring 

John Mills and Eric Portman, which 

opened at the Trans-Lux 52nd Street Theatre 

Thursday (24 1 and "The Silken Affair,'^ 

starring David Niven and Beatrice Straight, 

which will open at the Guild Tlieatre October 

30. 

Another DCA release, 'Please! Mr. Balzac," 

a French language film starring Brigitte Bardot 

and Daniel Gelin, will follow 'The Colditz 

Story" at the Ti-ans-Lux 52nd St. 

N. J. Theatres Hard Hit 

By Influenza Epidemic 

NEW YORK—New Jersey theatre grosses 

dropped to 'pre-Christmas^^ levels during the 

week, several exhibitors reported to BOX- 

OFFICE. They gave most of the blame to 

the influenza epidemic. 

'School authorities have been telling pupils 

to stay away from crowds," they said, 'with 

the result that we^ve been having $20 evenings. 

E-2 BOXOFFICE : 

: October 

26, 1957

DOUBLE BOXOFFICE BLOCKBUSTER I NO. 15 

AJAVAGE GIANT ON A BLOOD-MD RAMPAGE! 

GROWING...! 

GROWING...! 

N^_ to a GIANT! to a MONSTER! 

WHEN WILL IT 

STOP? 

CONTACT YOUR 

'ntsjinatianaL EXCHANGE 

EORGE WALDMAN 

FILMS 

EORGE J. WALDMAN 

630 Nintli Avenue 

lEW YORK 36, N. Y. 

AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL 

PICTURES 

JOHN SCHAEFFER 

235 No. 13th Street 

PHILADELPHIA 7, PENNSYLVANIA 

AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL 

PICTURES 

JEROME SANDY 

1015 New Jersey Avenue, N.W, 

WASHINGTON 1, D, C. 

SCREEN GUILD 

PRODUCTIONS 

MILTON BRAUMAN 

415 Van Broom Street 

PITTSBURGH 19, PENNSYLVANIA 

GEORGE WALDMAN 

FILMS 

GEORGE J. WALDMAN 

505 Peorl Street 

BUFFALO, N. Y.

1 28) 

' 

BROADWAY 

VTAYOR ROBERT F. WAGNER on Monday 

will proclaim the week of November 

10 as W. C. Handy Week in honor of the 

composer of "St. Louis Blues," as a prelude 

to the release of Paramount's "St. Louis 

Blues." And Times Squai-e will be marked 

W. C. Handy Square. • * • Paramount topper 

George Weltner returned from Tokyo this 

week. And James Perkins, vice-president of 

Paramount International, is in Rome for the 

opening of "The Ten Commandments." • « • 

Producer Robert Rossen sailed for England 

on the Queen Elizabeth. * • • Sam Friedman, 

Columbia's press director for "The 

Bridge on the River Kwai." left for Los Angeles 

to set up the west coast premiere. • » • 

Kirk Douglas is in town doing promotion 

work on "Paths of Glory" and "The Vikings." 

" • • Seymour Mayer, executive of Loew's International, 

took off for South and Central 

America on a trip that will extend to December 

19. * Emery • • Austin, MGM exploitation 

head, was in Chicago and Memphis 

this week. • " • June Lockhart is in New 

York to ballyhoo "Time Limit." 

Mrs. M. Henry (Marjoriei Dawson, who has 

resigned as associate director of community 

relations of the Motion Picture A.ss'n of 

America, will be honored by the Film Estimates 

Board of National Organizations with 

a luncheon Thursday (31) at the Hotel Plaza. 

* • • All identical twins over 16 years of age 

were admitted free at the first day's showings 

of "The Virtuous Scoundrel" at the Fifth 

Avenue Cinema Tuesday (22). " * - 

Ha! 

Wallis returned to Hollywood. 

Shirley Block, secretary of Irving Greenfield, 

secretary of Loew's, Inc.. will be married 

November 3 to David Zirinsky, real estate 

executive, at the Pierre Hotel. * ' 

Producer Al Lewin arrived from Spain. • • • 

And Sol Siegel came in from Paris and then 

headed for the coast. • • • Leon Roth. United 

Artists west coast publicity coordinator, is 

in town for home office parleys. • • • 

Mo Rothman, UA European sales man- 

?gcr. a "rived from Paris. ' * " Ditto 

B. G Kranze, vice-president of Stanley 

Warner Cinerama. • ' • Jesse Chinich. Buena 

Vista's western division manager, came m 

from the coast. * • * Rank of America travelers: 

Geoffrey Martin to Miami. Irving Sochin 

back from midwest and south. Steve Edwards 

in from south and southwest. * * - Producer 

Henry Blanke left for Belgium in connection 

with the filming of "The Nun's Story." 

' " 

Warner executives Ben Kalmenson, Robert 

Taplinger and Gil Golden were holding studio 

parleys this week. 

Charles Casanave, president of Fred Astaire 

Dance Studios, officiated at the annual Trophy 

Ball in Cleveland Friday night (25i. 

• 

Mr.s. Pauline Seligman. widow of the late 

Max Seligman, long-time Columbia Pictures 

executive, died last week after a brief illness. 

A sister, daughter and granddaughter survive. 

"' • Leonard Kaufman, Paramount attorney, 

was in Salt Lake City. ' * * Producers 

Mel Frank, George Seaton and William Perlberg 

are in town from Hollywood. ' ' James 

Harris, producer, and Stanley Kubrick, director, 

of "Paths of Glory." returned to Hollywood 

after conferring with United Artists 

executives in New York. • * * 

Joseph A. Tanney, 

president of S.O.S. Cinema Supply Corp., 

completed a six-week tour of England and 

Europe this week. He inspected production 

facilities in the major cities and equipment 

houses whose products S.O.S. handles on this 

side of the Atlantic. 

Award for Cinematograph 

ROCHESTER. N. Y.— William Daniels, cinematographer, 

received the George Eastman 

"George" award Saturday i26i at the second 

Festival of Film Artists. The citation noted 

his outstanding work in the 1926-30 period 

when films changed from silent to sound. 

Daniels has been engaged in motion picture 

photography for more than a quarter of 

a century. He recently photographed "My 

Man Godfrey" for Universal-International. 

EXHIBITORS! 

Do you want 16 million 

union members and families 

hostile to 

our industry? 

• Senator McClellan is investigating union-busting tactics. Warner Brothers is callmi^lv 

dismissing 32 loyal employes with up to 33 years of service. 

• This is an inimoral and senseless act. Jack L. Warner, Serge Semenenko an(i Ben 

Kalmenson are the heads of management who have acted against their loyal workers and 

famihes. This must surely hurt everybody in our industry, 

• The united labor movement is behind our fight, just as they were last week when 

jIuMisands of members of District 65 prote.sted the antiunion activities „f B,,nwil T.ll^r'- 

riftli Avenue store, 

HELP US PREVENT THE SAME THING HAPPENING AT YOUR THEATRES' 

WE DON'T WANT TO CARRY OUR FIGHT TO YOUR CUSTOMERS! 

DISTRICT 65 

SCREEN PUBLICISTS GUILD, RWDSU, AFL-CIO 

Oi\i- 1)1 a st-rirs of (idvfrtiscmcntsi 

.'MK HKL HONORED—W. C. Mulicl, 

right, executive vice-president of '.JOth 

Century-Fox, is presented Hith a citation 

from the I'nited Epilepsy .-iss'n for his 

efforts in behalf of the organization by 

Carl Marks, left, president of the Association. 

Michel is chairman of the UE.'\'s 

fund raising drive for the motion picture 

industry. 

New Publicists Union 

Formed in New York 

NEW YORK— The 25-member publicists 

unit at Paramount Pictures' home office 

voted unanimously by secret ballot Wednesday 

night (23 1 to become an eastern counterpart 

of the Hollywood lATSE publicists' local 

and will be known as the lATSE Publicists 

Ass'n. The referendum marked discontinuance 

of the unit's association with lATSE 

Home Office Employes Local No. H-63. and 

acceptance of lATSE international president 

Richard F. Walsh's offer of autonomy under 

an "A" charter. 

lATSE international representative David 

Cassidy was appointed by WaJsh to serve as 

business agent of the new local and to organize 

the industry's field publicists east of 

the Mississippi River under the same banner. 

Youngstein to Coordinate 

Israel Anniversary Fete 

NEW YORK—Max E. Youngstein. United 

Artists vice-president, has been named industry 

coordinator on the American Committee 

for Israel's Tenth Anniversary Celebration, 

according to former Sen. Herbert 

H Lehman, general chairman. 

.Americans of all faiths, representing government, 

the arts, business and professions, 

comprise the committee for the celebration, 

which will be launched in April 1958 and continue 

through December. It will emphasize 

the common interests of Americans, 

Arabs and Israelis in the search for peace. 

Louis Shanfield Funeral; 

20th-Fox Art Director 

NEW YORK—Funeral services for Louis 

Shanfield, 68, former art director for 20th 

Century-Fox, were held October 20. Shanfield, 

who retired three years ago after being 

connected with Fox for 21 years, died at St. 

Agne.s Hospital. White Plains. October 18. 

Interment was private. 

During his long tenure with 20th-Fox and 

the old Fox Film Co.. Shanfield also served 

as advertising art director for the Roxy Theatre. 

He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Elsie 

Vo,ss Shanfield, and a sister, Mrs. Zelda 

Moody of Buenos Aires. 

E-4 BOXOFFICE October 26, 1957

THESE ANNOUNCEMENTS REVEAL 

VITAL 

FACTS ABOUT 

vausioH 

. . . Carl 

. 

Hopalong 

1 

23) 

. . 20th-Fox 

. . 20th-Fox 

. . Joe 

. . Marilyn 

. . Ernie 

. . Jimmy 

. . Louis 

PITTSBURGH 

jyjr. and Mrs. Charles Mervis, Mervis circuit, 

in Miami last week for the birth of a son 

to daughter Mrs. Melvin Glasser. visited Max 

and Martha Shulgold, veterans of Filmrow 

who retired several months ago, in their newly 

purchased home in Miami Shores. The Shulgolds 

would like to hear from industry friends 

. . Alden Phelps. Waterford outdoor theatre 

owner and Democratic county chairman at 

Erie, is one of a few such political bosses in 

the state who is not on the state payroll. 

However, his wife Mary works in the Erie office 

of the state commerce depai-tment 

Louis K. Sidney, manager of Loew's 

, . . 

Aldine 

and Penn theatres here 30 years ago, is ill 

in Cedars of Lebanon Hospital, Los Angeles 

A. Poke, retired city exhibitor who 

died last week, was a well known sportsman 

and former sandlot baseball player. He was 

a co-proprietor of a Mount Washington 

bowling alley. 

. . 

Tony DeiVIichelis, former Dunbar exhibitor 

and Fayette County outdoor theatre partner 

who is ill in Mercy Hospital here, is in need 

of blood contributions . . . Don Taylor, with 

several unreleased pictures and some TV films 

in the cans, is expected to visit his parents, 

the D. E. Taylors of Freeport . Chris Lampros. 

Farrell. co-owner of the Valley Car Wash 

and owner of the Hickory Drive-In Theatre, 

Sharon area, returned home after a 3';;- 

month trip abroad where he had a reunion 

in Greece with relatives he hadn't seen for 

over 20 years. Accompanied by his wife Cecelia, 

they were joined in Zonec, on the Island 

of Peloponnesos, by their son Lampros Chris, 

a Georgetown University student. The Shenango 

Valley busine.ssman enjoyed wonderful 

reunions with his mother, five brothers and 

three sisters. 

James A. Sipe, projectionist at the Mount 

Oliver Theatre was named president of Pittsburgh's 

lATSE Local 171. His .son James V. 

is business representative. The presidency 

was left open by the resignation of Paul Mach, 

who is on tour with a roadshow . . . SW Enright 

Theatre. East Liberty, closed several 

months, was open Monday (21) for Ben 

Anolik's latest on-stage boxing .show, but le.ss 

than 1,000 customers paid $2,270 at the boxoffice 

. . . Milo K. Ruse, former Point Marion 

banker and co-owner of an outdoor theatre 

near Morgantown which went out of business 

several years ago, this week was found guilty 

of evading income taxes in federal court 

Several years ago he pleaded no defense to 

embezzlement charges and was placed on 

probation. 

Lee Goldenson, 80. operator of Marks and 

Goldenson's clothing store at Scottdale for 

half a century prior to retirement seven years 

ago, died last week in Hollywood. He was the 

father of Leonard H. Goldenson, president of 

American Broadcasting-Paramount Theatres 

Inc. Survivors, In addition to son Leonard' 

include his Wife Esther, and daughters 

Mrs. Sylvia Well, New York, and Mrs Madelyn 

Seder, Los Angeles. 

George Zeppos, Wheeling's pioneer exhibitor 

and operator of the Rex Theatre there, returned 

from a six-month vacation in Greece 

iBill Boydi Cas.sidys Hendrysburg 

home is offered for sale . . . WB's "Jamboree 

" 

w-iU be tradescreened October 30 at 

1:30 p.m., in the 20th-Fox screening room . 

A. C. Brown, Paramount auditor, has been 

on duty here . McCormick. WB exchange 

booker, reports his new daughter has 

been named Judith Ann . 

Hendel, 

UA manager, has this company's newly 

opened exchange here decorated in honor of 

the Bill Heineman drive w-hich continues to 

March 29 . . . Sam Wheeler's mother-in-law. 

Mrs. Bella Somerman, died here last week. 

This brought Sam and family from Washington, 

where he operates an independent 

film company. Also his brothers George. District 

Theatres, and Al. Allied Artists. Washington, 

were in Pittsburgh, where all were 

members of the Filmrow Wheeler family 

which included Hymie. local UA salesman, 

and the late film salesman Eddie Wheeler. 

Another brother is Maurice, local lawyer. 

The Roosevelt, Republic, dark for many 

months, has been reopened . 

Perretta 

had reopened the 16-year-old Crescent Theatre. 

Mahoningtown, which was dark all summer 

. . . Visitors included Jules Lapidus and 

Bill Mansell. WB . Stautner, outdoor 

theatre ow^ner in the Lake Placid area 

and heavyweight professional football tackle 

with the Pitt.sburgh Steelers. was born in 

Germany, speaks the language of that country, 

but says there's nothing on earth like his 

adopted land. 

On Filmrow were Marco and Frank Ranalli, 

owners of Ranalli's and the Greentree 

Drive-In 

. . . The Laskey brothers. Ted and 

George, on Filmrow, stated they were going 

into weekend operation at their Westover 

Drive-In, Morgantown, and Starlite, Fairmont 

. has set trade shows as follows, 

all at 1:30 p.m., October 28, "Stopover 

Tokyo": October 29, "Rockabilly Baby": October 

31, "Ghost Diver" . . . Vandals broke 

many Filmrow windows, notable at the Paramount 

building 

. 

Kreisler seems 

to be Filmrow's all-around gal. Recently she 

filled in briefly at the UA office and at the 

Dinty Moore establishment, where she was 

formerly secretary, and this week she was 

on temporary duty at the Associated Theatres 

headquarters. 

Steve Chingos, with his wife, was on Filmrow 

for the first time in more than a score 

of years. His Grand Theatre, Hollidaysburg, 

had been leased out for 20 years, and recently 

he renovated and modernized it and reopened 

it under his own management. The theatre 

adjoins his Sugar Bowl, confection bar. 

The approved new freeway will make Erie 

only two hours from Pittsburgh—a boon to 

commerce and vacationists. The expressway 

thus will link Pittsburgh to the St. Lawrence 

Seaway 

. 

didn't trade .show "No 

Down Payment" last Thursday; scheduled 

for 1:30 p.m., it was set back to 3 o'clock 

and then called off. 

To Honor Engstrom of RCA 

For Industrial Research 

PITTSBURGH—Dr. Elmer W. Engstrom. 

senior executive vice-president of the Radio 

Corp. of America, was named Wednesday 

as recipient of the Industrial Research 

Institute medal for 1958 for "leadership in 

or management of industrial research." 

The announcement was made by Dr. 

Thomas H. Vaughn, president of the institute 

and executive vice-president, corporate 

development, Pabst Brewing Co. The 

presentation will take place at the annual 

meeting of the institute in May at Colorado 

Springs. 

ALBANY 

The first Tent 9 social event of the new sea- 

.son was a reception in the Sheraton- 

Ten Eyck Hotel Friday i25i from 6:30 to 7 

p.m.. followed by smorgasbord and the first 

.showing of a feature film. Tariff was $8.50 

per couple. Reservations were handled by 

Chief Barker Samuel E. Rosenblatt. Jules 

Perlmutter (a former chief barken and Max 

Zuckerman, dough guy. 

Ed Chenette, Ritz assistant manager, 

had just returned to work following emergency 

surgery for appendicitis when he was 

sent back to bed with the flu. possibly Asian. 

Paul Laube. Ritz manager, remained on duty. 

although he has a severe cold . . . "The 

Joker Is Wild" jackpotted at the Strand, 

causing Stanley Warner to move it to the 

Ritz Wednesday (23i. Interest in the story 

of Joe E. Lewis' life is believed to have been 

hjTJoed by casting Frank Sinatra as the comedian. 

Sinatra, wuth his current television successes, 

is a strong draw. Lewis is well known 

to the Albany crowd which patronizes Saratoga 

racing. He made annual appearances 

at the old Piping Rock Club and daily visited 

the track. 

Smalley's Johnstown Theatre advertised 

Monday (21 1 that it would be closed through 

Saturday afternoon, due to the flu epidemic. 

"We are taking this action," read newspaper 

copy, "in cooperation with the schools and 

for the protection of our patrons." The 

Johnstown Theatre shuttering was believed 

to be the first in the area because of the flu. 

However, the schools in Johnstown, as well as 

in neighboring communities like Broadalbin, 

Mayfield and Dolgeville had been closed for 

the week. The Vicentian Institute, largest 

Catholic school in Albany, was closed for 

several days last week. 

"Portland Expose" and "Dino" reportedly 

did not flush up a great amount of cash at 

Fabian's Palace and were withdrawn after a 

four-day run. "Action of the Tiger" and "The 

Hired Gun" replaced them Sunday . . . The 

Green Girls From Outer Space, who rocketed 

publicity for Schine-owned WPTR in a series 

of stunts capitalizing on the Russian satellite, 

had a Friday date scheduled for the 

Auto-Vision in East Greenbush, which showed 

"Threshold of Space." 

The Gloversville Leader-Herald reported 

that Mrs. Lester Crown, daughter of Mr. and 

Mrs. J. Myer Schine. had an active role in 

New York City's reception for Queen Elizabeth 

II and Prince Phillip. The guided tour 

of Manhattan for the royal couple included 

tea in a private room of the Empire State 

building of which Henry Crown, father of 

Lester, is president. The senior Crown led in 

this greeting. Mrs. Crown, mother of several 

children, and her husband live in Winnetka, 

111. She is a graduate of Syracuse University; 

was married to Crown In 1950. 

Jayne Mansfield Is the star narrating the 

part of the Variety film dealing with Tent 

9's summer vacation project for needy boys. 

The pictorial report of Variety Clubs activities 

on behalf of crippled, sick and underprivileged 

children, here and abroad, moved 

supposedly hardboiled film business people. 

Norm Pratt handled the projection. 

Mary La Roche, New York musical comedy 

star, will play the only feminine role in UA's 

"Run Silent, Run Deep." 

E-6 


. . . Wilbur 

. . Mitchell 

. . Walter 

. . Fred 

. . Sam 

. . The 

. . Miiko 

. . . Sympathy 

. . Walter 

. . Sara 

. . Alene 

. . Eddie 

. . Roy 

— 

. . 

PHILADELPHIA 

Joseph Solomon, Fan Fare Films, is the local 

franchise-holder for "Walk Into Hell," 

a Patric Film production . spread of 

the flu has cut into all downtown and suburban 

theatre receipts. 

. . 

Jon Provost, a 7-year-oId 40-pounder, was 

here for press interviews in behalf of "Escapade 

in Japan," in which he has a featured 

role, now playing at the Stanley. Provost has 

joined the cast of CBS-TV's Lassie, replacing 

Tommy Rettig . The theatrical post of the 

American Legion gave its first annual Albert 

M. Cohen award to Dr. I. S. Ravdin of University 

Hospital, who made the front pages 

with his operation on President Eisenhower 

a year ago Potamkin. city salesman 

for Columbia, was in . 

the Jaynes 

Hospital 

after a heart attack. 

. 

. . . Oscar 

. . . 

The Grand, Norristown. reopened, completely 

renovated Stiefel's Uptown 

Theatre is running another rock 'n' roll stage 

show headed by Roy Hamilton with Coatesville 

Harris and his band, the Tune Weavers. 

Fatman Lloyd and the Spaniels 

W. Lummis. 65, died. He was a theatre sound 

engineer for RCA and former projectionist 

at the Trans-Lux Theatre The Variety 

Club has appointed Lester Wm-tele. of Columbia, 

as chairman of the heart fund drive. 

Chairman of the annual heart fund dinner 

to be held January 13 in the Bellevue Stratford 

Hotel is former barker Ralph P>i-ies. 

BALTIMORE 

lêmbers of the Allied of Maryland attending 

the convention of Allied States Ass'n 

at Kiamesha Lake, N. Y., included Jack L. 

Whitte, C. Elmer Nolte jr. and F. Hamilton 

Durkee jr. (the latter two executives of the 

Durkee Enterprises), Walter Gettinger, Jack 

Levin, Nathan Klein, Sol Klein, Louis Cohan, 

J. Robert Gruver (owner of the New Glen 

at Glen Bumie), Aaron Seidler and Irwin 

Cohen. 

. 

Frank J. Hurley jr., treasurer for "Around 

the World in 80 Days," was confined to his 

James H. Pollack, 

home with the flu . . . 

owner of the New Albert who is a Variety 

Club past chief barker, w-as a patient at Johns 

Hopkins Hospital for treatment of ptomaine 

poisoning Perry is featuring rock 

and roll shows at his Edgewater Theatre on 

Friday nights and is packing the house. 

. . . 

. 

Joe VValderman, owner of the Park, and 

wife enjoyed a weekend visit from their son 

Howard, who is attending Duke University 

Bob DeLawney of the Carroll Theatre 

near Westminster was in town on business 

Brizendine, general manager for 

the Schwaber Theatres, was a victim of the 

flu Rosenfeld is host for "A 

Foggy Night in London" at the Baltimore 

Variety Club Saturday evening (26). 

'Story of Mankind' Opens 

At Philadelphia Theatre 

PHILADELPHIA — Warner Bros.' "The 

Story of Mankind" opened here Wednesday 

(23) at the Stanley Theatre with guests 

arriving in the costumes of their favorite 

characters in history. It is an Irwin Allen 

production starring Ronald Colman, Hedy 

LaMarr. the Marx Bros, and others. The 

opening followed advance promotion, including 

invitations by telephone, cross-trailers in 

Stanley Warner houses and screenings for 

members of the Board of Education and 

Parent-Teacher organizations. 

BUFFALO 

There will be a general meeting of the mem- 

. . 

bers of Variety Tent 7 Monday (28) to 

nominate members for the 1958 crew. The 

election will be held November 11 from noon 

until midnight, according to Harold Bennett, 

chief barker . Taka, Japanese 

actress, who stars opposite Marlon Brando in 

"Sayonara," was here to do some tubthumping 

for the production. Art Moger, Wai'ner 

Two 

exploiteer, aided in the promotion . 

capacity audiences turned out Monday evening 

(21) for the two performances on the 

Paramount stage of the three-star show featuring 

the Ted Heath orchestra, the Hi-Lo's 

and Carmen McRae. All seats were reserved. 

Leo D. Senn, engineer for many years at 

the Paramount Theatre, died following a 

heart attack . . . Bob Wells, local radio station 

(WEBR) personality and his wife attended 

the big Michael Todd party in Madison 

Garden. While in Gotham he did the 

prolog for Warner Bros.' "Jamboree," 

scheduled for early December release . . . 

Richard Egan, screen star, was in to do 

some drumpounding for his latest picture, 

"Slaughter on Tenth Avenue," current at 

Basil's Lafayette. 

Industry leaders, both national and local, 

acted as pallbearers for the late Robert T. 

Murphy, general manager of the Century 

Theatre. A requiem mass was held in St. 

March Church. Burial was in Cheektowaga. 

Active bearers were Salah Hassanein, New 

York; 

George A. Mason, Francis Foley, John 

McGowan, Augustus Williamson, Stanley Koczanowski, 

Robert Lannen and Raymond 

Kemble. Honorary bearers were George 

Skouras and Edward H. Rowley of New York 

City, George H. Mackenna, Ai-thur Krolick, 

Chaiies B. Taylor, Edward F. Meade, William 

Brereton, Edward Miller, Charles A. McLeary, 

Ben Dargush, Edward Lowry, Constantine J. 

Basil, William Basil, V. Spencer Balser, Andrew 

Gibson, William Dipson, Max Yellen, 

Sam Yellen, David Rogers, Earl L. Hubbard, 

Bert Lapentina, James Hayes, Robert Zanger, 

William Shirley, Carl J. Rindcen, Mayor 

Steven Pankow, Elmer F. Lux, Isadore Erlichman. 

Huge A. Maguire, Jack Mundstuk. Myron 

Gross, Ben Felcher, John G. Chinell, 

Francis Maxwell, Harry Berkson, Louis Leiser, 

John Pauly, Al Becker and David Miller. 

WASHINGTON 

Ohirley Page, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Roy 

Richardson, Richardson circuit, Suffolk, 

Va., was married to Aubrey Hubbard Fitzgerald 

. Teed, E. M. Loew's circuit, 

and his family motored to Boston over the 

weekend to attend the wedding of his brother 

to Mrs. Sam Wheeler, Wheeler 

Film Co., in the death of her mother in 

Pittsburgh, and to Lucille Brown, District 

Theatres, in the death of her stepfather. 

ill several days . 

Dorothy Ricks, District Theatres, was home 

Martin, Walsh circuit, 

resigned and went to Florida to live . 

. 

. 

20th-Fox salesman Fritz Goldschmidt became 

. . ill with the flu Manager Ira Sichelman, 

who was ill a week with the flu, returned to 

his desk Young motored to Cape 

Cod to visit her sister over the weekend . . . 

Gracie Adkins w'as off with the flu. 

. . Mrs. 

. 

Louis Fruchtman, brother of Jack Fruchtman, 

died of a heart attack in New York . . . 

Lou Bachrach of the Palace at Winchester, 

came in to book Richardson was 

. 

an exchange visitor ... All the Sam Wheeler 

family won prizes at the Variety Club 

golf tournament, as did Tom Mudd, Jack 

Keegan. Buddy Sharkey, Mrs. Al Blitz, Mrs. 

Ted Cohen, Ira Sichelman, Mrs. Harry Bernstein 

and Nade Klein. 

When Irving Martin was moved from 

Loew's Columbia to the Palace, Alfred Ehrling. 

assistant at the Palace, was moved up 

to manager of the Columbia, while Robert 

Reed, student assistant at the Columbia, 

moved up to assistant at the Palace . 

Ben Lust, Ben Lust Theatre Supply Co., was 

called to New York by the illness of her 

brother Railey resigned at Ben 

Lust Theatre Supply Co. Her sister will take 

over. 

Promotes 'Slaughter' 

NEW YORK—Richard Egan has been 

touring key cities in behalf of "Slaughter on 

Tenth Avenue," Universal-International picture 

in which he stars. He has visited New 

York, Philadelphia, Buffalo, Detroit, Indianapolis 

and Boston. The picture will open 

November 4 at the Astor Theatre here. 

Close on Boardwalk 

ATLANTIC CITY — The three George 

Hamid theatres on the Boardwalk have closed 

for the season. "Around the World in 80 

Days," which broke all records at Hamid's 

Virginia on the Boardwalk for 20 weeks, 

moved into the Center on Atlantic avenue, 

converted by Hamid to Todd-AO. 

Simon With NTA Pictures 

NEW YORK—Mike Simon has been appointed 

special sales representative of NTA 

Pictures by A. W. Schw-alberg, director. Simon 

was formerly Paramount branch manager in 

Cleveland, Buffalo and Detroit. 

JonmiM^ 

BOONTON, N. J. 

Large Core 

Greater Crater Area 

means 

MAXIMUM LIGHT 

West Virginia- -Chorleston Theatre Supply, Charleston—Dickens 

4-4413 

in District of Columbia—R. & S. Theatre Supply Co., Woshington 

Sterling 

Evenly Distnbuted 

3-S938 

j^ 

Theatre Service & Supply, Huntington—2-4043 

Veterons Electricol Construction and Service, Elkins—832 

BOXOFFICE :: October 26. 1957 E-7

. . Academy 

I 

. . Pedro 

^(Md

— 

NEWS AND VIEWS THE PRODUCTION CENTER 

(Hollywood Office—Suite 219 at 6404 Hollywood Blvd., Ivan Spear, Western Manager! 

'Anxious' Premiere 

In New Orleans Soon 

HOLLYWOOD—The world premiere of 

AB-PT Pictures' "Eighteen and Anxious" 

will be held at the Saenger Theatre in New 

Orleans Thursday, November 7. with a fourday 

festival and appearances of the film's 

stars. 

The Louisiana governor and the mayor of 

New Orleans will participate in the functions 

for the Hollywood visitors, including stars 

Mary 'Webster, William Campbell. Ron Hagerthy. 

Jackie Loughery, Martha Scott. Jim 

Backus and Jackie Coogan. 

Plans for the premiere have been formulated 

by AB-PT President Irving H. Levin 

and Henry Plitt, president of Paramount Gulf 

Theatres. 

Filmland's Golden Jubilee Pictured 

As Milestone to Greater Triumphs 

Jerry Wald's "Kiss Them for Me" (20th- 

Fox) will be world-premiered November 6 at 

the Fox Theatre in San Francisco. Suzy 

Parker will fly from New York to join Wald 

for preopening promotion. The Fox Theatre 

has reportedly earmarked an unusual high of 

Sll.OOO for the kickoff promotion. 

* * * 

In accordance with Paramount's nationwide 

setup of 57 "red carpet" screenings of 

Perlberg-Seaton's "The Tin Star," new western 

toplining Henry Fonda and Anthony 

Perkins, the studio has scheduled the Los 

Angeles preview for Monday (28) for the general 

press and a list of film and TV celebrities. 

Following the successful "Oldtimers" party 

of late September for the same film, Paramount 

is issuing invitations to stars of top 

westerns of 1957. and to the assembly of TV 

stars from the 11 old west shows now on the 

video circuits. 

" 

"Tin Star begins play in Los Angeles November 

6. and is booked as a general Thanksgiving 

Day release across the country. 

* * * 

Glenn Ford and Eleanor Powell will be host 

and hostess at a special screening of MGM's 

"Don't Go Near the Water" to be held this 

month for the special advanced gifts section 

of the National Home for Asthmatic Children 

in Denver. The screening will be at MGM 

studios. 

Miss Powell is the president of the Eleanor 

Powell chapter of the organization. Ford 

stars in the film, an Avon Production. 

Ann Sothern FED 

HOLLYWOOD—Ann Sothern was accorded 

an honorary "FED" (Doctor of Feminine 

Fascination) from the National Philosophers 

Club, a fraternal organization consisting of 

123 Ph.D.'s throughout the country. 

Shown here with Eric Johnston at the film industry Golden Jubilee luncheon 

in Los Angeles are, left to right: George Murphy, Mrs. Goodwin Knight, Johnston, 

Leo Ames of the Screen Actors Guild, Governor Knight and Charles Ducommun, 

president of the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce. 

HOLLYWOOD—Filmland's Golden Jubilee 

was marked at a luncheon sponsored by the 

Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce at the 

Biltmore Bowl Thiu'sday (17i, at which key 

speaker Eric Johnston, president of the Motion 

Picture Producers Ass'n. minced no 

words in taking a rap at the "timid souls" 

and the film industry's detractors. 

Speaking before .some 700 leading civic, 

governmental and industry figures, Johnston 

said. "Out here we liave never doubted the 

historic significance of Hollywood's birth, but 

I must tell you frankly that there were some 

doubters elsewhere. A few timid souls weren't 

sure we ought to go shouting to the world 

that Hollywood— the capital of glamour and 

eternal youth—was a venerable 50 years old. 

Wouldn't people scornfully proclaim, they 

said, that we were just trying to conceal our 

wrinkles under golden greasepaint? 

"And there were some who said that we 

had wrinkles elsewhere—in our pocketbook! 

The only future they saw in the motion picture 

theatre—thanks to that other medium 

was as a parking lot, a filling station, or a 

hot dog stand—super colossal, of course," 

said Johnston. 

He added, however, that "our spirits are 

high and will remain that way for a long 

time to come. We ai-e rich in our future. I 

don't know when I've seen Hollywood look 

ahead more enthusiastically." 

In winding up his address, Johnston departed 

from his prepared speech to ad lib 

the following comment: "We are going to 

celebrate a lot more jubilees, and the motion 

picture industry is going to provide better 

entertainment, better relaxation, better information 

and better communications to all 

the peoples of the world." 

Bank of America chairman Jesse Tapp, 

recounting the beginnings of the industry and 

its progress to one of California's most important 

activities, said, "The record of our 

motion picture community and its studios is 

a glorious one. Our area is recognized as the 

cinema capital of the world and it has exerted 

tremendous influence throughout the years 

on the thoughts, habits, customs and even 

the lives of a tremendous international 

public." 

Charles E. Ducommun. chamber president, 

was in charge of the event and introduced 

the various civic and industrial leaders headed 

by Gov. Goodwin J. Knight, who congratulated 

Hollywood on its 50th anniversary. 

George Seaton. president of the Academy, 

introduced the top executives, guild and 

union leaders and personalities. 

Personalities in attendance included Dana 

Andrews. Ann Blyth. Corinne Calvet. Jeff 

Chandler, Charles Coburn, Joan Collins. Gary 

Cooper. Linda CrLstal. Eva Gabor, Zsa Zsa 

Gabor. Earl Holliman, Rita Moreno. George 

Nader. Dan O'Herlihy, Jeffrey Stone, Robert 

Wagner, Cornel Wilde. Jean Wallace. Keenan 

Wynn and others. 

Howard Shoup Elected 

HOLLYWOOD—Howard Shoup has been 

elected president of the Costume Designers 

Guild for the coming year. Others elected: 

Adele Palmer, vice-president; Leah Rhodes, 

secretary: Marjorie Best, treasurer, and 

Charles LeMaire, Gwen Wakeling, Albert 

Nickel and Sheila O'Brien, executive board. 

BOXOFFICE : 

: October 

26. 1957 W-1

Jean Wallace to Star 

Role in 'Maracaibo' 

HOLLYWOOD—Jean VVailacc was named 

femme lead in "Maracaibo," the Theodora 

Production for Paramount. Miss Wallace is 

the wife of Cornel Wilde, Theodora topper, 

who is directing and also starring in the picture. 

The couple are paired in another Theodora 

Production for Paramont, "The Devil's Hairpin," 

released this month. Others previously 

set for "Maracaibo" include Francis Lederer 

and Michael Landon. 

Billy DeWolfe, under contract to Paramount 

for many years, has been inked to return 

to the lot for a featured role in Jerry 

Lewis' 'Vork production of "Rock-a-Bye 

Baby." Lewis stars in the film, with Marilyn 

Maxwell and Connie Stevens also cast. Frank 

Tashlin directs. 

Maureen O'Hara has signed to stai- in 

"Trek," slated as the first production under 

the tanner of Carousel Pioduction.s. independent 

company formed by Charles B. Fitzsimons, 

Mi.s.s O'Hara's brother, and A. S. 

Fleischmann. A western yarn. "Tiek" was 

written by Fleischmann. 

The company's second property is "Singapore 

East." a British co-production to be 

shot in its entirety in Malaya. It's based on 

Pleischmann's novel, "Malaya Woman." Fitz- 

.simons has been a production aide of Edward 

Alperson for the past three years. 

Jeff Richards has been signed by Alan 

Ladd for the top starring role in "Island of 

Lost Women," which Ladd's Jaguar Productions 

will produce for Warner Bros. Richards 

plays an International News Service 

correspondent and network commentator. The 

film deals with a Manhattan project scientist 

and hi.s three daughters, Mercuria, Venus and 

Urana. Frank Tuttle will direct and Albert 

J. Cohen produce the picture for Ladd. 

George Munton Placed 

On AGVA Unfair List 

HOLLYWOOD — The American Guild 

of 

Variety Artists has placed George Munton. 

operator of the Lyric Theatre, Huntington 

Park, and president of the JXEY— 

Snuffy, the cairn terrier whose selection 

for a movie role in Columbia's "Pal Joey" 

saved him from the doR pound gas chamber, 

poses gratpfully in the arms of the 

film's star, Frank Sinatra, at the invitational 

press preview at the Egyptian Theatre. 

.\t the right is George Sidney, who 

directed the filmization of the stage play. 

Six Films Nominated 

For Best Direction 

HOLLYWOOD— Si.x 

films have been nominated 

by members for Directorial Achievement 

for the third quarter of 1957, Screen 

Directors Guild President George Sidney announced. 

The films are: "An Affair to Remember," 

2Gth-Fox, directed by Leo McCarey; "12 

Angry Men." UA-Nova Productions, directed 

by Sidney Lumet; "Gunfight at the O.K. 

Corral." Paramount-Hal Wallis. directed by 

John Sturges: "A Hatful of Rain," 20th-Fox. 

directed by Fred Zinnemann: "Love in the 

Afternoon." Allied Artists, directed by William 

Wyler: "3:10 to Yuma." Columbia, directed 

by Delmer Daves. 

Six more pictures will be nominated during 

the final quarter of 1957 by members to complete 

the list of the best-directed pictures. 

The outstanding picture of those nominated 

will, after a general vote, provide the recipient 

tlie guild's annual award for the best-directed 

motion picture of 1957. The award is presented 

each year at the annual dinner of 

the SDGA. usually during January or February 

of the following year. 

Actors Guild to Re-Elect 

Most of Its Officers 

HOLLYWOOD— The Screen Actors Guild 

will elect new officers November 15. To be 

elected without opposition are Leon Ames, 

president: Howard Keel, first vice-president: 

John Lund, second vice-president: Rosemary 

DeCamp. third vice-president: Robert Keith, 

recording secretary: George Chandler, treasurer, 

and bsard members Louise Beavers. 

Hillary Brooke. Harry Carey jr.. Chick 

Chandler. Richard Crane. Nancy Davis. Ann 

Doran. Frank Faylen. Richard Jaeckel. Gilbert 

Perkins, Walter Pidgeon. 

Contesting for two places on the board 

representing the A-J membership are Louise 

Laureau and Philo McCoUough. named by 

the nominating committee, and Sandee Marriot, 

nominated by independent petition. 

Board members whose terms do not expire 

this year are Sally Blane. Ward Bond. James 

Cagney. Macdonald Carey. Fred Clark. Jackie 

Cooper. Wendell Corey. Tony Curtis. John 

Howard. Ruth Hu.'^sey. Howard Keel. John 

Lite!. John Lund. Jimmy Lydon. Jack Mower. 

Eve Novak. Donald O'Connor. Ronald Reagan. 

Verne Smith. George Sowards. Georgia 

Stark, Bert Stevens. Craig Stevens. William 

Walker. Bill Williams. 

Big Jesse Lasky Welcome 

At Hometown of San Jose 

HOLLYWOOD— Jesse Lasky was given a 

reusing welcome when he returned as the 

" 

"hometown boy who made good at San Jose 

to be guest conductor of the United States 

Navy band for the afternoon and evening 

performances at San Jose High School. 

On hand to greet the pioneer motion picture 

producer were more than half of the 

20 "boys" he played with in the San Jose 

Bo.vs Band more than 60 years ago. An added 

feature of the occasion was perfoiTnances 

under Lasky's baton of "At the Steeplechase." 

a march he composed in 1895. and 

the presentation by Lasky of medals to the 

bs.st cornelist of the year over the past 20 

years in the band. 

W-2 BOXOFFICE October 26. 1957

Serge Krizman Wins 

Arl Directors' Vole 

HOLLYWOOD—Serge Ki-izman was reelected 

president of the Society of Motion 

Picture Art Directors for a second term at 

the annual membership meeting last week. 

Krizman won by ballot over George Van 

Marter, who was nominated from the floor 

after Daniel Cathcart had withdrawn his 

nomination. 

Van Marter was elected vice-president, succeeding 

Merrill Pye. who had been renominated 

but withdrew his candidacy from the 

floor, and Malcolm Bert and Lawrence Klein 

were named secretary and treasurer, and Leo 

Kuter, admini-strator. 

Kaiser Ahead on '80 Days' 

For Hawaii 'Dome' Bow 

HOLLYWOOD—Despite alleged opposition 

from Consolidated Amusement Corp., which 

controls a large theatre chain in Honolulu, 

to stop Heni-y Kaiser from booking "Around 

the World in 80 Days" at the Kaiser Aluminum 

Dome there. Kaiser is continuing with 

plans for a November 1 formal opening of 

Mike Todd's production, with proceeds to go 

to the Crippled Children's Society of Oahu. 

Reportedly, Consolidated has campaigned 

to stop the booking on the grounds that 

Kaiser's Aluminum Dome is not zoned for 

picture exhibition. Meanwhile, Kaiser claims 

that the original permit to open the Dome 

amusement pur- 

gave him permission for all 

poses. Also claiming free enterprise, Kaiser 

is going ahead with the November 1 opening 

and already has installed a screen costing 

$30,000. 

The battle gained new impetus when Kaiser 

further said that he wanted to show 20th- 

Fox's "South Pacific." also in Todd-AO, to 

follow "80 Days." It is reported that if 20th 

will allow Kaiser the world premiere of the 

Rodgers and Hammerstein musical that he 

will defray all costs, including transportation 

and accommodations at his Hawaiian Village, 

for all those on the studio's invitational 

list. 

15 Style Editors to Appear 

'The Thin Man' Scene 

HOLL'YWOOD — Fashion editors from 

throughout the United States will be guests 

of MGM-TV during National Fashion Press 

Week, November 4-8, and 15 of them will 

have a chance to portray themselves in an 

episode of "The Thin Man." starring Peter 

Lawford and Phyllis Kirk. Lawford will drawnames 

by lot to determine which 15 will be 

used in a scene. 

In the episode, titled "Tlie Fashion Showdown," 

Miss Kirk will model a wardrobe designed 

for the event by MGM designer Helen 

Rose, and which will be displayed during a 

cocktail party on the set following the scene's 

completion. 

Swedes Honor Kramer 

STOCKHOLM — The Swedish Film 

Academy has given producer Stanley Kramer 

a bronze award for "his great contributions 

to the American film during the past ten 

years." It was presented at a recent dinner 

by Rune Waldekrantz, academy president. 

Kramer is 

award. 

the second foreigner to receive the 

WITH 

Universal's "Man of a Thousand 

Faces" doing a bit of all right at 

the boxoffice. Paramount certainly 

should not overlook one to be tagged "Man 

of a Thousand Names," the logical title-roler 

for which is none other than Bob Goodfried, 

he who functions as impresario of previews 

in Teet Carle's publicity department. 

Now, Oleaginous Bob is no mean shakes 

as a promoter—and a showman, incidentally. 

Rare, indeed, the top-bracked feature emanating 

from the Marathon Street film foundry 

that doesn't debut to the accompaniment of 

a pai'ty, junket or some other space-commanding 

stunt made possible through the 

above-mentioned Goodfriedean promotion 

virtuosity. Forsooth, he has become a living 

doll for those members of the Hollywood 

press corps who have an unquenchable propensity 

toward free grog and grub. 

During his wet-wooing of the lads and 

lassies on Cinemania's grog beat, he has acquired 

the technique of signing invitational 

telegrams with the name of the star appearing 

in the picture that is being treated at 

that writing to the Goodfried brand of ballyhoo. 

Jerry Lewis and Frank Sinatra are examples 

of such modus operandi. 

And recently, invitations to a clam bake 

were dispatched over the signature of Omar 

Khayyam. 

Those dusky gentlemen picketing Carle's 

office adorned in turbans and burnooses are 

not from the Screen Extras Guild. Tliey are 

protesting representatives of the Arab League. 

When publicists are peddling ham. 

There is no hold they bar: 

But when a Goodfried turns Khayyam, 

The gimmick's gone too far. 

Just contemplate the pain in belly. 

And this might well be seen. 

If Ai'thur Jacobs signs as Kelly 

Because he thumps a tub for Gene. 

And then there's Blowitz, Breezy Bill, 

Who flacks for buck or jitney, 

Blue blood will suffer quite a chUI, 

If he should pose as Whitney. 

The blowup comes, however, pal. 

And that will end the spree. 

When p. a. Finestone, know-n as Al. 

Inscribes himself as Cecil B. 

Further from Carle's campanologists, a 

contribution to the nice-work-if-you-canget-it 

department which informs, "Washington, 

D. C, reporters have flipped over Sophia 

Loren." 

If one surveys the history of the gentle art 

of press agentry—Hollywood style—to be 

found are occasions when some welkin tinkler 

or other has displayed strong animalistic 

tendencies. Grady John.son to whom is currently 

being entrusted the press and public 

relations of producer Samuel Goldwyn jr.. 

seems to be the latest victim of the virus. 

Rare indeed the release that comes from his 

busy typewriter that doesn't deal with—of all 

things—sheep. Witness: 

"King, the champion border colUe sheep 

dog which appears with Alan Ladd and 

Olivia de Havilland in 'The Proud Rebel' is 

so important to the western drama that 

Samuel Goldwyn jr. has insured him for 

$100,000 with Lloyd's of London." 

Certainly, the head shrinkers could find 

something into which they could sink their 

analytical teeth in Grady's pre-occupation 

with the woolly quadrupeds. 

From out Burbank way, a press stopping 

item from Bill Hendricks' busy beaver blurbers 

notifying that "The nickelodeon seen in 

Warner Bros. Paul Newman starrer, 'The 

Left-Handed Gun,' is one built in Trutnov, 

N, Bohemia, Czechoslovakia, in 1846, Its 

proper name is Piano-Orchestration. Among 

other things, the machine boasts drums, 

piano-harp, trumpets and cymbals." 

Possibly the loudest drum to be beaten in 

Hendrick's bailiwick in lo' these many 

months. And, let it be hoped, the device was 

not painted red. 

Through the medium of the high school 

classroom, the Motion Picture Industry 

Council and the Los Angeles Board of Education 

have instigated a series of worksliops 

designed to integrate the study of 

motion picture appreciation in local junior 

and senior high schools. The plan is to 

improve the movie habits of the students, 

at the same time teacliing them standards 

for judging films and raising the level of 

taste among the rising generation of filmgoers. 

And when the course is completed the 

lads probably will return to the slashing of 

theatre seats and other acts of assorted vandalism 

with more appreciation and renewed 

vigor. 

A social-notes-from-all-over contribution 

from Bill Blowitz informed that Arthur Hornblow's 

Old Bailey set for "Witness for the 

Prosecution" made its debut when members 

of Hollywood's press corps gathered for high 

tea—mit bagels, no doubt. 

.And despite Breezy Bill's abortive pass at 

elegance, the boys on the whisky beat still 

ordered bourbon. 

And from Joe Reddy, Walt Disney's space 

snatcher in chief, a Paul Bunyon note that 

"Fess Parker likes beefsteak, water skiing 

and efficiency. So he saved some time during 

location lunch hour on 'The Light in the 

Forest' by eating a steak sandwich while 

water skiing on the Tennessee River." 

What, no short-handled broom? 

BOXOFFICE October 26, 1957 W-3

— 

, 

— 

Joe 

— 

— 

— 

' 

— 

—— 

— 

— 

— 

. . Sam 

. . George 

. . Herb 

. . Mr. 

. . Burton 

. . Mrs. 

. . Services 

. . Newt 

. . Jay 

. . M. 

Reserved-Sealers 

"My Man Godfrey" headed the openers 

Hold Leadership 

LOS ANGBiES— Hard-ticket bills maintained 

leadership as "Raintree County" in its 

second week grossed a healthy 200 per cent. 

"Seven Wonders of the World" clocked 170 

and "Around the World in 80 Days" maintained 

its slick pace with 360 in its 44th session. 

with 160. Other combo openers of "The Helen 

Morgan Story," paired with "Johnny Trouble," 

and tandem bill of "The Devil's Highway" 

and "Short Cut to Hell," tallied 100. 

(Average Is 100) 

Beverly Canon— The Green Man (DCA). 6th wk. 90 

Corthoy Circle—Around rhc World in 80 Days 

!UA), '14th wk 360 

Chinese—My Man Godfrey (U-l) 160 

Egyptian—Jeanne Eogels :Col), 12th wk 85 

El Rey, Hawon. Orpheum Chicago Canfidentiol 

(UA); Gun Duel in Durongo (UA), ond 3 driveins 

90 

Fine Arts—Perri (BV), 8th wk 80 

Four Star—The Story of Esther Costello (Col), 

3rd wk 100 

Fox Wilshire—Three Faces of Eve {20th-Fox), 

2nd wk. 90 

Hillstreet— It Came From Outer Space (U-l); 

This Island Earth (U-l), reissues 40 

Hollywood No Down Payment (20th-Fox); Copper 

Sky (20th-Fox), 2nd wk 95 

Iris, Los Angeles, Loyola, Uptown Young and 

Dangerous (20th-Fox), Rockabilly Baby (20th- 

Fox), ond 3 drive-ins 55 

New Fox—War of the Worlds (Poro); Conquest 

of Space (Para), reissues 75 

Pontages, Paramount Downtown, Wiltern The 

Helen Morgan Story (WB); Johnny Trouble 

(WB), and 8 drive-ins 100 

Poromount Hollywood— Forbidden Paradise (U-l), 

5th wk 50 

Ritz, Stote, Vogue—Devil's Hairpin fPora), Short 

Cut to Hell (Poro), and 7 drive-ins 100 

Vogobond The Roots (Harrison) 3rd wk 80 

Warners Beverly Raintree County (MGM), 2nd 

wk 200 

Worners Hollywood—Seven Wonders of the World 

(Cineroma), 20th wk. . 1 70 

"Joker' Better Than Mild 

With 150% in Seattle 

SEATTLE— 'Around the World in 80 Days" 

continues to top all Seattle first runs, winding 

up its 27th week with a strong 280. At the 

Fifth Avenue. "The Joker Is Wild" opened 

to a good first week with 150. "Jet Pilot" continued 

to uphold its better-than-average 

record in a fifth week at the Mu.sic Box. 

Blue Mouse—Around the World in 80 Days (UA), 

27th wk. . 

_ 280 

Coliseum—The Story of Esther Costello (Col)!!!! 90 

Fifth Avenue—The Joker Is Wild (Para) 150 

Music Box —Jet Pilot (U I Dakota (U-l) 5th 

wk 115 

Music Hall—The Helen Morgon Story (WB) 80 

Orpheum—The Invisible Boy (MGM), The Hired 

Gun (MGM) 

9S 

'Balloon,' 'Continent' Combo 

Rates 175 in Portland 

PoRTLAND-'The Red Balloon," dualled 

with "Lost Continent." led first runs with 

175 per cent, showing in the 400-seat Guild 

Theatre. 'The Helen Morgan Story" turned 

In a creditable 120 per cent. 

Broodwoy—Around the World In 80 Days (UA), 

27th wk ' 

150 

Fox—The Helen Morgon Story (WB) !!!!!!!!!! 120 

Guild—The Red Balloon (Loperf); Loit Contlnant 

(Lopert), 2nd wk I75 

Liberty—The Inviilbli Boy MGM) .!..!!!! 100 

Orpheum— The Block Scorpion (WB) !!!ll0 

Paramount—Conquest of Space (Para) reissue* 

Satellite In the Sky (WB) 100 

"Nana' Solo Holdover 

Of Denver Newcomers 

DENVER— "Nana," showing at the Vogue 

Art, was the only newcomer holding over 

as business was off for nearly all the first 

runs. "Around the World in 80 Days" did 

snap back and was in its 24th week, easily a 

fir.st-run record for this city. Rain hurt the 

drive-ins. coming just at the wTong time, 

in the evenings. Four houses, usually sub- 

.sequent. teamed up on a double bill. "UnknowTi 

Terror" and "Back From the Dead," 

and racked up 100 per cent. 

Aurora, Mayan Ogden, Woodlown The Unknown 

Terror (20th-Fox), Bock From the Dead (20th- 

Fox) 100 

Centre No Down Payment (20th-Fox) 2nd wk. 60 

Denver Young and Dangerous (20th-Fox). 

Rockabilly Baby 20th-Fox; 

Lokeshore Drive- In The Man Who Turned to 

60 

Stone (Col); Zombies of Mora Tqu Col).... 

Monaco ond West dnve-ins The Girl in Black 

75 

Stockings (UA), Hell Bound (UA) 75 

Orpheum Until They Soil (MGM); Above Us the 

Waves (Rep) 85 

Paramount— Slim Carter (U-l); Volerie (UA)....100 

Tabor—Around the World in 80 Days (UA), 

23rd wk 75 

Vogue Art— Nana (Times) 1 50 

Flu, Sputnik and Films 

Blamed at Frisco 

SAN FRANCISCO—In what has been described 

by theatremen of thi.s area as a very 

bad period, the blame going to lack of good 

films, the flu epidemic and the presence of 

Sputnik, first-run grosses were low. except 

at the Golden Gate which rated a pleasant 

125 per cent with "The Joker Is Wild." 

Fox—No Down Payment (20th-Foxl 90 

Golden Gate The Joker Is Wild (Poro) 125 

Paramount The Amazing Colossal Mon (AlP)- 

Cot Girl (AlP) 100 

St. Francis The Story of Esther Costello (Col). 100 

United Artists—Cyclops lAA); Ooughter of Dr. 

Jekyll (AA) 85 

Warfield Until They Soil (MGM), 3rd wk 80 

Rights to 'Hide and Seek' 

Object of $80,000 Suit 

HOLLYWOOD— In an $80,000 

lawsuit filed 

in superior court, William Hawks is seeking 

rights to a "unique property" entitled "Hide 

and Seek." Hugh Barr Miller jr., all major 

studios, Tony Owens and Eugene C. McGrath 

were named as defendants. 

Hawks said he had entered into an agreement 

with Miller last year under which he 

had an option on all rights to the property for 

$20,000. The complaint stated that Miller 

rescinded the agreement in August, before 

Hawks could exercise the option, and refused 

to sell it. The suit contends that the property 

is now worth $100,000 and asks the court that 

Miller be ordered to go ahead with the original 

agreement or be enjoined from making 

a sale without recognizing Hawks' interest to 

the extent of $80,000. 

LeRoy to Produce Series 

Of Pictures for 20th-Fox 

HOLLYWOOD—Mervyn LeRoy Productions 

has signed a long-term contract to produce 

pictures for 20th-Fox. Buddy Adler, 20th 

production chief, said the contract calls for 

a .series of pictures which LeRoy will produce 

and direct, and will go into effect as soon as 

he completes his next picture for Warner 

Bros.. "The FBI. Story." 

LeRoy still has five films to do for Warners 

on a nonexclusive pact after "F.B.I." and he 

will continue to operate at the Burbank lot 

as well as at 20th. 

Prize Photographer Visits 

HOLLYWOOD—Edward Deluga. Chicago 

Daily News photographer, winner of the Chicago 

Pi-e.ss A.ss'n's annual contest for outstanding 

pre.ss photography and recipient of 

the Hecht-Hill-Lancaster award, arrived here 

for a visit. He will shoot .special photography 

for his paper on the set of Harold Hecht's 

"Run Silent. Run Deep" with stars Clark 

Gable and Burt Lancaster. 

LOS ANGELES 

IJarold Wirthwein, western division sales 

manager for Allied Artists, was in San 

Francisco to confer with James Myers, branch 

manager, regarding Bay area bookings of 

"The Hunchback of Notre Dame" . . . George 

Cawthorn has taken over the operation of 

the Adams Theatre from D. V. Irvine . . . 

Pete Thorn has resigned at Buena Vista . . . 

Robert Kronenberg. president of Manhattan 

Films, announced the company will move its 

offices from 1908 to 1920 So. Vermont, in 

space formerly occupied by Columbia. 

. . Fred 

. . . 

. 

Leo Jenson, Columbia booker, resigned to 

go over to Buena Vista as a booker . 

Stein of Stein Enterprises has appointed Lew 

Kane as manager of his Colorado Theatre in 

Pasadena Sam Steinberg-Arthur Ai-onson's 

Hollywood advertising outfit has moved 

to new offices at 6233 Wilshire Berger. 

formerly with George Ingham at the 

Town and Crest theatres in San Fernando, 

has switched over to the South Lyn Theatres 

in South Gate. 

Many Filmrowites were the recipients of 

Christmas cards this week showing Earle 

Brothers and his family on a train on their 

way to Page. Ariz. Earle was the former 

owner of theatres in Henderson. Nev. and 

Boulder. Nev. . Turpie of the Manley 

Popcorn Co. and wife were vacationing . . . 

Ida Schrieber, secretary of the Southern 

California Theatre Owners Ass'n. was vacationing 

at Lake Arrowhead 

. "Red" 

Jacobs, president of Favorite Films, was in 

New York looking for product. He is expected 

back November 1 . . . Bob Smith, district 

manager for Fox West Coast in the San 

Diego territory, was on the Row for home office 

conferences. 

. 

Lew Astor, Columbia executive, called at 

the local exchange . Robbins, National 

Screen Service executive, was in Los 

Angeles . Steifel of the Sherman Theatre, 

Sherman Oaks; the Del Mar in Carpentera. 

and the Monica in Hollywood, was on 

Filmrow Pantages. manager 

and film buyer for the Leimert Theatre, underwent 

surgery at St. Vincent's . . . Mr. and 

Mrs. Ben Ash celebrated their 25th wedding 

anniversary with a party at the Beverly Hills 

Club. He is manager of National Screen 

Service studio . and Mrs. John Seigel 

of the Palomar in Oceanside celebrated their 

second wedding anniversary. 

Ben Sa

fr 


VITAL 

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^^^*'°.e .o.on 

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V

. . Joan 

— 

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" 

. . E. 

. . Esther 

SAN FRANCISCO 

. 

. . Richard 

Trving M. Levin, acting coordinator for San 

Francisco's first International Film Festival, 

was in Europe on a len-day trip conferring 

with foreign motion picture distributors. 

The festival is scheduled to open December 

4 under sponsorship of the San Francisco 

Art Commission. "Golden Gate Awards" 

will be awarded to best film, actor, actress 

and director, Tlie event will be held at the 

Metro Theatre Crawford, wearing 

a tremendous picture hat. was noted in one 

of the city's finest eating sf)ots 

Eyer. 12-year-old star of "The Invisible Boy," 

due at the Loew's Warfield here, called on 

. . Arthur Lubin. producer and director 

local drama critics and radio and TV columnists 

. 

of "Escapade in Japan." being world- 

premiered at the St. Francis Theatre, hosted 

drama critics and columnists at a sukiyaki 

dinner. 

On the Row doing a bit of booking and buying 

were R. E. Degener, 'Winters Theatre, 

jT 

pnorx* 

Intermountain Theatre Supply Co. 

264 East First South Salt Lake City 1, Utah 

Phone: 4-7821 ... or 

International Seat Division 

Union City Body Company, Inc. 

Union City, Indiana 

'WMil 

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Gerald L. Karski.... President 

Winters: Al Stanford. Oaks Drive-In at Paso 

Roble.5: R. B. Smith. Sierra at Chowchilla: 

Philip Garber. Crown in 'Vallejo, and Harry 

Haya.shino of the Ryans in Fresno and the 

Lincoln in Stockton. 

Bill Tomlinson at Republic here some years 

ago and recently with Harry Thomas, is back 

at Republic as salesman . . . Tlie Se Rancho 

Drive-In at Placerville. a General Theatrical 

circuit house, closed for the winter. 

Anne "Jimmie" McFadden, 20th-Fox cashier, 

is reported recuperating nicely. Jimmie 

has been home since June. Lois Copenhaver 

is filling in with an assist from auditor 

Arnold Kahn . . . Filmrow golfers who tear 

up the turf at the San Mateo course and 

still love it—despite the nece.ssity of early 

starting times — include bon-vivants Joe 

Flannagan. George Mitchell. Joe Emerson. 

Jimmy Chapman, Bob Hazaard, Don Fuller. 

Marty Goulson and Ed Reed . Jerry Olds 

of the Hardy Theatres is 

. , 

doing a great publicity 

job. 

Al Adolph, Parsons Theatres, has moved 

here from Sacramento to book and buy for 

Eddie Skolak, after 16 years 

the circuit . . . 

has dropped live burlesque entertainment at 

his Pi-esident Theatre here and at the present 

is showing movies depicting the burlesque 

art 

. Bayshore Theatre, operated by 

Max Ratner, closed . 

Sutter, head 

shipper for National Screen, was vacationing 

in Honolulu 

. shipper Major Campbell 

broke an arm while helping his brother 

move. 

The Laurel Theatre in San Carlos has 

scheduled "Operation Mad Ball" November 

6 and a small eight -page brochure featuring 

cartoons from situations in the film was distributed 

to patrons. 

'Spee' Into 90 Situations 

All Along West Coast 

LOS ANGELES—Blanketing the west coast 

with one of its largest saturation bookings to 

date, Seymour Borde. western division manager 

of Rank Film Distributors of America, 

announced approximately 90 openings in the 

Los Angeles. San Francisco. Portland and 

Seattle areas for the Rank Technicolor and 

VistaVision production, "Pursuit of the Graf 

Spee." 

One hundred prints have been made available 

for the multiple run which will kick 

off at the Liberty Theatre in Portland October 

31. followed by openings at the Paramount 

in San Francisco November 8, the 

Music Hall in Seattle the 12th, and 40 Fox 

West Coast hou.ses in the Angeleno area 

Ihe 20th. 

"Pur.suit" toplines John Gregson. Anthony 

Quayle and Peter Finch. Michael Powell and 

Emeric Pressburger collaborated on screenplay, 

production and direction. 

Awards to Two WB Films 

HOLLYWOOD— "The Helen Morgan Story 

and "Bombers B-52." both Warner Bros.' 

productions, were selected by the southern 

California Motion Picture Council to receive 

Films of the Month awards for October, it 

was announced by Mis. William A. Burke, 

president. Presentation of the awards wa- 

and the Sunday in Oakland, then at the Los 

Angeles Pan-Pacific Monday and Ttiesday. 

W-6 BOXOFFICE October 26, 1957

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LOS ANGELES 7, CALIFORNIA 

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SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH

. . H. 

. . "The 

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. . The 

PORTLAND 

. . . Catherine 

pxploiteers in town included Earl Keate, 

working on "Time Limit." and Walter 

Hoffman, busy on "The Joker Is Wild." Both 

are set for the Paramount 

Marshall. John Hamiick executive, is back 

at her desk after a bout with the flu. 

Guy Mitchell and Les Morgan and his band 

were in town Tuesday for the opening of the 

new Reynolds High School in Troutdale. near 

Portland. Troutdale is the site of the huge 

Reynolds aluminum plant. 

SEATTLE 

IJenry Haustein, Paramount manager here, 

won first prize and first place nationally 

in a short subjects drive and as a result the 

whole staff celebrated at a dinner party at 

Roselhni's Pour- 10 Monday (21) ... Donald 

McDonald was the lucky winner of a trip 

to New York and Michael Todd's Madison 

Square Garden party. Sandrea Teslow, Seafair 

queen, pulled the contest entry bearing 

McDonald's name out of a large fishbowl at 

the Blue Mouse, where "Around the World in 

80 Days" was in its 28th record-breaking 

week. 

Sam Siegel was in town working on "Pal 

Joey" for Columbia . Neal East. Paramount 

division manager, w'as in Seattle setting 

up first-run playdates . Ten 

Commandments" is continuing to do exceptional 

business at Moscow. Dishman, and the 

Civic Theatre, Tacoma . first fall 

meeting of the women's auxiliary of Variety 

Club was held at the home of Mrs. Tidwell 

Another preview party at the Greenlake Theatre 

is planned for November. 

Jean Smith of Midstate Amusement came 

over from Walla Walla for the Washington- 

Stanford game . is holding a 

press preview of "The Tin Star" at the Fifth 

Avenue Saturday (26) . . . The Washington 

Sports Car- Club presented Cornel Wilde and 

Jean Wallace, stars of "The Devil's Hairpin," 

with a plaque in appreciation of their efforts 

in sports car racing and safe driving. 

WB Studio Pink-Slips 

Seven Publicity Staffers 

HOLL'YWOOD—Warner Bros, .studio publicity-advertising 

department pink-slipped 

seven members of its staff in an economy 

move following the recent dropping of 40 

New York publicity-advertising men. 

The pattern of the local dismissals appeared 

to be those with the least seniority. 

They included Will Baltin and Bill Steinmetz, 

television department; Irwin Franklyn, 

exploitation; Phil Gersdorf. Ben Markson, 

unit; Franklyn Phillips, photographic department, 

and Tony Navarro, international 

department. The latter Is a junior, other six 

are senior publicists. 

Meanwhile. Gersdorf already has a job doing 

unit publicity on "Kind Sir," and Baltin 

will assume an active vice-president role in 

Telemovie Development Co. 

Art Future Planned 

For Portland Plaza 

PORTLAND^Plans lor a sLster house, the 

Plaza, at Southea.st Hawthorne boulevard 

and 20th avenue, for the Guild Theatre, were 

made public by Martin Foster. Opening dat« 

is set at November 15. 

Fo.ster, general manager for the Guild, appointed 

Nancy Welch, present Guild manager, 

as city manager for both houses. Foster 

headquarters in San Francisco where he is 

interested in the Larkin and Clay theatres 

as well as a booking and buying business for 

foreign product. He makes frequent trips to 

Portland, where he has long been operating 

the Guild. 

Foster will spend at least SIO.OOO in modernizing 

the Plaza, a suburban house, for art 

hoase operation. The house will play important 

foreign films as well as festivals of 

past favorite art type pictures. The Guild, 

Foster explains, is more than a downtown art 

house. The theatre specializes in fine pictures 

of domestic production booked for extended 

ruixs. 

In modernization plans for the Plaza, which 

will eventually be renamed the Fine Arts, an 

exhibit area will be provided where local 

artists can display "one man" shows. Foster 

and Mi.ss Welch said coffee will be provided 

during intermissions and foreign candy will 

be sold. As in the Guild, no popcorn handled. 

Laurence Mascott who wrote "10 Days to 

Tulara" for United Ai-tists will also serve as 

associate producer. 

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W-8 BOXOFFICE October 26, 1957

— 

— 

— — 

— 

— 

— 

Newcomers Bolster 

Chicago Grosses 

CHICAGO—Eight newcomers in Loop area 

theatres were of some help in relation to the 

overall gross picture, as holdovers generally 

suffered a drop at the boxoffice. One exception 

was "Stella," which continued on the 

same gi-oss level for another week. On the 

near north side, "The Gentle Touch" at the 

Cinema and "The Silken Affair" at the Esquire 

did nice opening week business. 

[Average Is 100) 

Carnegie A Hotful of Rain (20th-Fox) 190 

Chicago The Helen Morgon Story (WB), 2nd wk. 195 

Cinema—The Gentle Touch (RFDA) 195 

Esquire The Silken Atfoir (DCA) 200 

Battle Stripe (NTA); Armored Attoek 

Garrick 

(NTA), reissues 210 

Grand Satellite in the Sky (WB); Bright Leaf 

(WB) 200 

Loop— Perri (BV) 215 

McVickers The Ten Commandments (Para), 47th 

wk 275 

Monroe Battle Shock; A Woman's Devotion 

(Rep); The Weapon (Rep) 200 

Oriental No Down Payment (20th-Fox), 2nd wk. 190 

Palace Seven Wonders of the World (Cinerama), 

45th wk 325 

Roosevelt Quantei (U-l); Public Pigeon No. 1 

(U-l), 2nd wk 195 

State Loke Jet Pilot (U-l), 3rd wk 200 

Surf Brothers in Low (Cont'l), 2nd wk 190 

Todd's Cinestage Around the World in 80 Days 

(UA), 28th wk 350 

United Artists The Joker Is Wild (Para), 3rd wk. 190 

Woods The Story of Esther Costello (Col), 2nd 

wk 200 

World Playhouse Stella (Burstyn), 2nd wk. . .200 

Escapade (DCA) 1 95 

Ziegfeld 

"loker Is Wild' Best 

Kansas City Bower 

KANSAS CITY — The annual American 

Royal here, so dear to the hearts of local 

merchants, was a detraction, rather than a 

help, to local first-run business which continued 

slow for the most part. "The Joker Is 

Wild" turned in a nice 125 per cent at the 

Paramount and a return engagement of 

"Tammy and the Bachelor" and "Written on 

the Wind" drew 110 at the Roxy. "The Third 

Key" was holding up well at the Kimo. 

Dickinson, Glen; Shawnee and Leawood drive-ins 

Teenage Doll AA); Under Sea Girl (AA) 115 

Kimo The Third Key (RFDA), 2nd wk 1 25 

Midland The Story of Esther Costello (Col).... 90 

Missouri Seven Wonders of the World (Cinerama), 

9th wk 225 

Paramount The Joker Is Wild (Para) 1 25 

Roxy Tammy and the Bachelor (U-l); Written 

on the Wind (U-l), 2nd run 110 

Tower Around the World in 80 Days (UA), 

21st wk 470 

Uptown, Fairway and Granada Forty Guns 

(20th-Fox); The Deersloyer (20th-Fox) 100 

Sam Hallowell, 71. Dies; 

Theatreman Since '13 

TUSCOLA, ILL.—Sam Hallowell, 71, owner 

and operator of the Scenic Theatre in Assumption 

for 32 years prior to his retirement 

about ten years ago, died recently. He 

had entered the motion picture theatre business 

at Raiitoul in 1913 with a partner, Paul 

Wyeth. A year later he sold his interests 

there to Wyeth and pmxhased the Scenic. 

During his entire exhibition career, Mrs. 

Aileen Hallowell served as his cashier. They 

have no children. 

Huntingdon, Ind., Theatre 

Closed by David Yount 

HITNTINGDON, IND.—The Warren Theatre 

has been closed by David Yount, manager. 

Yount said that the attendance continued 

to be small and no appreciable profit 

could be realized from the business. 

No plans for reopening the theatre have 

been announced. 

Indiana Theatre Reopened 

With Stepped-Up Prices 

ORLEANS, IND. — The Orleans Theatre, 

closed during the summer, has been reopened 

on Friday and Saturday nights by Manager 

Frank M. Carroll. 

Carroll is experimenting with an admission 

scale of 60 cents for adults and 30 cents tor 

children, a slight increase over the theatre's 

prior scale. Carroll said if public response is 

satisfactory at these prices he will increase 

his schedule soon. 

Louis Boening, Chicago 

Theatre Pioneer, Dies 

CHICAGO—Louis A. Boening, 80, a Chicago 

motion picture industry pioneer who 

began his career as a nickelodeon operator in 

1908 and was credited with ending eai'ly producers' 

monopoly of movie projectors, died 

recently in Evanston Hospital. 

A veteran of three wars, he was assistant 

Illinois selective service director for Cook 

county in World War II. Since then, he had 

been general sales manager of the Revere 

Camera Co., maker of movie cameras and 

equipment. 

Boening, whose parents brought him from 

Rolla, Mo., to Chicago when he was 4, entered 

the motion picture theatre field in 1908 

at the urging of friends in the then infant 

industry. 

•The first Boening house was a rented store 

on North avenue near Kedzie, where patrons 

stood in line to see a seven-minute show for 

five cents. Later Boening added another house 

on North avenue and one that also offered 

vaudeville in Roseland. 

Motion pictm'e producers retained tight 

control over the industry for some years by 

renting out projectors. Boening helped to 

end the monopoly prior to World War I by 

organizing the United States Cinematograph 

Co., which manufactured projectors and sold 

them outright. 

After World War I, Boening organized the 

Acme Educational Film Service, which distributed 

film to churches, schools, and other 

outlets. Acme went under in the 1929 financial 

crash which also took everything else he 

had. 

Lt. Gov. Long to Speak 

KANSAS CITY—Lt. Gov. Ed V. Long, theatreman 

who lives at Bowling Green, Mo.. 

will speak at the Rotary Club noon luncheon 

in the Legion building at Independence Monday, 

November 4. Long is a past district 

governor of Rotary. Ted Cauger of the Cauger 

Film Service made the arrangements. 

Theatre folk in the Kansas City are invited 

to attend. 

Lincoln at Cairo Closed 

CAIRO, ILL.—The Lincoln Tlieatre, 907- 

seater which has been serving the Negro 

trade, will be closed November 1 for "an indefinite 

period" by the Rodgers circuit which 

also owns and operates the Gem Theatre 

here. 

R. L. Davis Switches 

MEMPHIS, MO.—R. L. 

Davis reopened the 

Times Theatre here and closed the Airway 

Drive-In for the winter. He also has closed 

the 37 Drive-In at Farina, HI. 

Roy Kalver Renamed 

Indiana ATO Head 

INDIANAPOLIS— Exhibitor problems and 

the state of the motion picture industry as a 

whole were aired by speakers at the closing 

.session of the annual Allied Theatre Owners 

of Indiana convention here Wednesday (16). 

A note of optimism was sounded by Abram 

F. Myers, general counsel of National Allied, 

"if everybody concerned participates in findmg 

solutions." 

Roy Kalver was re-elected president and 

national director of ATOI. Also re-elected 

were J. R. Pell, vice-president; Trueman 

Rembusch, alternate national director; Richard 

Lochry, treasurer, and William A. Carroll, 

executive secretary. 

Myers told of efforts under the leadership 

of Julius M. Gordon, president of Allied 

States Ass'n, to reach an understanding with 

COMPO, but reported they had been thwarted 

by new terms and conditions whenever agreement 

seemed in sight. He said he was "disheartened" 

by failure of the industry to hold 

together for the proposed Golden Jubilee 

tour. Myers also discussed the mechanics of 

arbitration and conciliation. 

A Hollywood touch was added to the convention 

by the arrival of James Nicholson, 

president of American International pictures, 

with two of his starlets, Shirley Palls and 

Yvette Vickers. 

Rembusch, a leader in the fight against toll 

TV, urged exhibitors to be cautious about investing 

money in cable theatres until they 

know how much film will cost and whether 

the FCC will approve the pay-as-you-see 

plans now under consideration. A cable theatre 

operator would have none of the protection 

the motion picture exhibitor has, 

Rembusch warned. 

Ruben Shor, former president of National 

Allied, was vehement in his protest against 

a leading director who is alleged to have 

stated that theatres are not the only medium 

to exhibit pictures and that the public can 

see them in a living room as well as in a 

2.000-seat theatre. He threatened to ban the 

director's pictm-es from his theatres. 

A panel discussion on concessions was led 

by Spiro Papas, Dr. Marvin Sandorf and 

Morris Cantor. Bob Jones, Pete Panagos and 

Rex Can- headed another panel on buying 

and booking. 

Directors elected for 1958 include Papas, 

Alex Manta, J. G. 'Vogel, Gail Lancaster, Panagos, 

George Heliotes. William T. Studebaker, 

S. J. Gregory, D. Irving Long, Marc 

J. Wolf. M. H. Scheidler, George Mailers, 

Mannie Marcus. Arthur Clark, Forrest Songer, 

J. P. Finneran, Ted L. Mendelssohn, Pell, 

Oscar Fine, Ted Graulich, Bruce Kixmiller, 

Sam J. Swjtow, Tom C. Baker, J. C. Weddle, 

Richard Lochry, Dale McFarland, CaiT, E. L. 

Ornstein, Joseph Cantor, Dr. Sandorf, Harold 

Hargis, Al Taylor, Keith Coleman and 

Agnes Flater. 

Ex-officio members are President Kalver 

and past president Rembusch, Sam Neall. 

Walter Easley, Roy Harrold and Ernest Miller. 

Frank M. Jennings Dies 

ST. LOUIS—Frank M. Jennings, 64, a member 

of the stagehands Local 6 since about 

1922, died in his sleep at his home Sunday 

(20). He had worked at the Norside Theatre, 

Grand and Natural Bridge boulevards, 

until after midnight Saturday. 

BOXOFFICE October 26, 1957 C-1

ST. 

LOUIS 

'The spread of influenza in this area, accompanied 

by the scare news treatment 

by the neusnapers and radio and television 

.stations, ha.s sharply affected attendance at 

theatres and drive-ins. A number of schools 

have been closed for various periods because 

of the sickness among the children. Many 

.scared parents are keeping their children 

home from .schools and .shows. The flu and 

other winter season ailments have been comparatively 

mild although more than normal 

for this tmie of the year. Among the flu 

sufferers were Phil Nanon, Laclede and Criterion 

theatres: Mr. and Mrs. Christ Zotos. 

Roosevelt Theatre, and their son Gregory, a 

dentist, and Harry Plaikos, Regal Theatre. 

William S. Kaimann, partner-owner and 

manager of the Breman Theatre and daytime 

collector for the American Express Co., was 

shot and wounded by two bandits October 

3 while he was making his collection rounds. 

He has recovered sufficiently to return to his 

home from the Homer G. Phillips Hospital. 

The bullet fractured a bone in his lower right 

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4210 W. Florliiont Av*. 

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EVERYTHING FOR THE THEATRE 

St. Louis Theatre Supply Company 

Mrs. Arch Hotler 

1310 Olive Street, St. Loult 3, Mo. 

Telephone JEffenon 3-7974 

RCA Theotre Supply Dealer 

Do You Have Spare Sprockets? 

^'' Let us rcgrtnd your old sprockets tor Fox Hole 

Film, S2 each. 

NATIONAL THEATRE SUPPLY 

3212 Olive Street St. Louis 3, Mo. 

Phone JEtterson )-63S0 

leg . . . Out-of-town film folks seen along the 

Row during the week: Eddie Clark, Paul Mason. 

Otto Ingwersen, Edwin Morgan, Bud 

Mercier, Tom Baker. William Collins, Geraldine 

Twitty, Vic Klarsfeld and Everett Mayfield. 

The latter now is managing a theatre 

for the Fox Midwest circuit at Kansas City. 

Here's good news for the theatre owners 

along U. S. 66 from Sullivan and St. James 

to Waynesville and Springfield. Army Secretary 

Brucker announced on the 18th that 

neither Ft. Leonard Wood, Mo., nor Ft. Chaffee 

in Arkansas will be closed, nor will any 

other major Army post be shut down during 

the fiscal year ending next June 30. Military 

manpower at Ft. Leonard Wood will be reduced 

by 2,500 from its present 27,000 soldiers, 

while Fort Chaffee is to be reduced 

from 18,000 to 12,000. The cutbacks will be 

accomplished by a reduction in draftees, and 

by retirements and some transfers. 

Ben Lass, National Screen Service salesman, 

started a three-weeks vacation . , . St. Louis is 

one of the 20 major cities the FCC has designated 

as eligible for toll TV experiments. 

. . . The 

Trials would be for three years. Five sub 

systems are seeking the franchise 

Southside Amusement Co. has been given a 

permit for a 12xl2-foot addition to a store 

in the old Cherokee Theatre building . 

The E.squire at Richmond Height.s, currently 

showing "Around the World in 80 Days,' 

should cash in that telecast of Mike Todd's 

party for 18.000 at Madison Square Garden 

It still has three weeks to run at the theatre 

Incidentally. Mike apparently made a nice 

profit on that shindig. The $300,000 for the 

TV rights alone could feed a young army. 

William Keane Takes Over 

Frisina Hillsboro House 

HILLSBORO. ILL.—William Keane, formerly 

of Olney and recently assistant manager 

of the Mexico, Mo., house of the Frisina 

Amusement Co., is the new manager of the 

Orpheum Theatre, the circuit's local property. 

He succeeds Earl Cleveland, who was transferred 

to the Olney. Dominic Giachetto, 

Springfield, formerly of Litchfield, a.ssisted 

in introducing Keane here. 

Down to Four Days 

BONNE TERRE, MO.—Tile Odeon Theatre, 

owned by Edwards & Plumlee of Farmington, 

now is operating four days a week. 

HANDY SUBSCRIPTION


/I SAVAGE GIANT ON A BLOOD-MD RAMPAGE! 

GROWING...! 

too GIANT! 

GROWING...! 

too MONSTER! 

WHEN WILL 11 

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INDIANAPOLIS 4, INDIANA 

UNITED FILM EXCHANGE 

ROBERT F. HERRELL 

120 West 18th Street 

KANSAS CITY 8, MISSOURI 


GEORGE PHILLIPS—HERMAN GORELICK 

3216 Olive Street 

ST. LOUIS 3, MISSOURI

. . WBBM-TV 

CHICAGO 

"Phe inventory of the John Balaban estate, 

estimated at SI.000,000. has been approved 

in the probate court. The estate is reported to 

consist of S77.000 in cash; bonds totaling 

$300,000. and approximately 30 stock issues. 

Largest of the stock holdings is 7.300 shares 

of AB-PT. Also approved was an award of 

$35,000 to his widow Bertha pending probating 

of the will. The bulk of the estate is left 

in trust with the Northern Trust Co. for the 

benefit of Mrs. Balaban, son William and a 

daughter. Mr.s. Ida Sully. Balaban, who was 

president of the Balaban & Katz Corp., died 

April 4 at the age of 62. 

H. D. Cohen, Paramount office manager, 

was a vacationer . has purchased 

a new National Television Associates 

package of 20th-Fox movies called the "Big 

50" and will begin showing them next month, 

with the films .scheduled for Sunday nights. 

Ward Day of U-I returned from a short but 

"packed full of interest" trip to Europe. He 

traveled by plane to Spain, France, Italy, 

Switzerland and Scandinavia. He was impressed 

by the sight of people lining up in 

front of theatre boxoffices to see a movie. 

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_^-


VITAL 

FACTS ABOUT 

Headlines and illustrations from feature 

stories, Motion Picture Herald, June 8,1957 

These news stories are proof again, that the most 

important installations — the most important 

contributions to cinematic projection are all 

CENTURY made. No other projector can moke 

this claim, just as no other projector can approach 

CENTURY for performance, ease of operation 

and low-cost maintenance. 

The choice is CENTURY, whether it be horizontal 

VistaVision for the Williamsburg auditoriums or 

the double installation for the All-Weather Drive-ln 

or any other theatre 

or drive-in. 

THE BEST TEST, you've got to try it to believe it! 

. . Eddie 

. . Charley 

1 

. . Betty 

. . Maurice 

. . Bill 

KANSAS CITY 

pernard J. McCarthy, who has been with 

Republic Pictures here as a salesman 

since last February, has been appointed exchange 

manager effective 

Wednesday (23). 

Jack Ragar, who had 

been handling the office 

for the past several 

months, is returning 

to his regular sales 

territory. Mrs. Helen 

Thomas, formerly with 

RKO and now with 

Paramount, will join 

the Republic staff as 

booker November 3. 

Mrs. Josephine Schulz, 

B. J. McCarthy office secretary, has 

resigned and will be replaced by Mary K. 

Lamble. The restoration of the local office 

to exchange status is seen as part of Republic's 

declared intention to provide substantially 

increased product nationally in the 1957-58 

season. 

Mr. and Mrs. Eddie Golden the.se 

days are 

.sharing the happine.ss and excitement of their 

daughters Bonny and Penny. Bonny, an education 

major at Kansas University and a 

member of Delta Gamma, is one of the three 

finalists for Calendar Queen 

i senior class 

queen). The chosen queen and her two attendants 

will be crowned during the half-time 

exercises at the Kansas State game November 

9. Not to be outdone. Penny recently was 

elected secretary of the senior class at Southwest 

High School. Eddie himself has made 

a good recovery after going several rounds 

with one of the meaner viruses now circulating. 

John L. Whiting, who has operated the 

SCOTSMAN iCE MACHINE 

MISSOURI THEATRE SUPPLY CO. 

115 West 18th St. 

Baltimore 1-3070 

Kansas City 8, Mo. 

RCA THEATRE SUPPLY DEALER 

Everything for the Stage 

• CURTAINS • TRACKS • RIGGING • STAGi 

LIGHTING • HOUSE DRAPERIES 

GREAT WESTERN STAGE EQUIPT. CO. 

1324 Grond Kansas Clfy, MIstourl 

MR. DRIVE-IN OWNER 

Hove you thought of prolonging your opcroting 

season by instolling IN-A-CAR heaters? Wrlfe 

us for spcciol prices or loosing agreement. 

SHREVE THEATRE SUPPLY CO, 

217 Wc>> 18th HA 1-7149 Koniot City, Ma. 

US 

SEE 

FOR YOUR FOX HOLE 

-- fOR YOUR 

PROJECTORS 

SPROCKETS 

AND SOUNDHEADS 

STEBBINS THEATRE EQUIPMENT CO. 

1804 Wyondott* Grand 1-4114 Kaniai City, Ma. 

Lido Theatre at Downs. Kas.. for many years, 

has informed local exchanges that the theatre 

is closing Monday (28i becau.se of steadily 

declining patronage ... At Meade, Kas., the 

Starlite Drive-In has closed for the sea.son 

and the Meade Theatre has gone from weekend 

to fulltime operation . Kline 

ha.s closed the Plug-Hat Drive-In at Oakley, 

Kas., for the .season and Arden Holthus has 

shuttered the Atwood, Kas., Drive-In until 

spring . Golden reports Mr. and 

Mrs. Merle Barnes are keeping the Airport 

Drive-In at Wichita open fulltime, at least 

for the present. 

( 24-26 

U-I managers and salesmen from Denver, 

Des Moines, Omaha and Salt Lake City were 

in town for a three-day meeting of Lester 

Zucker's district Thursday-Saturday 

at the Muehlebach Hotel. Foster Blake, western 

divisional manager from New York, w-as 

scheduled to attend as were Kansas City 

manager Morry Relder and salesmen Ralph 

Morrow, John Wangburg and Ray McKittrick. 

Coming in from Denver were Mayer H. 

Monsky, manager, and William Harrison, 

Frank Green and Les Laramie, salesmen; 

from Des Moines were Lou Levy, manager, 

and Ralph Olson, salesman; from Omaha, 

I. M. Weiner, manager, and Norman Nielson 

and Carl Reese, salesmen; and from Salt Lake 

City, C. R. Wade, manager, and Don Mc- 

Murdie, Howard Godfrey and Tom Philibin, 

salesmen. 

Norris Cresswell, manager of the Aladdin 

Theatre here, says all at once he's married 

to a celebrity! His wife, Mrs. June Cresswell, 

has made three of a scheduled six appearances 

on "Accent," conducted by Bette Hayes 

on WDAF-TV from 11 to 11:30 a.m. Mrs. 

Cresswell, who directs the needlework and 

knitting shop at Macy's downtown store, has 

been giving knitting and crocheting instructions 

and ideas for Christmas gifts and decorations 

in her TV appearances. The CresswelLs 

have had good news from son Edward P. 

Cresswell who is stationed in Japan with the 

U. S. Navy—he recently was promoted to 

Lt. 

(J.G.I. 

Columbia District Manager Ben Marcus attended 

a home office meeting in New York 

recently during which new major product 

was discussed and district managers were 

briefed on the company's new exhibitor conciliation 

plan. While there, Marcus attended 

a special screening of "Tlie Bridge on the 

River Kwai," an upcoming Columbia blockbuster. 

As a follow-up to the New York meeting. 

Marcus held a branch meeting here 

Saturday (19i attended by Manager Tom 

Baldwin. Bill Jeffries, office manager, and 

salesmen Gene Snitz, Larry Biechele and 

Herb Stulz. Marcus went to Omaha Tuesday 

(22) for a branch meeting there and 

was to go on to Des Moines and Minneapolis 

for additional meetings. 

Leona Dobson, finance chairman, announced 

that the WOMPI chapter cleared 

$47 on lt,s bake sale Friday i18k The demand 

so far outstripped the .supply that the girls 

were "out of business" by 9; 45 Friday morning. 

They're now asking everyone on the Row 

to polish up the old sweet tooth, because 

candy is the next item on the sales agenda. 

The Kansas City WOMPI members held a 

board meeting followed by a quarterly dinner-meeting 

at Regan's Tuesday evening 

'22 1. The tables were cleverly decorated in a 

Halloween motif by Billie Mistele and diners 

had a choice of fried chicken or steak as an 

entree. Mc=t of the meeting was devoted to 

reports and descriptions of events at the recent 

Memphis convention, with all eight of 

the local delegates presenting short reports 

and urging the entire membership to make 

every effort to attend the Denver convention 

next year. The door prize, a novelty pincushion 

donated by Vera Fouch, was won by 

Bonnie Aumiller. 

The Nomar Theatre, neighborhood house 

in the northwest section of Wichita, has been 

leased by Robert Harris from C. C. McCoUis- 

. . . Making 

ter who had closed it a year and a half ago. 

Harris will open the Nomar on a fulltime 

subsequent-run policy November 24. Harris 

had been managing the Terrace Drive-In 

Theatre in Wichita for Mrs. T. H. Slothower. 

Fred Harpst of Allied Theatre circuit will 

buy and book for the Nomar 

one of their infrequent visits to Filmrow 

last week were Mr. and Mrs. Shirley Booth 

who have the Booth Theatre at Rich Hill, 

Mo. Mrs. Booth who was seriously ill for a 

covery and says she's feeling fine again. 

Jay Wooten, Joe Stark and Beverly Miller 

were driving to New York to attend the 

national board meeting at Kiamesha Lake 

Saturday and Sunday i26. 27 1 and the National 

Allied convention there the three following 

days ... By coincidence the first 

person Claude and Virginia Moore of FMW 

saw when they arrived at Bull Shoals. Ark., 

while vacationing turned out to be Charles 

Chilkett, longtime exhibitor at the Ritz Theatre 

in Joplin. Though Claude had booked 

the Joplin territory and had heard of Chilkett 

through the years, this was their first 

meeting—and the industry stories vied with 

the fish stories in their conversation. Incidentally, 

the prize catch was hauled in by 

Virginia—a ba.ss weighing seven pounds, two 

ounces and which is being mounted. 

Bob Scott, MGM second shipper, suffered 

a severe neck injury w-hen his car was 

plowed into from the rear after he had pulled 

up at a stop light at Truman Road and 

Wabash on the way home from work recently. 

The impact was forceful enough to damage 

his car extensively. Bob said his "assailant" 

was booked for careless driving and w-as 

inund to be without a driver's license—and 

without in.surance! . Silver of the 

Silver Theatre. Cameron, passes on word of 

the death October 16 of Mrs. Prances Mangus. 

wife of Day Mangus of the Silver Star 

Drivp-In Theatre in Kirksville, Mo. Mrs. 

Mangus took a very active part in the managing 

of the theatre, since Mangus travels most 

of the summer months, taking his horses to 

race meets over the country. 

George Kopulos says Regal Poppers is coming 

nut with two new .sandwiches for the 

coming holiday season. He also report.s hot 

chocolate high on the demand list. George 

is looking forward to attending the NAC- 

TESMA-TOA tradeshow and convention In 

Miami next month at the new Americana 

Hotel . McLone has joined the office 

staff at Durwood Theatres as secretary to 

Stan Durwood . Druker. Midland 

Theatre manager, has booked MGM's "Les 

Girls" as his Thanksgiving attraction . . . 

FMW was setting up special midnight horror 

shows for the Uptown, Fairway and Granada 

theatres here on Halloween night. 

At Ulysses. Kas.. C. B. Crocker closed his 

C-6 BOXOFFICE October 26. 1957

. . The 

. . The 

. . Nat 

. . About 

. . 

Ulysses Drive-In on Tuesday 1221 and reopened 

the Crocker Theatre . Star 

Drive-In at Marceline. Mo., has closed for 

the season and John White is shuttering his 

Lake Drive-In at Camdenton for the season 

November 2 . Fort Drive-In at Leavenworth, 

Kas., was closing Sunday (27) ... At 

NSS, Ann Venable, shipping clerk, was under 

the weather after suffering a bad reaction 

to an Asian flu inoculation . Hechtman 

finds these titles high on his business 

barometer: The Story of Mankind, Perri, 

Slim Carter and Bombers B-52, with The 

Pi'ide and the Passion very strong in sub-run 

situations. 

At National Theatre Supply, Bill Allison. 

who spends most of his time in the Omaha 

office, was in town handling the order department 

for vacationing Carl Whitney, who 

was visiting with relatives in Illinois . 

Illness was still dogging the U-I staff, with 

Larry Klein suffering a setback after trying 

to return to work too soon, Helen Prouty still 

on the sick list and Shirley Horstman and 

Adeline Rosewicz also ailing . 125 

persons attended the special screening of 

Columbia's "Pal Joey" Monday afternoon 

(21) at the Brookside Theatre. Among the 

out-of-towners seen were Durwood managers 

Al Boos from St. Joseph and Bud Sommers 

from Leavenworth as well as "Doc" Lowe of 

Lebanon and Dick Whitley of Lawrence. 

Bill Schaefer of MGM says he knows now 

what life's darkest moment is to a publicity 

man. It's when you're screening an Elvis 

Pre.sley picture and you find out Elvis is in 

town and all efforts fail to persuade him to 

drop in at the screening or to grant any 

interviews. This all happened to Bill recently. 

Presley's reason for staying holed up in his 

suite at the Muehlebach was a swarming 

throng of Future Farmers of America in the 

lobby. Word had leaked out that Elvis w'as 

upstairs. He finally decided to cancel his 

train reservation, and flew on to Las 'Vegas 

by chartered plane, flanked by his omnipresent 

corps de bodyguard. 

Oscar Johnson of Falls City, Neb., paid a 

visit to Filmrow last week. Missourians on 

the Row included Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Jones 

of Gravois Mills; F. L. "Doc" Lowe of Lebanon, 

who has the Civic Theatre in Brookfield; 

C. D. "Komp" Jarrett of the Trail 

Drive-In, Nevada, and Louis T. Crow jr. of 

the Dixie in Odessa. Kansas visitors to the 

Row included Loren Kemp of the Star Drive- 

In at Newton, Bob Fellers, Midcentral general 

manager, Manhattan: Warren "Buddy" Webber 

of the Midway Drive-In at Junction City 

and Harry Hixon of the Orpheum in Atcliison. 

Imperial Film Chartered 

JEFFERSON CITY—A certificate of incorporation 

has been granted by the State of 

Missouri to the Imperial Film Corporation, 

106 West Fourteenth street, Kansas City, Mo., 

authorizing it to generally deal in all phases 

of motion picture films and allied equipment 

and to do a general mercantile business. It 

may issue up to 140,000 shares of Class A 

common stock with a par- value of $2 per 

share, and 140,000 shares of Class B common 

stock with a 10 cents per share par value. 

Incorporators were listed as R. P. Lyons, 

B. W. Zuercher and R. H. Spencer. Robert P. 

Lyons, an attorney with offices at the West 

Fourteenth street address in Kansas City 

handled the legal details of Incorporation. 

Easy-Going Projectionist 

Rounding Out 50 Years 

HOUSTON—Howard Wilbur Carter sr., 

for 

25 years an operator at the Boulevard Theatre, 

is pictured in Entertainment magazine 

with his namesake son, who has worked there 

with his father the past 11 years. 

That's just half the time Carter has been 

in the movie business. Fifty years ago he 

started at the Vaudette Theatre on Congress 

avenue and thereafter for 25 years moved 

from one house to another in the downtowii 

area, none of which is in existence today. 

They included besides the Baudette, the 

Dixie, Rex, Stai- Keith's Victory, Zoe and 

Queen. He also worked at the Queen in 

Yoakum for Windy Daniels. Daniels now 

owns tlii-ee theatres in Seguin. 

Asked how come he had worked at nine theatres 

the first 25 years and only one since. 

Carter shot back quickly that in those first 

years he hadn't cared whether he worked or 

not. 

"I made more money gambling and playing 

pool," he said, "than at the theatre jobs. I 

guess pool was my hobby. No one took any of 

my money—and I don't think they could 

today." 

Of his 25 years at the Boulevard, Carter 

said he promised Frank Wilke that it would 

be his last job. 

"I want people to know one operator who 

believes in his boss," he said. "Mr. Wilke's 

the only man I ever worked for who would 

buy me anything and everything I asked for. 

He's the only one who believed that between 

the screen and the operating room is the 

place to make money." 

Born in Ovida, Fla., Carter has been unable 

to get a birth certificate from back there. 

So how is he going to get his pension? 

Boulevard Manager Lowell Bulpitt answered 

that with a vast grin. "He came to work here 

25 years ago and he's been on pension ever 

since." To the further remark that the 

younger Howard Wilbur Carter is "holding 

his job for Pa," the elder Carter quipped: 

"I believe that we're tlie only father-son 

team in the U. S. and Canada that's worked 

together this long without argument. As long 

as he does my work—we get along." 

Both father and son belong to Local 279, 

lATSE. 

Choreographer Drive 

Backed by Stan Rubin 

HOLLYWOOD— Believing that the choreographer's 

contribution to a motion picture is 

of equal importance to contributions made by 

other talents already recognized by the 

Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, 

Producer Stanley Rubin announced that he 

IS actively backing previous efforts of others 

to gain Academy recognition for motion picture 

choreographers. 

In a letter to George Seaton, Academy 

president. Rubin urged that the establishment 

of an Oscar category for choreographers be 

considered in time for inclusion on this year's 

balloting which will begin next February. 

Jack S. Lawton Services 

LOS ANGELES—Funeral services for Jack 

S. Lawton. 72, retired location manager for 

Universal Pictures, were conducted October 

12 at the Wee Kirk o' the Heather. Lawton 

died in an auto accident near Gallup. N. M. 

RESEARCH BUREAO 

for 

AAODERN THEATRE PLANNERS 

ENROLLMENT FORM FOR FREE INFORMATION 

The MODERN THEATRE 

PLANNING INSTITUTE 

825 Van Brunt Blvd. 


Gentlemen: 

10-26-57 

Please enroll us in your RESEARCH BUREAU 

lo receive inlormalion regularly, as released, on 

the tollowing subjects for Theatre Planning: 

n Acou»tic« 

G Air Conditioning 

D Architectural Sarric* 

D "Black" Lighting 

G Building Motariol 

G Carpet* 

G Coin Machines 

G Complete Remodeling 

G Decorating 

G Drinlc Dispenaers 

G Drive-In Eqviipment 

G Other Subjacta.. 

Theatra 

Sooting Capacity... 

Adcirass 

City 

Stata 

Signed 

G Lighting Fixturas 

G Plumbing Fixture! 

G Projectora 

G Projection Lampa 

.Seating 

G Signs and Marquees 

G Sound Equipment 

Q Television 

G Theatre Fronta 

G Vending Equipment 

Postoge-poid reply cords tor your further conienijiic* 

io obtaining information are provided in MODSRM 

The 

THEATRE Section, published with the firs! issuD »* 

«Qch month 

BOXOFFICE : 

: October 

26, 1957 C-7

Through the Courtesy of 

BOXOFFICE 

C-8 BOXOFFICE October 26, 1957

Harold Armistead 

Heads Association 

CHARLOTTE — Harold Armistead of 

Easley, S. C, was elected president of the 

Theatre Owners of North and South Carolina 

at the convention in Asheville last week. 

He succeeds Howard McNally of Payetteville. 

Other officers elected were Frank Beddingfield 

of Charlotte, frrst vice-president, and 

Sam J. Irvin of Asheville, second vice-president. 

McNally was elected chairman of the 

group's 18-member board of directors. Mrs. 

Lucile Price of Charlotte was re-elected 

executive 

secretary. 

Benner E. Johnson Found 

Dead in Tennessee River 

MEMPHIS—The troubled life of Benner 

E. Johnson, 52, former manager of P>rincess 

Theatre in Florence, Ala., has ended and 

authorities are investigating his death. His 

body was found floating face down in the 

Tennessee River at Florence, a bullet hole in 

his head and another bullet wound near the 

heart. Sheriff J. Earl Romie ordered an 

autopsy. 

Johnson followed his wife here last June 2 

after a domestic quarrel. She came to his 

sister's home, police said. Johnson was indicted 

on a charge that he shot and wounded 

his wife at that time. He was free under 

bond and the charge had not come to trial. 

His wife recovered. 

Then on June 20, Johnson was found in 

the rear of the theatre with a bullet wound 

in the head. He recovered but the bullet was 

not removed. He and his wife became reconciled 

and were living together in Florence 

at. the time he was found dead. 

The sheriff wants the two bullets, the one 

fired into his head in June and the one 

lodged there now, examined to see if they 

were fired from the same gun. 

Columbia, S. C, State 

To Irvin-Fuller Co. 

COLUMBIA, S. C—The State Tlieatre here 

has been sold to Irvin-Fuller's Columbia Theatres. 

Final papers were signed Monday (21). 

The theatre, built in the midthirties by the 

Craver Theatres Co. of Charlotte, was sold by 

them to the local company operated by Sam 

Irvin and Jack D. Fuller. 

Columbia Theatres operates the Ritz here 

and the Strand. However, the Strand's life 

will be short now, as the building was sold 

last week to make room for an addition to a 

nearby bank building. 

The new management will refurbish the 

State, possibly change its name and install a 

different film policy. Columbia Theatres 

shows U-I and RKO films here. Palmetto 

Theatre Co., (Wilby-Kincey) operates four 

other theatres, including one drive-in. 

Amount of the sale was not disclosed. It 

did not include the building, 'whose lease has 

six more years to go under the current contract 

with a department store. 

Drive-In Loot Totals $150 

LELAND, MISS. — Cigarets and candy 

valued at $150 were taken from the Anne 

Drive-In Theatre on Highway 82 East, J. C. 

"Hoss" Noble, manager, reported. The cigaret 

machine was broken open as well as a candy 

machine. 

Orleans WOMPI Earns Top Awards 

With Outstanding Public 

By BEVERLY BALENCIE 

NE'W ORLEANS—The fourth annual national 

convention of the Women of the Motion 

Picture Industry in Memphis was a 

triumph for the local chapter. New Orleans 

members carried off national awards for 

service, attendance and publicity and Mrs. 

Anna Oliphint of the local club was elected 

national treasurer. 

First award was for service rendered by a 

club to its local community. Membership participation 

is an important factor m determining 

the winner of this award, along with the 

quality and worthiness of club projects. The 

New Orleans chapter adopted two needy families 

during the past year, furnishing furniture, 

toys, groceries, milk supplies and other 

dairy products throughout the year. Free 

dental care was also provided and birthday 

parties given for each of the children. Baskets 

with all the trimmings were delivered to both 

families on Thanksgiving and Christmas. 

Easter baskets were given to the children. 

AIDED TUBERCULOSIS ASS'N 

Other service rendered by the local 'WOMPI 

included participation in the 'Will Rogers 

Memorial Hospital Fund drive at one of 

the 

downtown theatres. Assistance also was given 

to the Tuberculosis Ass'n by booking trailers 

promoting the sale of Christmas seals in 68 

theatres for a total of 260 playing dates. 

Members prepared Christmas seals at the TB 

headquarters for mailing and held their annual 

walkathon when trailers were presented 

to managers of eight business district theatres. 

Another service feature arranged by the 

club was the annual Christmas pai'ty for orphans, 

held at the Imperial Theatre, and attended 

by 450 children from 11 orphanages, 

as well as children from the 'WOMPI's adopted 

families. The children were entertained with 

movies, cartoons, popcorn, candy and ice 

cream. Santa gave each little girl a doll, 

dressed by 'WOMPI members, and appropriate 

toys to the boys. WOMPI also provided transportation 

for the children to and from the 

theatre. 

The club provided a $10 check monthly to 

a former Filmrow employe who was unable 

to work during the year. 

PREPARED GOLDEN DEEDS KITS 

WOMPI members also answered telephones 

to accept donations during the 'Variety Club 

Telethon on WJMR-TV for the Variety cerebral 

palsy project. Members of the WOMPI 

club stuffed kits at headquarters for the 

Cerebral Palsy Golden Deed Crusade and canvassed 

neighborhoods for donations for the 

Golden Deed Crusade. Several WOMPI assisted 

in this crusade, too, 

by serving as area 

captains. The group also stuffed kits and 

rendered clerical service for the New Orleans 

Heart Ass'n Sunday campaign and worked in 

the lobbies of downtow-n theatres for one night 

for the March of Dimes. 

The New Orleans WOMPI took the lead in 

obtaining a film, through the Variety Club, 

to show once a month, from Thursday to 

Monday, in the Charity Hospital TB ward. 

The members supplied games to this ward, 

donating prizes for the ward's bingo games, 

such as gaily wrapped ash trays, stationery, 

toilet articles, etc. 

WOMPI assisted the Red Cross at the 

Service 

Veterans Hospital three evenings a week at 

the information desk; two evenings a week 

as operators of the 16mm movie projector in 

the mental wards, and each Saturday assisted 

the pathologist in the hospital laboratory 

by taking dictation, typing reports on 

research, etc. Several WOMPI serve as play 

ladies in the children's ward at the Charity 

Hospital. 

Local WOMPI during the year also delivered 

30 pounds of discarded greeting cards to De- 

Paul Hospital, 150 pounds of old magazines, 

books and other reading material to the library 

at the Veterans Hospital; collected 

books, records and sheet music for the New 

Orleans Symphony Society Book Pair; collected 

cancelled stamps for a mission society; 

sent WOMPI luncheon flower arrangements 

to members of friends who were ill; purchased 

a chair for the Sara Mayo Hospital in-andout 

patients clinic, and rendered clerical service 

in connection with the Variety Clubs' international 

convention in New Orleans last 

spring. Members were also engaged on the 

latter project for eight months preceding the 

convention dates, assisting in preparing and 

sending out pre-convention information, as 

well as in the pre-registration work. 

ALL MEIVIBERS ACTIVE 

Every member of the local chapter participated 

in some of these service activities, 

many of the members in all of them. The 

members are agreed that they have gained 

as much happiness as they have spread in 

these service activities, as well as satisfaction 

in strengthening the local and international 

association ties of working together for others. 

The service award is a silver Revere type 

cup mounted on a wooden pedestal. Mrs. 

Lorain Cass, first local club president and 

second association president, accepted the 

service award at the convention for the local 

club. 

The second award was given for the club 

with the best attendance record at the national 

meet, points being computed on the 

mileage traveled by each member. New Orleans 

was represented by 24 members. The 

award was a gold loving cup presented by 

Mabel Guinan of Dallas. 

The third national award won by the New 

Orleans club was given for publicity, based 

on a year book form and judged on basis of 

the amount of the publicity gained and assembled 

in the log. The trophy is a goddess 

of achievement mounted on a loving cup. 

Known as the Verlin Osborne award, it Is 

perpetuated this year by Mrs. Anna Oliphint, 

the New Orleans WOMPI. who was elected 

national treasurer. 

Makeup Union Installs 

HOLLYWOOD—The makeup artists, hair 

stylists and body makeup Local 706 installed 

the following officers, directors and trustees: 

Norman Pringle, president; Dan Striepeke,: 

vice-president; Louis LaCava, secretarytreasurer; 

Fred B. Phillips, business representative; 

Edith Smit, recording secretary; 

Howard Smith, Irving Pringle, Lou Phillips, 

Larry Butterworth, EmU LaVigne, Carla 

Hadley, Buddy King, Kay Reed, Lynn Burke. 

Shirley Madden, Frank LaRue, Jane Rinck, 

and Mary Hadley, executive board; Frank 

McCoy, Virginia Curtis and Alta Hitchcock. 

trustees; E. Butterworth, sergeant atârmg.; 

BOXOFFICB October 26, 1351 SE-I

! 

MEMPHIS 

. . Lake Edwards, 

T E. Thompson, owner, has reopened his 

Pangburn (Ark.) Theatre . 

owner, has closed the Starlite Drlve- 

In. Paducah, Ky., until spring . . . The Elias 

Drive-In, Osceola, Ark., and Yell Theatre, 

YellvlUe, Ark., are closed for the winter . . . 

Mrs. Joe Quails and Mrs. Mildred Hill of 

Memphis attended the Mike Todd party in 

New York's Madison Square Garden as winners 

of the Crosstown Theatre prize. Names 

were drawn from a box. The Crosstown has 

closed "Around the World in 80 Days." 

Whyte Bedford, Ford Drive-In, Hamilton, 

Ala., was in town . . . W. F. Ruffin jr., Ruffin 

Amusements Co., Covington, and Louise 

vfii;"'ll}P''C1"'y"'"'''''"'^'''^^'''\'VS^' 

"^Wfi 

GBNTLEMEN 

the solution to 

our §imUem 

No! It 

isn't 

hotter popcorn or 

better dishes thot'll perk 

up ottcndoncc for you. Ever get 

good gender at your seats? 

Bet you 

wouldn't patronize a house with such 

moth-eotcn upholstery! And the remedy 

is easier than getting a hair-cut 

Just phone us, then forget all about 

it, til you look and rave about our 

quick, smart ond ECONOMICAL rehabilitation 

of your seating-ills. 

MANUFACTURERS 

K >i .1 m lUjbbcr 

t Sprint 

Cushions, bark 

and scat covers. 

Do it right now! 

DISTRIBUTORS 

Upboistery 

fabrics and 

general 

seaLlnu 

supplies. 

Write, Wire, or Phone 

Alpine 5-8459 

theatre lent 

seruice to. 

DiYisionolMHSSEY SUIIHC Company ' * 

160 Hermifdg« Avenue 

Mask, Luez, Bolivar, were among Tennessee's 

exhibitors visiting here . . . From Mississippi 

came Jessie Moore, Ritz, Crenshaw; Mrs. 

Marvin McCuiston, F>rincess, Booneville, and 

Joe Davis, Delta, RulevUle. 

Visiting exhibitors from Arkansa.s included 

Alvin Tipton, New theatres at Caraway, Manila 

and Monette; B. M. Gray, Grayco, Jacksonville; 

Mr. and Mrs. J. T. Hitt, Plaza, 

Bentonville; William Hias, Murr, Osceola; 

B. B. Huffer, Clinton, Clinton; Tom Ford, 

Ford, Rector, and Walter Lee, Rice at Des 

Arc and Gem at Heber Springs. 

Additional drive-in closings: Audubon, Henderson, 

Ky., November 3; Tri-City, owned by 

Neal Starks, Lynnville, Ky., October 26; 

Skyway at Forrest City. Ark., Haven at 

Wynne, Ark., and Haven at Brinkley, Ark., 

operated by Louis Haven jr.; Hope at Hope, 

Ark.: Midway at Camden, Tenn.; 25 at Pulton, 

Miss., and Sunset at Selmer, Tenn.. 

The Ritz Theatre at Selmer 

November 13 . . . 

W'ill open November 

14. 

lA Cartoonists to NLRB 

And Guild Hurls Charge 

HOLLYWOOD—The battle between the 

lATSE screen cartoonists Local 839 and the 

independent Screen Cartoonists Guild broke 

out anew with the filing of a National Labor 

Relations Board petition by the lA union to 

represent workers at TV Spots, Inc. 

The independent producers in the animation 

field already pacted by SCG have been 

threatened with a secondary boycott by the 

lA, Lawrence Kilty, business agent of the 

guild, charged, and have been told that unless 

they sign with Local 839, lA theatre projectionists 

will not show their product, and 

labs, cameramen and editors will refu.se to 

handle their footage. 

These charges were denied by Don Hillary, 

business agent of Local 839, who declared 

that the NLRB filing for employes at TV 

Spots was the result of a petition requesting 

a change, filed by the workers there. 

ShuU Bonsall, president of TV Spots, also 

denied that he had heard threats from 

the lA. 

The traditional dividing line in Hollywood 

has given SCG most of the TV work and lA 

most of the theatrical cartooning. 

Art Directors Society 

Elects Officers for '58 

HOLLYWOOD—The annual election of the 

Society of Motion Picture Art Directors was 

held at a general meeting of membership at 

the Bel-Air Hotel recently, with Serge 

Krizman, president, being opposed for reelection 

by Daniel Cathcart, MGM art director. 

Vice-presidential candidates were Marvin 

Davis, Leo Kuter, and Merrill Pye. Malcom 

Bert and Lawrence Klein, incumbent secretary 

and treasurer, respectively, were unopposed. 

Nominated for administrator were Leo 

Kuter. incumbent, and George Patrick and 

Richard Riedel. 

Nominees for the board of directors were 

John Mccormick. Harvey OUlett. Mdie Imazu. 

Randall Duell. Walter Tyler. Gibson 

HoUey. Walter Simonds. Charles Myall. Robert 

Clatworthy, Leo Kuter, Claudio Guzman 

and Carl Macauley and for assistant's at 

large to the board, Leroy Coleman, Leroy 

Dean and Stan JoUey. 

'Sail' Rings Up 200 

In Memphis Opening 

MEMPHIS—"Until They Sail" went sailing 

Into twice average business at Loew's Palace 

to set the pace for local first runs. A second 

week of "Jet Pilot" tied for second place with 

"The Three Faces of Eve" with 25 per cent 

above average. 

lAveroge Is 100) 

MqIco—The Three Foces of Eye (20fh-Fox) . . . . 125 

Polace—Unril They Soil (MGM) 200 

Stole—Jet Pilot (U-l). 2nd wk 125 

Strand—Short Cut to Hell (Poro); Stowowoy 

Girl (Poral 80 

Warner—Armoured Attack (NTA); Battle Stripe 

(NTA) 85 

'Until They Sail' to Open 

In 13 LA Suburbans 

LOS ANGELES— Along with the growing 

trend to book first runs in suburban areas, 

MGM has scheduled "Until They Sail" to open 

October 30 in 13 hard tops in greater Los 

Angeles. The Charles Schnee production, 

directed by Robert Wise, will play the State, 

Los Angeles; the Pantages, Hollywood; the 

Capitol, Glendale; the Encino Theatre, Pasadena's 

Colorado Theatre, Montebello's Garmar, 

the Studio City, Warner's Huntington 

Park, the Academy in Inglewood, the Strand. 

Redondo; the El Rey. the Wilshire, Santa 

Monica; and the Westwood Village Theatre. 

Joe Lyons Is the Manager 

Of Mobile Downtown 

MOBILE, ALA.—Joe Lyons is the new manager 

of the Downtown Theatre here. A native 

of Vancleave. Lyons is a 20-year man in 

the motion picture business. He has worked 

with theatres in the Delta states and at one 

time was publicity head for Howco International 

in New Orleans. 

Lyons recently spent 27 weeks at the Panorama 

Theatre in New Orleans handling publicity 

for "Around the World in 80 Days." 

a screen game, 

HOLLYWOOD takes fop 

horvjrs. As a box-office ottroction, 

it is without equal. It hat 

been a favorite with theatre goert for 

over 15 yeors. Write today for complete detailv 

Be sure to give seating or car capacity. 

NOLLTWOOO AHUSIMINT CO. ' 

3750 Oaiton St. e Skskle. Illinsii 

COMPLETE LINE 

THEATRE EQUIPMENT and 

CONCESSION SUPPLIES 

TRI-STATE THEATRE SUPPLY 

320 So. Second St. Meispbit, Te 

SE-2 BOXOFFICE October 26, 1957


VITAL 

FACTS ABOUT 

fOR âus\oN> 

_„«r««;3 

jrioro^ 

oVi*'"- 

Si 






CENTURY made. No other projector con moke 






the double installation for the All-Weather Drive-In 

or any other theatre or drive-in. 


^^^ 

Century Projector Corporation, new york 19, n. y. 

SOLD BY 

Alon Boyd Theatre Equipment Co. Joe Hornstein, incorporated Capital City Supply Co. 

p. 0. Box 362 Shreveport, Louisiana 273 Flogler St. 161 Walton Street, N. W. 

«•, 

I I Tl f I ^ Miami, Florida Atlanta, Georgia 

standard Theatre Supply Co. 

Queen Feature Service^ Inc. Tri-State Theatre Supply 

215 E. Washington St. 

Green sboro, North Co rolino 

219 South Church St. 

Charlotte, North Carolina 

19I2'/2 Morris Ave. 

Birmingham 3, Alabama 

318 South Second St. 

Memphis 3, 

Tennessee 

BOXOFFICE October 26, 1957 SE-3

95 

Atlanta. 

Phone: 

. . . Mark 

. . The 

. . H. 

. . . Other 

. . Mrs. 

: October 

. . The 

A T L 

T A 

TJnitcd Artists is arranging a heavy radio 

promotion for "Time Limit," a Korean 

war story. One of the items set up is a telephone 

interview program asking listeners 

their opinions on, "Should captured American 

army officers subjected to Red Chinese 

brain washing tactics be treated as war 

criminals, held for court-martial or pardoned." 

The question will be aired over 

WAGA. The picture is scheduled to open 

early in November at Loew's Grand, and UA 

publicist Irving Shiffrin is here working on 

the campaign. 

James Boyd, butler to the Earl of Bedford 

of London, England, was here to publicize 

"My Man Godfrey," at the Fox Theatre. He 

appeared on radio and TV, and interviews 

and art appeared in both the Atlanta Journal 

and Constitution. Boyd's appearances were 

NOW with TWO convenient locathnt for 

BCTTIR than 

EVER senice to you 

DIXIE 

THEATRE SERVICE 

& SUPPLY COMPANY 

YOUR BALLANTYNE DEALER 

| 

i 

i 

1 

1010 North Slappey Dri»e Walton Street. N.W. 

P 0. Box 771 P. 0. Box 858 

Albany, Georgia Georgia 

Phone; HEmlock 2-2846 WAInut 4118 

COMPLETE THEATRE EQUIPMENT & SUPPLIES 

flLHl 

Prompt. Courteous Service 'Round the Clock 

BOOtilOG OfflM 

Experience Industry — Integrity 

ALBERT E. ROOK 

160 Walton st. n.w. 

.ov-^^-- 

tel. Jackson 5-8314 si^^^JS°o'*!S'' 

p.o. box 1422 

tssu 

atlanta, gs. ti»»»*' 

handled by Ben Hill, Universal district publicist 

Buckhead, Gordon and Plaza 

. 

theatres are showing "The Ten Commandments" 

in the film's first run after the Paramount 

Theatre booking. 

\V. D. Kelly jr. of Exhibitors Service announce.s 

that E. R. Miller and associates have 

bought a 50 per cent interest in the Skyline 

Drive-In at Johnson City, Tenn., from Reece 

Carver. Paul Wylie is the other owner. Exhibitors 

Service will continue to buy and book 

for the account. Miller and his associates operate 

the Sevier and Tennessee theatres in 

Johnson City. 

Vernon \V. Hixon has sold his interest in 

the Starlite and Four-Lane drive-ins of Murfreesboro, 

Tenn., to Tom W. Lane, a real 

estate and building contractor. Hixon had 

been a partner in the drive-ins with W. B. 

Hamaker jr. for over nine years. Hamaker 

will continue to buy and book for both theatres 

and continue as manager of the Starlite 

Cummins of Cincinnati took over 

the Bel-Air, Colonial and Warner Park driveins 

at Nashville from Condra Amusement Co. 

on Monday (21). Cummins will continue to 

headquarter in Cincinnati from where he will 

buy and book. C. H. "Chick" Kuertz, former 

buyer and booker, will manage the three operations 

. A. Bridges closed his Moon- 

Lit Drive-In at Springfield, Tenn., on the 

12th for the winter, while Ralph Dickerson 

opened his new Franklin (Tenn.) Drive-In 

Thursday (17). 

The Princess at Carthage, Tenn., formerly 

I 

senefinG 

n 2 yeors for $5 D 

D Remittance Enclosed D Send Inyoice 

THEATRE.. 

STREET ADDRESS 

TOWN ZONE STATE 

NAME 

Sno Cone Machines 

Popcorn Machines 

Hot Dog Machines 

ALSO 

Complete Line of Concession Supplies 

THE QUEEN FEATURE SERVICE, Inc. 

Complete Theatre & Drive-In Equipment 

& Supplies 

1912-1/2 Morris Avenue Phone ALplna 1-8665 

Birmingham 3, Aloboma 

1 yeor for $3 3 yeors for $7 

POSITION.. 

mmu THE NATIONAL FILM WEEKLY 52 issues a year 

825 Van Brunt Blvd., Kansas City 24, Mo 

a Rockwood Amusement Co. operation, has 

been taken over by John A. Phelps . . . Laura 

Kenny, secretary to UA Manager Byron 

Adams in Jacksonville, vacationed here following 

the close of the WOMPI convention 

in Memphis. Laura was elected national 

WOMPI recording secretary. Local WOMPIS 

returning from the convention were dogtired 

but full of praise for their hostesses 

whom they said put on a hangup show despite 

their limited number of members. The 

Variety Club cooperated wholeheartedly as 

did local exhibitors and distributors. 

UA booker Martha Chandler returned from 

Don 

a brief business trip to Nashville 

Wenger of 

. . . 

the Pekin at Montgomery stopped 

on the Row en route to Bryson City, N. C. 

visitors: Moon Corker, Alps Road 

Drive-In, Athens, Ga.; Mack Nation, Southport 

Drive-In, Bridgeport, Ala.: Sanford 

Stone, Montague Drive-In, Nashville; Hoke 

Shipp, Warm Springs Foundation; W. W. 

Hammonds jr., who has the Marshall Drive- 

In at Albertville, the Bowline at Decatur and 

the Wilson at Florence, Ala.; C. A. Drake, 

Drake and Atco Drive-In, Pearson, Ga., and 

Wendell Welch, Dallas and Judean Drive-In, 

Dallas. Ga. 

NEW ORLEANS 

LT J. 

Labat has opened the Cub Drive-In, a 

new theatre, in Raceland . . . R. E. Hook 

reopened the Starlite Drive-In, Canton, Miss. 

Hook lives in Aliceville, Ala. . . . Another theatre 

recently reopened is the local Pix, an 

indoor situation. The Varsity at Baton Rouge 

also has been reopened . . . R. S. Starling has 

moved from the Pines at Pineville to the 

Kings Drive-In at Kingsville, Ala. 

. 

J. E. Ricks has sold the Mansfield Theatre, 

Mansfield, to Fi-ank Patterson. J. G. Broggi 

IS doing the booking and buying . Bijou 

Amusement Co., Nashville, has changed 

the Grand Theatre, Jackson, Miss., to the 

Ebony Tlieatre Louise Guidry has 

acquired the Delcambre Theatre, Delcambre, 

and the Bijou Theatre, Erath, from R. Perrin 

H. G. Prophit jr. is the new owner of the 

. . . 

Joe Drive-In, Monroe. The previous owner 

was Joy Houck. 

Big Roy Rogers Take 

ALBUQUERQUE, N. M.—Roy Rogers took 

out of here $101,306 for his share of the 

receipts for starring in nine performances of 

his own rodeo, after being guaranteed $40,000 

against 75 per cent of the gross after expenses. 

It is particularly significant in that his television 

show had never been seen in the New 

Mexico town and yet was a sellout every night 

against the competition of a circus, football 

and rainy weather, playing to more than half 

of the town's population of 175,000 people. 

In their story, "Mock Trial," now screenplayed 

for MOM, Edith and Samuel Grafton 

probe into the financial Irregularities of town 

officials. 

SPECIAL TRAILERS 

Quality and Service 

Serving theotret In the South for 36 yeon. 

13 cents per word 

Lowest Cost Anywhere 

STRICKLAND FILM CO. 

220 Phorr Rood, N. E. Atlanta 

SE-4 

BOXOFFICE 

: 



A SAVAGE GIANT ON A BLOOD-MD RAMPAGE! 

GROWING...! 

GROWING...! 

to a GIANT I to a MONSTER! 

WHEN WILL 

IT 

STOP? 

fmsmS' 

CONTACT YOUR 

'ntanndtionaL EXCHANGE 

OL RELEASING CORP. 

V. M. RICHARDSON 

4 Walton Street, N.W. 

TUNTA 3, GEORGIA 

AMERICAN ASTOR PICTURES 

R. F. PINSON 

CHARLOTTE 1, 

215 West 4th Street 

NORTH CAROLINA 

COLONIAL PiaURES 

R. V. REAGAN 

492 So, Second Street 

MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE 

CAPITOL RELEASING CORP. 

R C. PRICE 

137 Forsythe Street 

JACKSONVILLE 2, FLORIDA 

HAROLD F. COHEN ENT. 

HAROLD F. COHEN 

150 So. Liberty Strest 

NEW ORLEANS 12, LOUISIANA

. . Rebecca 

, . . J. 

. 

. . . The 

. . Seen 

. . Stan 

. . The 

. . Janice 

. . 

. . 

— 

CHARLOTTE 

. . . Doris and Lee 

p J. Alander, advertising manager of the 

Charlotte Obsen'er, was among the 

speakers at the 45th convention of the 

Theatre Owners of North and South Carolina 

at Asheville last week . . . R. J. Ingram. 

Columbia district manager, conferred with 

R. D. Williamson, local manager at Columbia, 

then left for Asheville . . . Joe Bibbs. 

Columbia secretary, spend a weekend in 

Greenville visiting relatives . Jerry and 

. . 

Bill Hasty (Columbia) have moved into their 

new home in Monroe 

Furr are parents of a baby son named Ronald 

Anthony. 

. . . Bill Tha-ush jr. of 

WOMPI members Nancy Wilson. Blanche 

Carr. Viola Wister. Myrtle Parker and husband 

Bill. Rebecca Miller. Billie HaiTis, Elizabeth 

Hinson. Mac Wess and husband Hugh. 

Irene Monahan and Mildred Hoover attended 

the WOMPI convention at the Peabody Hotel 

in Memphis . Miller (NSS) had 

her son. Dr. Bill Miller, and wife Dotie in 

from Charleston as weekend guests . . Viola 

. 

Wister of Howco was visiting her twin sister 

Violet in Austin, Tex. 

the 109 Drive-In at Denton. N. C. was on 

Filmrow. 

Beat the Rain^ 

with the one-piece, snap-on 

MOV-E-VUE Rain Visor 

Eliminates windshield wiping 

Clips on and off in 20 seconds 

Fifs all cars— Rolls up for storage 

90°o of all Connecticut Drive-In 

Theatres Sell 'em with Great Success. 

We Supply FREE Trailer 

Write: 

PIONEER SALES CO. 

P.O. Box 899 Wolcrbury, Conn. 

I 

BOOKING SERVICE^^ 

1 33 Bravord Court, ChsrloHc, N. C. 

FRANK LOWRY — JOHN WOOD 

PHONE FR. S-7787 

Exhibitors on Filmrow: Harry Cook. Center 

Theatre. Mount Olive: Sam Bogo, Carolina 

at Batesburg: H. P. McManus. Greer Drive- 

In at Greer: J. K. Whitley. Towel City The- 

. 

atres, Kannapolis: Homer Haynes, State at 

Lenoir: W. B. Sams and Ted Thompson, 

Statesville Theatre Corp.; Rudy Howell, 

Howell Theatres at Smithfield: Gilbert Faw, 

Albemarle; Fred Levin, Booker T. Theatres, 

Raleigh: Nathan Schwartz, Rialto at Durham: 

W. M. Patrick, Rock Hill Drive-In, and 

O. F. Autry, Gilmont at Mount Gilead 

R. T. Belcher, Queen City, and wife attended 

the Miami U. -North Carolina football game 

in Miami. 

. . . 

Lois Glenn Summers, MGM secretary, was 

married to Randolph A. Kiser, at the Gilwood 

Presbyterian 

Church, Concord, N. C. 

Mrs. Myrtle 

Parker, an employe at 

the Paramount exchange, 

was named 

vice-president of the 

Women of the Motion 

Picture Industry at 

the Memphis meeting 

state fair 

opened in Raleigh. 

Among the stars headlined 

Mrs. K. A. Kiser 

were Julius 

Larosa, Carmel Quinn, 

the Pour Lads. Johnny Long and his 

orchestra, George Hamilton IV, Brenda Lee 

and Elaine Herndon, who is Miss North 

Carolina Mrs. Margie Tliomas returned 

from a trip to Detroit, Mich., where she attended 

the wedding of her son William Evan 

jr. to Mary Ellen Gilbert of Arlington. Va. 

William is now in the Army stationed in 

Wasliington. After a honeymoon trip to 

Niagara Falls, the couple will live in Fairfax. 

Va. 

Charlotte Booking and Promotion reported 

the following exhibitors called: P. G. McGee. 

Winston Salem Drive-In: H. A. Hendrix. King 

Drive-In at King, and Bill Stinett of the 

Bessemer City-Kings Mountain Drive-In . 

John Giddens, who recently took over the 

Bur-Gra Drive-In at Burlington, has renamed 

it the Skyvue after a complete remodeling 

T. McSwain of the South No. 1 Drive- 

In, Cary, N. C., has cut to Friday-Saturday- 

Sunday for the winter . Hall i.s 

replacing Aileen Tate, resigned, at Max Reinhardt 

Enterprises. 

Carl Dobbins of the Colony, Wilmington, 

and J. S. Horton of the Wayne. Goldsboro, 

were in several days . at Carolina 

Booking Service were J. R. Bolick of the 

Carolina Drive-In. Lenoir, and Irvin Dantzic 

of the Midway Drive-In, Forest City, and the 

Friendly at Gastonia . Belmont of 

the Belmont Drive-In, Taylors, returned from 

a visit in New York . 

father of J. E. 

Haney. Trlcity Drive-In at Forest City, died 

recently. 

. . Fred 

H. P. Howell of Smithfield (N.C.i theatres 

was home for a couple of weeks from West 

Palm Beach, where he has a motel . 

Levi of the Booker T. Tlaeatres. Raleigh, has 

moved his offices to 2204 Lash Ave. there. 

Thii-ty-nine employes and associates of Consolidated 

Theatres were at the seashore three 

days as the climax of the annual managers 

contest. Captains of the winning "Cocks" 

were Leonard Register of Rocky Mountain 

and Mack Herman of Danville, Va. Luther 

Fitzgerald, captain of the losing "Hens," was 

presented a live hen . . . M. N. Holder. Pilot 

Drive-In at Pilot Mountain, is the papa of a 

son born the 10th and named Matthew Ned. 

. . , 

Max Reinhardt Enterprises will be the 

agent for the Pilot Drive-In at Pilot Mount 

The many friends on Filmrow of Mrs. 

Kathleen Dobson Garber. were saddened to 

learn of her death in an automobile accident 

recently. She owned and operated a chain 

of theatres in South Carolina. The funeral 

was held in Columbia and burial was at 

Ridgeway. Survivors include her husband 

Sam D. Garber: one daughter. Mrs. Robert 

C. HaiTis of Barnwell. S. C. and one son 

James F. Dobson jr. of Fayetteville. N. C. 

'Hoss' Noble Will Manage 

6 Delta Units for Pike 

LELAND. MISS.— J. C. "Hoss" Noble said 

here he has merged his Temple Theatre here 

and the Anne Drive-In outside of town with 

the Pike Booking Co. of McComb, operators 

of 65 theatres in Mississippi, Louisiana and 

Florida. 

Under the arrangement made with Teddy 

theatres of Greenville, Paramount and Air- 

Solomon of Pike Booking Co. six theatres at 

Greenville, Greenwood and Leland will be 

under his direction. The concessions of the 

six theatres have been leased to Berlo Vending 

Co. of Philadelphia, with Mrs. Ave Lee 

Breeden as concessions manager. 

Noble will manage the Lake and Joy drivein 

port Drive-In at Greenwood and the two theatres 

here. Extensive remodeling has been 

carried out at the Anne Drive-In, Noble said, 

including painting and smoothing of the 

driveways. 

Signed for an important role in UA's "Run 

Silent, Run Deep," Mai-y La Roche was a 

Rogers and Hammerstein discovery. 

SERVICE 

and 

COURTESY 

For oyer 20 years 

OUR WATCH WORD 

•CENTURY 1',V\'oShI strong l^Sps 

CONCESSION EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES 

STANDARD THEATRE SUPPLY CO. 

215 E. Wishington St. 

GREENSBORO. N. C. 

219 Ss. Church St 

CHARLOTTE. N. C. 

BOONTON, N. J. 

Large Core 

Greater Crater Area 

means 

MAXIMUM LIGHT 

Evenly Distributed 

In North Corotina—Standard Thcotre Supply Compony, Charlotte 

Fronklin 5-6008 

Theotrc Equipment Company, Charlotte— Fronklin 

5-8481 

Stondord Thcotre Supply Company, Greensboro^ 

2-6165 

SE-6 BOXOFFICE ; 

: October 


. . Herb 

. . Joe 

. . Mr. 

JACKSONVILLE 

•Ted "Lazybones" Chapeau, Variety Club chief 

barker, is now the leading featured personality 

on a new local radio station, WZOK 

which was formerly the Jacksonville Journal's 

WJHP . Roller, manager of the Imperial 

Theatre, distributed 20.000 three-color 

tabloid heralds in the form of newspaper 

comic strips to school children prior to his 

first-run opening of J. Arthur Rank's "Pursuit 

of the Graf Spee" . . . Laura Kenny, 

Byron Adams' secretary at United Artists, returned 

from a vacation in her hometown of 

Atlanta . Fleishel, veteran manager of 

the Athens Theatre, DeLand, who has two 

daughters, became the proud father of his 

first son, named Thomas Bennett. 

C. Spurgeon Dunn, owner of the Gibson 

Theatre, Chattahoochee, suffered a foot injury 

and had to make the rounds of local 

distributor offices with the aid of a pair of 

crutches . and Mrs. R. L. Woodard, 

owners of the 'Woodard Theatre, Madison, 

were here on a social and business trip . . . 

Carol Thomas has replaced Russell Elwood 

in the 20th-Fox shipping department . . . 

Claudine Brannen, 20th-Fox office worker, 

returned from an enjoyable trip to Salt Lake 

City where she visited Mormon sluines . . . 

Bill Fegenbush, FST art shop head, was recovering 

from a successful abdominal operation 

... Ed Marsden moved into the Florida 

Theatre as Jim Levine's assistant, soon after 

Mrs. Levine had been hospitalized with pneumonia. 

In answer to a call by Alex Harrison, 20th- 

Fox national sales manager, for the participation 

of 20th-Fox personnel in branch offices 

in the U. S. payroll-deduction plan for 

the purchase of savings bonds. Tliomas P. 

Tidwell, local 20th-Fox branch manager, 

stated that 100 per cent of his staff has enrolled 

in the Federal savings plan 

20th-Fox shipping department 

. . . 

is 

The 

now 

florlda's FIRST Supply House 

NEW ADDRESS 

206 MEMORIAL HIGHWAY 

TAMPA, FLORIDA 

NEW PHONE . . . 8-5189 

NEW CONVENIENT PARKING 

for Our Customers 

Visit us at our new building 

UNITED THEATRE SUPPLY CORP. 

206 Memorial Highwoy 

ompa, Florida Phone 8-S189 

Moil Address: Box 375, Tompo 1, Flo. 

HOT CHOCOLATE 

DISPENSERS 

ROY SMITH CO. 

365 PARK ST. JACKSONVILLE 

equipped with five Kittyhawk film inspection 

machines. 

Jim Levine, manager of the Florida Theatre, 

made a fine tie-in with eight leading 

downtown merchants which resulted in a 

full-page co-operative ad in the Jacksonville 

Journal. Each individual ad featured the 

merchants' "no down payment" plans. The 

ad appeared a week in advance of the opening 

of 20th-Fox's "No Down Payment" at the 

Florida Theatre ... Ed Linder held over "Jet 

Pilot" for a second week at the Town and 

Country Theatre after the John 'Wayne starrer 

had broken all attendance records at the 

theatre during its first week's run . . . Robert 

Heekin, city manager for Florida State Theatres, 

left on a belated vacation which he 

planned to devote to landscaping work on 

his Southside property. 

School and theatre officials have completed 

the work of distributing student theatre identification 

cards to the thousands of pupils 

enrolled in Duval County's junior and senior 

high schools. The highly-prized ID card, 

after the ow'ner's photograph has been affixed 

to it, permits the student to attend local 

indoor theatres at a price which is approximately 

two-thirds the cost of an adult 

ticket. The privilege of similar ID cards is 

also extended to school teachers. Each ID 

card is sold in the schools for 25 cents and 

is honored by theatres for one year. All 

monies received from the sale of the cards are 

retained by the schools for pet projects, such 

as school bands, recreational equipment, educational 

prizes and the like. Local theatre 

owners believe that the ID cards are instrumental 

in placing teenagers on their good 

behavior while attending theatres and that 

teenagers attend theatres more frequently 

than if they had to pay adult prices. The 

cards also help to better the relationship between 

teachers and theatres. 

MIAMI 

phe color film of Queen Elizabeth's visit, 

being made by the Itonk studios, is booked 

for three FST theatres . . . HaiTy Botwick 

wired luncheon invitations for a party including 

the press, in honor of April Olrich, at 

present traveling tlu-ough the south and 

southw-est with the "Graf Spee" all- caravan, 

in connection with a first regional showing 

of "Pursuit of the Graf Spee." Officials of 

FST met the dancer at the au-port. 

Luther Evans has been elected chief barker 

of 'Variety. Hal Pelton was elected first assistant; 

'Victor Levine, second assistant: Bob 

Green, dough guy; Abe Allenberg, property 

master, and Art Bruns. Sammy Walsh. Leo 

Adeeb. Jack Bell, Carl Gardner and Julian 

Cole, members of the crew. Evans succeeded 

George MacLean. 

Cinerama Boat Capsizes 

S'^DNEY, AUSTRALIA—A Cinerama cameraman 

was injured and a Cinerama camera 

valued at $75,000 was lost when a lifesaving 

boat in the rough surf and manned by the 

international surfboat championship team 

capsized October 13 at nearby Bondi Beach. 

Bruce Fowler, who was filming "Cinerama 

South Seas," was taken to a hospital with 

leg lacerations. 

Michael Dante will play a romantic role 

opposite Karen Steele in Warners' "Westbound." 

RESEARCH BUREAU 

for 

AAODERN THEATRE PLANNERS 






Genllemen: 

10-26-57 

Please enroll us m your RESEARCH BUREAU 

to receive information regularly, as released, on 

the loUowing subjects lor Theatre Planning: 

Acoustics 

n Air Conditioning 

n Architectural Service 

D "Black" Lighting 

G Building Material 

n Carpels 

D Coin Machines 

n Complete Remodeling 

D Decorating 

n Lighting Pixturea 

D Plumbing Fixtures 

n Projectors 

D Projection Lamps 

Seating 

n Signs and Marquees 

Sound Equipment 

Television 

D Drink Dispensers D Theatre Fronts 

Q Drive-In Equipment Q Vending Equipment 

n Other Subjects 

Theatre 

Sealing Capacity.. 

Address 

City 

State 

Signed 

Postage-paid reply cards for your further convenience 

tji obtoining informotion are provided in The MOOSi^N 

THEATRE Section, published with the first issue ai 

each month. 

BOXOFFICE October 26, 1957 SE-7

many 

happy 

returns 

of today 

Thanks to our doctors, most Americans can look forward to 

longer and happier lives than ever before. Some of our deadliest 

diseases have already been conquered ; others are fast being brought 

under control. Even with cancer, much progress has been made. 

Today, more than 800,000 Americans are alive and well, cured of 

cancer . . . many of them, because they made a habit of having thorough 

health checkups every year no matter how well they felt . . . 

many others, because they went to their doctors at the first sign of 

any one of the seven danger signals that may mean cancer . . . all of 

them, because they went to their doctors in time. 

To learn how to guard itovrself against cancer, call the American 

Cancer Society office nearest you or write to "Cancer" in care of 

your local Post Office. 


BOXOFFICE 

SE-8 BOXOFFICE :: October 26, 1957

— 

Dallas Coronet Builds 

Shorts Into Programs 

DALLAS—Hulda Silvernail. manager of 

Alfred Sack's Coronet, believes all types of 

theatres should use short subjects, carefully 

selected to fit the tastes of the patronage, 

for addiiig variety to the program. 

The Coronet books many "class" shorts, 

both foreign and domestic, and advertises 

them as an important part of the programs. 

Used recently were "The Day Manolete Was 

Killed" and "The Chicken." 

From time to time Coronet also runs Mr. 

Magoo and UPA cartcon festivals. But all 

cartoons are selected so as not to clash with 

the subject of the main attraction. 

In some theatres cartoons are the only 

subjects considered to round out the program, 

and standard shorts bookings have 

been dropped from their calendars entirely. 

Of course, it began with double features as 

a time factor, but spread to many single bill 

runs as an economy measure. Today some 

shorts series have been discontinued from 

release by many film companies. 

The Interstate circuit first runs here include 

shorts in their ads (mostly cartoons), 

generally omitting the title and mentioning 

the known characters. Some 13 first sub-nan 

houses here primarily book single bills with 

cartoons and newsreels. However, one circuit 

has discontinued newsreels altogether. 

There is little shorts promotion. One manager 

said: "It seems that the old one-sheet 

standee used in the old days for the shorts 

no longer stands out front. The patron now 

buys a feature ticket and trusts to luck on 

the shorts." 

The remainder of the runs are strictly 

double bill and sometimes more! Some drivems 

use cartoons to open the program (in 

color and easier to see at twilight i while 

others spot them in at the end of the main 

feature. Seldom do any of them deviate from 

cartoons. 

The report from family-type operations is 

patrons, young and old. always expect to see 

a cartoon: few ever ask about anything else. 

The exchanges handling shorts report 

some exhibitors fail to return them promptly, 

forcing substitutions on the next booking. 

This is not always satisfactory. For example, 

Schwab & Luchts Sunset Drive-In at Brownwood 

(the Luchts now run the Fox ozoner 

at Marshall I booked a rodeo short and advertised 

it heavily. The exchange missed out 

from a prior booking and shipped another 

reel in its place. The substitution was not 

discovered until late afternoon, when a long 

distance call was placed to the booker. The 

correct subject had just arrived and was 

immediately shipped via air express. Later, 

the exchange had to make an adjustment, but 

the cost of the call and shipment far exceeded 

the film rental on the one-reeler. 

To the many theatres running Saturday 

matinee shorts, of course, are essential. 

Two circuits here make it a regular practice 

to screen all short releases every week. 

Frontier bookers watch them at 20th-Fox 

screening room and Interstate bookers in 

their own auditorium. 

'Ark' to Dallas Village 

DALLAS—"Noahs Ark," first 

scheduled by 

Interstate circuit to open at the WUshlre 

Theatre here on the 24th, opened instead at 

the Village in a last-minute change. 

BOXOFFICE October 26, 1957 

SHOWING THE WAY—Unveiled recently at the Variety Tent 17 headquarters in 

the Adolphus Hotel. Dallas, was a 6x8-foot oil painting created for the organization 

by Dmitri Vail. Dallas artist. The painting depicts the entrance to the local tenfs 

favorite charity, Boys Ranch, at Bedford. 20 miles northwest of Dallas. The bronze 

plaque at the bottom gives the title, "Showing the Way." Shown accepting the painting 

for the Variety Club is Chief Barker Edwin Tobolowsky, left, general counsel for 

the Texas Drive-In Theatre Owners Assn; artist Vail, center, and 1956 chief barker 

Clyde Rembert, right, president of KKLD and KRLD-TV. Dallas. 

Russell Brentlinger Named 

Dallas Branch Head 

NEW YORK—Russell L. Brentlinger, currently 

a salesman in the United Artists Indianapolis 

branch, has 

been named U A ' 

s 

branch manager i n 

Dallas by James R. 

Velde. general sales 

manager. He replaces 

James Clemens, resigned. 

As Dallas manager. 

Brentlinger, will work 

under the supervision 

of Milton E. Cohen, 

eastern and southern 

division manager, and 

Russell L. Brentlinger George Pabst, southern 

district manager. He entered the industry as 

a salesman with MGM in Chicago and later 

joined RKO in Indianapolis, where he was 

branch manager for 12 years. Early in 1957, 

he became affiliated with UA's Indianapolis 

sales 

staff. 

Waco Melrose Relighted 

WACO. TEX.—The Melrose, dark since 

July of 1956, was reopened the first of October 

by WUford Smith, who will operate it 

for owner W. S. McLemore sr., proprietor of 

the TCU Theatre in Fort Worth. 

Drive-In Area Resurfaced 

WICHITA FALLS. TEX.—The entire interior 

grounds and approach drives, comprising 

an area of more than 42,000 square yards, 

have been resurfaced at the Seymour Road 

Drive-In, according to Manager Corle Pierce. 

Telemovie Luncheon 

Is Festival Kickoii 

BARTLESVILLE. OKLA—The major event 

of Telemovie Fall Festival Week here was a 

luncheon Monday (21i in the American 

Legion hall at which the story of Telemovies 

and the Bartlesville test was outlined by 

Henry S. Griffing of Oklahoma City, president 

of Video and its telemovie subsidiary, 

the Vumore Co. 

Partners and managers of Video Independent 

Theatres in attendance included Frank 

Little and Foster McSwain, Ada; W. T. 

Spears, Altu.s; Benson Dean, Ardmore; Gus 

Hoenscheidt, Blackwell; Dick Klein, Chandler; 

Horace Clark, Chickasha; Bill Love. 

Claremore; Nelson Myers. Cushing; Dale 

Davis and R. F. Wilbern, Duncan; Paul Shipley, 

Enid; W. J. Moore, Fairfax; A. R. Powell 

sr., Guthrie; Lawrence Wells, Holdenville; 

Paul Gay. Miami; John Kniseley, Norman: 

Dale Hellwege, Okmulgee; Fred Brewer, Pawhuska; 

Don Hall. Ponca City; Bob Getter. 

Sapulpa; Chai'ley Fletcher. Seminole; Johnny 

Jones, Shawnee; Woodie Sylvester, Stillwater; 

J. C. Duncan, Tulsa; David Karr, Vinita and 

Frank Love jr., Wewoka. 

Speaker at Kiwanis Club 

MAPLE SHADE, N. J.—Edwin Karpen, new 

owner of the Roxy Theatre here, was a recent 

speaker before a meeting of the local Kiwanis 

Club and outlined his plans for renovation 

of the theatre. The theatre, set to rtopen 

this month, will have a new widescreen, new 

or reconditioned seats, improved stage, redecorated 

walls and restrooms and remodeled 

front. It also will be air conditioned. Karpen 

also owns the Broadway Theatre in Palmyra. 

SW-1

. . . The 

. . The 

DALLAS 

n demonstration of the new wireless speaker 

was arranged by Texas COMPO. John 

Shelton, vice-president of Vido-Sound Coi-pof 

New Jersey, demonstrated his company's 

new sound speaker which requires no connecting 

wire or speaker post. In a letter to 

all Texas drive-in theatre owners, an invitation 

was extended by Texas COMPO for the 

open air operators to be present to learn of 

the cost, installation features and the future 

possibilities of the new speaker. The demonstration 

was held at the Big D Drive-In on 

Harry Hines boulevard here Tuesday (22i at 

2:00 p.m. 

COMPO general counsel, was in 

. . . 

Seen on the Row: E. R. "Red" Slocum, executive 

director of the Theatre Owners of 

Oklahoma, Oklahoma City: Victor Cornelius 

of the Victor Cornelius Advertising Co., Eastland, 

Tex.: A. E. McClain, Rowley United 

Theatres manager at Sweetwater: Doyle 

Oliver, general manager of the Frels Theatres, 

Victoria: Mrs. Evelyn Poag, exhibitor 

from Del Rio: Jack Dudley of Mistletoe Film 

Line.s, Lubbock, and Sammy Jones, exhibitor 

from Brownfield W. O. Reed, Texas 

Austin during 

the special session of the legislature. 

A fire that destroyed the Sparks Theatre 

and a grocery store on the Cooper, Tex., town 

square, and damaged a clothing firm, hardware 

store and cafe, took the life of one man, 

Reseating and 

Seat Repair are 

SO simple 

with Internationals 

Ask today tor an INTERNATIONAL 

Seating Engineer for all the facts. 

Modern Sales & Service, Inc, 

2200 Young Strccf Dalles, Texas 

... or 

International Sect Division 

Union City Body Company, Inc. 

Union City, Indiana 

who died in a local hospital here Friday (11 >. 

It started with an explosion in the man's 

store. The 400-seat theatre was owned by 

Henry Sparks . Majestic sneak-previewed 

"Don't Go Near the Water" Wednesday 

night (16) with the final showing of "Gun 

Glory" and "Hired Gun." 

Adelman & Brooks' South Loop Drive-In 

and Weisenburg's Kaufman Pike opened two 

Debbie Reynolds repeats Sunday (20) after 

her recent "Tammy and the Bachelor" hit. 

The two were "Susan Slept Here" and "Bundle 

of Joy." 

Virgl! JVIiers, Dallas Times Herald's amusements 

editor, flew to New York as Mike Todd's 

guest at the birthday party for "Around the 

World in 80 Days" at Madison Square Garden. 

The Todd-AO Oscar-winning picture 

is scheduled to open Thanksgiving Day in 

Fort Worth. Abilene, El Paso, and Wichita 

Falls. It's also due a Christmas opening in 

Amarillo, Austin, Galveston and Waco . . . 

Ronald Reagan, film star and television emcee, 

appeared Sunday (20i at the state fair 

Livestock Pavilion. Signe Hasso. the Swedish 

film star, visited the Swedish exliibit, and 

played a Swedish made piano in the International 

Center at the fair. 

Pat Boone, singing star of films, records 

and his own television show, got a bad 

weather break here on a recent Sunday. An 

all-day rain forced his show from the Cotton 

Bowl into the Livestock Pavilion. The curtailed 

quarters kept the crowd to about 5.000, 

whereas the al fresco Cotton Bowl attendance 

was expected to equal or better Elvis 

Presley's in-person show on Oct. 11, 1956, 

which drew 26,500. Ducats at both show's were 

$1.25 in advance and $1.75 at the gate. Gordon 

McLendon, KLIF president, and head of 

Tristate Theatres (which includes the Casa 

Linda here) sponsored the show. Other acts 

in his show were comedian Candy Candido, 

juggler Ti'ixie, a male vocal quartet and Hyman 

Charninsky's orchestra. 

Miiko Taka has changed her Texas dates 

for personal appearances. The Japanese actress, 

who stars with Marlon Brando in 

"Sayonara," will be here on November 14 

. . . Corinne Griffith, here to speak against 

the individual income tax before the Dallas 

Salesmanship Club, said that current movies 

are worse because the emphasis is on crime, 

sex or integration. Born in Waco, Tex., the 

silent screen star said she's just finished a 

role in a new- film, "Stars in the Backyard" 

Lone Star Gas Co., with headquarters 

here, ran ad.s plugging "No Down Payment." 

Jack Miller, 49, Manager 

For Florida State, Dies 

MIAMI—Jack W. Miller, 

manager of FST's 

Gables Theatre, died recently at Jackson 

Memorial Hospital where he was undergoing 

surgery for a blood clot on the brain. 

Miller, who was 49, was a former vaudeville 

performer. He and his wife Charlotte had a 

roller skating act. He joined FST in 1951 

as a member of the Olympia staff, and was 

successively manager of the Regent, Shores 

and Gables theatres. 

BUFFALO COOLING EQUIPMENT 

3409 Oak Lawn, Room 107 BUFFALO ENGINEERING CO., INC Dallas, Texas 

Weekend Grind Bills 

Common al Dallas 

D.\LLAS—Someone recently remarked that 

various local drive-ins had more film in the 

projection rooms on Saturday nights than 

were in the vaults of the exchanges. That 

may be an exaggeration, but one is prone to 

wander alwut the situation from a business 

standpoint. Ai'e the three-to-six-feature programs 

worth the effort, some of the exhibitor 

ask. 

The originator of the six-feature bills here, 

tagged Dusk- to-Dawn shows, was Robert M. 

Hartgrove, owner of the Twin Hi-Ways and, 

at that time, the White Rock. Some three 

years ago, Kartgrove established it as a regular 

policy 'at his Twin Hi-Ways between 

Arcadia Park and Grand Prairie, and it continues 

to flourish there, not only on Saturday 

but Friday nights, too. 

When this practice began, many other local 

ozoners followed suit, but the policy was soon 

dropped by most of them. They found that 

they either were not located where the allnight 

run was feasible at the boxoffice or 

complaints from outside sources were too 

numerous. 

Hartgrove's ozoner had neither problem. 

Located between two well-traveled arteries 

between Dallas and Fort Worth (hence its 

name I, it presented no disturbance problem 

in its remote area and, being near defense 

plants and a Navy air base, it was possible 

to reach the all-night patron without too 

much extra effort. 

And, its policy is not standard on other 

nights during the week. Double bills are a 

rare thing: three or four features generally 

make up the program. Its admission prices 

vary from program to program and occasionally 

cars are admitted onto the lot without 

charge. 

As might be suspected, the profits are 

aimed toward the concession stand. As each 

feature ends, an intermi.ssion is scheduled 

long enough to give the patron plenty of 

time to get in and out of the "store" with 

purchased goods. Free coffee is usually offered 

after 1 a.m., says Cecil B. Thedford, 

the manager for the last two years. 

While a drive-in cannot start before it is 

dark enough for the picture to be seen on 

the screen, tlie same holds true at sunrise. 

Many all-nighters have been forced to stop 

showings because of daylight, either in the 

middle of a feature or before the last one 

was even taken from its container. 

Prank Gillespie's Linda Kay runs five features 

on Saturday night as a rule. His weeknight 

policy is also flexible. 

Charles Weisenburg's Bruton Road and 

Kaufman Pike ozoners generally run four 

features and two or more cartoons. The same 

is true of James Riggs' Lone Star and Samuell 

Blvd. underskyers. 

While these drive-ins use the weekend as 

a grind, several of them run three features 

without this classification. Their extra feature 

is billed as a "Fre-vue," which gives it 

a regular midnight show flavor. It is run in 

two ways: either all three features are shown 

first, with the main feature repeated, or the 

regular bill is run first, then the extra 

feature. 

But Leon's Garland Road, Robert's Arapaho, 

Moran's Hi-Vue and Ezell's Northwest 

Hi-Way veer away from extra features as 

much as possible. The South Loop halted 

ihcm recently. 

SW-2 BOXOFFICE October 26, 1957


VITAL 

FACTS ABOUT 

Headlines end illustrations from feature 

stories, Uotion Picture Herald, June 8,1957 



contributions to cinematic projection are a 

CENTURY made. No other projector can make 









^^>e>0^ Century Projector Corporation, NEW YORK 19, N. Y. 

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BOXOFFICE October 26. 1957 SW-3

I 

. . . The 

. . . Mr. 

. 

. 

OKLAHOMA CITY 

II Iberta Pike has resigned as manager of the 

Plaza Art Theatre to return to her home 

in Denver. The theatre has been closed temporarily. 

The Cooper 

Foundation Theatres 

will resume management 

of the situation 

Center Theatre 

made effective use 

of a large advertising 

banner on "Jet Pilot" 

while that picture was 

being shown at the 

theatre. The 12x36- 

foot banner was attached 

to the theatre's 

waterfall curtain. The 

Alberta Pike banner was just the 

right size to cover the entire curtain and 

rose and fell in folds with the curtain. 

New employes at National Screen are Virginia 

Ball, in the shipping department, and 

Marv Lucas, biller . . . Everett Mahaney, salesman 

for Republic, is taking over the 54 Drivein, 

Guymon, effective November 1, from Lewis 

Long. He is resigning his position with Republic 

. . . Services were held for Mrs. Rose 

Jacobs, mother of V. J. Jacobs, Video Independent 

Theatres. Death was due to heart 

di.sea.se. 

Visiting the local Warner Bros, office were 

W. O. Williamson jr.. New York division sales 

manager for Warner Bros.; Ed Williamson. 

Dallas, southw-est district manager, and 

Grover Livingston, Atlanta, Warner Bros.' 

southeast district manager. Also visiting here 

was Jim Hudgens, now of Houston, former 

office manager for Columbia Pictures here. 

Exhibitors on Filmrow included Lamar 

Guthrie. Erick; Lee Guthrie, Wheeler, Tex.: 

Truman Ellerd. Blanchard: Jep Holman, 

Lindsay: H. D. Cox, Binger: E. B. Anderson, 

Norman: George Walje, Comanche: Clint 

Applewhite, Carnegie: Earl Raines, Fort Cobb: 

Layton Carter, Seminole, and Cliff Lance. 

Rlngling. 

Executives of Video Independent Theatres 

were in Bartlesville Monday (21 1 for kickoff 

of the Telemovie Fall Festival, which began 

at 12 noon with a luncheon in the banquet 

room of the American Legion Hall. Attending 

from the local office were Henry S. Griffins, 

president: Jack Brooks. Bob Clark, C. O. 

Fulgham, C. F. Motley, Cliff White, Frank 

McCabe, Paul Cornwell. Louise Wesson, Bill 

Turk, Kenneth Blackledge and Roger Rice 

ELVIS 

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i 

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ch«k wuh THEATKICAl ADVERTISING CO. 

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OKLAHOMA THEATRE' 

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Invitations were sent to members of the motion 

picture industry throughout Oklahoma 

to attend the celebration October 21-26. Issuing 

the invitations was Phil Hays, manager 

of Bartlesville Theatres. Tours for industry 

people were set up, with engineers from Jerrold 

and Hallamore Electronics and Telemovie 

personnel on hand to explain the Telemovie 

equipment. 

Variety Club's annual charity fund raising 

event, which is a car giveaway this year, is 

getting under way. Tent 22 will have a general 

membership meeting November 4, following 

the regular monthly board meeting . 

The Villa Theatre will observe the 12th anniversary 

of its Saturday morning Kiddy 

Hour. November 2 with a special birthday 

party show. The Kiddy Hour consists of 

around three hours of cartoons, special features 

and comedies. Admission is 20 cents. 

Saturday i26) the Kiddy Hour was to be a 

pre-Halloween party, the films being two 

horror features. "Voodoo Island" and "The 

Giant Claw." 

. . . 

R. B. Williams, former RKO manager here, 

now is in the local real estate business 

Ben Jordan, Allied Artists manager, returned 

from a brief business trip to Georgia 

and Mrs. Robert Busch will go to 

Dallas next week on busines and stop by to 

see the new Variety headquarters in that city. 

List Industries Acquires 

Glen Alden Stock Shares 

NEW YORK— As a result of List Industries 

Corp. offer to acquire the common stock of 

Glen Alden Corp. at $12.50 per share, approximately 

700.000 shares have been tendered 

to List, according to Sol A. Schwartz, 

executive vice-president. There are approximately 

1,750.000 shares of Glen Alden stock 

outstanding. 

The offer was made by subsidiaries of List 

Industries to the stockholders of Glen Alden 

Corp. by Francis O. Case, president, on October 

1. Both Schwartz and Case expressed 

satisfaction at the response to the offer, 

which greatly exceeded the minimum requirements 

of 350,000 shares of Alden stock. 

List Industries Corp. is a widely diversified 

corporation embracing RKO Theatres and 

has other interests in textile finishing plants, 

oil and gas commercial real estate and warehouse 

properties. Glen Alden's net profit increased 

96.5 per cent for the first half of 1957, 

compared with the first six months of 1956, 

or $1,527,000 for the 1957 first half, against 

$777,000 for the same months of 1956. 

Reopen Akron Highland 

AKRON—The Highland Theatre, local 

neighborhood house w^hich suffered heavy 

loss from a fire ten weeks ago. has reopened 

following complete redecoration, including a 

new boxoffice, new lighting effects and a newconcession 

stand. The walls have been recovered 

and the tapestry replaced. Don Rosen, 

manager, said he will offer a special kiddies 

matinee each Saturday. 

To Meet in Philadelphia 

CLEVELAND—Universal District Manager 

Peter Rosian, local Manager Carl Reardon. 

city sales manager Jim Levitt and field salesman 

E. R. Bergman will be in Philadelphia 

October 27-29 to attend the annual sales 

meeting of the Cleveland, Detroit, Pittsburgh 

and Philadelphia district. The meeting will 

be held in the Warwick Hotel. 

Oklahoma UTO Asks 

More Color Pictures 

OKLAHOMA CITY— United Theatre Owners 

of Oklahoma's directors passed a resolution 

at their October meeting urging film 

companies to put more of their products in 

color. The resolution was in line with observations 

by theatre owners that pictures in 

co'or drew better at the boxofflce. 

Also on the October board meeting agenda 

was discussion of plans for UTOO's annual 

convention March 5, 6 in the Biltmore Hotel 

here, with the convention banquet at the 

Skirvin. 

Dick Thompson, president, said the group 

had decided to invite electronic equipment 

manufacturers to display their wares at the 

convention. 

Homer Gill, Bakersfield, 

Will Retire at Yearend 

BAKERSFIELD, CALIF.—Homer Gill, supervisor 

and public relations chief for Fox 

West Coast Theatres in Bakersfield and Taft, 

will retire early next year after 25 years with 

the theatre chain. His successor will be Edward 

W. Wlnslow. 

The Fox properties In the Bakersfield area 

include the Fox and California theatres here 

and the Fox in Taft. 40 miles west of Bakersfield. 

Edwaid Wlnslow is coming to Bakersfield 

from Santa Paula, where he has been manager 

of the Fox Theatre in that city for the 

past six years. 

Fayette Amusement Sued 

By Woman Patron 

UNIONTOWN, PA—Bessie 

Kovalcheck of 

Luzerne township has filed suit here against 

the Fayette Amusement Co., Brownsville, for 

injuries resulting from alleged negligent operation 

of the Plaza Theatre, Brownsville. 

According to the suit, the plaintiff sustained 

multiple leg injuries and certain complications 

therefrom when she tripped over the 

film and film containers in an aisle of the 

theatre. One count asks $2,000 compensation 

for mental and physical angui.sh: the second 

count asks $2,000 for losses in compensation. 

Rush for Space Pictures 

CLEVELAND—The launching of the Russian 

satellite has created a stampede for 

science-fiction and space pictures. Betty 

Bluffstone, Imperial Pictures booker, reports 

she is swamped with requests for "Killers 

from Space," "Rocket to the Moon," "Monster 

from Mars," 'The Things from Another 

World" and others dealing with the unknown. 

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SW-4 


Because they like 

light refreshment, 

people are saying: "Pepsi, Please"! 

Good news for theatre operators—because 

Pepsi means more drinks per gallonmore 

profit per drink, too! 

BOXOFFICE :: October 26, 1957 SW-5

. . Variety 

Improvement in Children's Shows 

Noted Among Sub-Runs at Dallas 

By EARL MOSELEY 

DALLAS— Perhaps more advancement has 

been made through Saturday kid show presentations 

here than with any other suburban 

program format. Prior to World War II the 

under 12-year-olds were given consideration 

in some of the smaller houses by lesser admission 

prices (five-cents per ticket until a 

certain hour) but few of them offered any 

extra attractions on stage or screen. Practically 

none ever offered door prizes. 

Occasionally a house offered cards to the 

children who attended the opening episode 

of a serial, that were punched in coming 

weeks and entitling the holder to lesser gate 

money. Others offered badges for theatre 

societies known as the Mickey Mouse, Lone 

Ranger, or Flash Gordon clubs, et. al. Tlie 

downtown Palace presented a WRR radio 

broadcast each Saturday morning using amateurs 

on stage. The program was .sponsored 

by outside businesses. 

REMOVED FROM DOWNTOWN 

At the present, kid shows have been completely 

removed from the downtown scene. 

But suburban runs have long since picked 

up the format and set into use many ways 

of exploitation for it. Some receive occasional 

or regular sponsorship by soft drink or candy 

di.stributorships. Special poster racks have 

been constructed for lobby displays and newspaper 

ad space has increased. And. the admission 

price has been boosted to cover extra 

expenses and greater profits. Most houses 

charge 25 cents. 

On the first sub break runs, Lee Handley's 

Arcadia, Tri-State's Casa Linda and I. B. 

Adelman's Dslman not only offer kid shows 

the year around on Saturdays but set aside 

special matinee dates during the summertime 

on midweek for junior showings. Phil Isley's 

Grove sets aside a'.l day Wednesdays during 

this period with two kid feature bookings 

doubled. 

The Interstate circuit has a special ad cut 

for six of its theatres using the kid shows. 

Ofien as not, all six of them are set in with 

the same type feature—or features headlining 

the same star—and they are promoted accordingly. 

Another item used is the time the 

program starts and ends. It provides the 

child's parents a chance to make their plans 

accordingly. The children are permitted to 

remain for the regular feature but, if the 

booking should be of an adult nature, the 

parent can usher the smallfry out during the 

mtermission between showings. 

RUNS SHOW TWICE 

Most theatres here run their kid .shows one 

time. only. However, the Delman advertises 

two showings, at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. 

The second and third sub break houses run 

double bills exclusively and not all of them 

run extra features. The Grove, Oskar Korn's 

Lisbon and B. F. White's Maple augment 

their showings with cartoons, serials and 

shorts. 

Oliver B. King, the Lisbon manager, uses 

ten cartoons and devised a plan for a unique 

giveaway. It is a quiz geared to the 8 and 

9-year-old patron. The contestants are not 

selected through ticket stubs. Instead, they 

register as they come in and the names are 

drawn from a hat. Prizes are given to the 

SW-6 

winners that have either been promoted from 

merchants or purchased from a wholesale 

catalog listing. 

"If the child gets nervous, I might cover 

up the mike and prompt him a bit," King 

said. "He wants to win and that is the main 

point. He'll come back. I believe in cultivating 

the child patronage of today into the adult 

patronage of tomorrow." 

Other runs do add a third feature. Rowley 

United's Heights, Isley's Major and Orr and 

Watford's Plaza stretch theirs into five and 

six-hour lengths. The former two open at 

11;30 a.m. and the latter at 10; 15. 

Prior to screen starting time at the Plaza, 

Mrs. Ruth Wafford goes down front and interviews 

the newcomers and those who have 

had birthdays. She offers prizes from the 

concession stand in the lobby. During the 

show, intermissions are spotted occasionally 

for all children to visit the candy counter. 

Prizes at all theatres include comic books, 

balloons and other inexpensive items. Giveaways 

of some description are used in nearly 

all houses. 

Most managers report that the best way to 

maintain order with the youngsters is by 

gaining their confidence. 

Not to be overlooked are the various driveins 

here who offer kid shows. This is done 

by running cartoon festivals on the first show 

and going into the regular program afterward. 

But this is not a regular format at 

any ozoner here at present. 

"Twilight for the Gods," U-I's sea epic, 

stars Rock Hudson and Cyd Charisse. 

MEXICO TRIP WINNERS—Mr. and 

Mrs. Dan Lawson of Dallas have just returned 

from a week's all-paid vacation at 

the Hotel Del Prado in Mexico City, presented 

by .-VTCO Food Co., Dallas. Lawson 

won the trip with his sales of .\TCO 

chili sauce, Jim-Bo barbecued beef and 

Jus-Made orange drink from July 1- 

September 30. The Lawsons were treated 

to two evenings of night clubs, bullfights 

and trips to the floating gardens, the 

pyramids and the University of Mexico. 

Lawson is president of .Associated Popcorn 

Distributors of Dallas. In the photo he is 

shown between Mrs. Lawson and Robert 

Amundsen, right, president of .\TCO, as 

the couple boarded the plane in Dallas. 

HOUSTON 

. 

. . . Lillian 

n tornado that struck late Monday 1 14) reportedly 

destroyed N. G. Horner's Horn 

Drive-In at Waller Club's Rex 

Van came back from a week's vacation in 

Dallas with Bluebonnet Express' Jerry Kirby, 

who was northward on business . . . Things 

are picking up at the Variety Club, with regular 

Saturday night dances with live music. 

Recent visitors there have been Nick Lucas, 

while appearing at the Cork Club, and Signe 

Hasso, currently appearing in the "Chaulk 

Garden" at the Alley Theatre 

Trammel, Horwitz Theatres, has the flu. 

Saturday night (19) was "Houston's Most 

Beautiful Girls" night on the stage at the 

Majestic Theatre. Jack Entratter, Las Vegas 

Sands Hotel show producer, selected winners 

to form an All-Texas line with Dean 

Martin at that Las Vegas spot. The winning 

girls received a six-week contract at S150 

per, to start November 20. The Chronicle's 

Charlie Evans was the boy behind all the 

spade work in this city. 

George Lee Marks, operator of the Avalon 

Fine Arts Theatre, reports they have a newrelief 

operator at that house for Saturday 

and Sunday. Reason? Leonard Bunch, projectionist 

for some time at that address, is 

spending more and more weekends flying 

fishermen to Mexican waters. Leonard uses 

two airplanes for this charter service. He 

also owns and operates the Leonard F. Bunch 

Neon Supply Service—one of the three largest 

in this area. 

More Avalon news—but not good: new relief 

operator John Fitch lives near the theatre 

and rides a bike to work. Or did. The 

other night someone swiped it from just outside 

the exit where John was working . . . 

This thieving business Isn't localized. Out 

at Shepherd Drive-In on North Shepherd, 

Manager Car-l Sheffield reported that a 

young man who regularly rides a horse to 

see the western shows there, lost him one 

balmy night. It turned out to be a prank 

though, and the boy got his mount back. 

Lucrative Theatre Doomed 

PITTSBURGH—Before ground is broken 

about next March 1 for the proposed allpurpose 

Lower Hill arena, the Auditorium 

.•Authority has considerable property to acquire, 

including the Rhumba Theatre on 

FuUerton street, a landmark and amusement 

center of the Lower Hill district. Operated 

-successfully by its owner for many years, 

Jake Soltz says that he is saddened that he 

IS being forced to bow out of exhibition. 

While many theatres in the city area have 

run into financial troubles and some have 

been forced out of business, the Rhumba has 

always been a money-maker for Jake and 

his son Sidney, who has managed tlu.5 theatre 

for a number of years. 

Lease Lancaster Palace 

LANCASTER. OHIO—The Palace here has 

been leased to the Hocking Amusement Co., 

headed by Thomas Alfred, president. The 

Palace has been operated for many years by 

Leo Kessel. Hocking also operates the Lyric, 

only other downtown theatre in Lancaster. 

Alfred said Charles Clagett, manager of the 

Palace, will continue in that capacity. 



A SAVAGE GIANT ON A BLOOD-MAD RAMPAGE! 

GROWING...! 

GROWING...! 

N^ to a GIANT! too MONSTER! 

WHEN WILL IT 

STOP? 

CONTACT YOUR 

^ntannaiioncLL EXCHANGE 

EMPIRE 

PICTURES 

HERMAN BEIERSDORF 

BOB O'DONNELL 

2011 Jackson Street DALLAS I, TEXAS 

SCREEN GUILD PRODUCTIONS 

LOIS SCOTT 

H. E. McKENNA 

708 West Grand Avenue OKLAHOMA CITY 2, OKLA.

. 

"A challenge to all of us". . 

a statement by Robert B. Anderson, Secretary of the Treasury: 

"The ownership by 40 million citizens of over 41 billion 

dollars in Series E and H Savings Bonds is a striking 

testimonial of confidence in America's bright future. It 

means security and opportunity for millions of families 

—a way to provide for children's education, the building 

of new homes, or more comfortable retirement. 

"America benefits, too, from such widespread savings 

bonds ownership. This partnership of individual citizens 

in their government's fiscal operations means better 

management of the public debt— greater stability for 

our money— brighter prospects for the years ahead. 

"Our country needs more savings— in all forms, including 

U.S. Savings Bonds— to help finance our growing 

economy; to pay for the plants and tools that mean 

more and better jobs for our ever-increasing population. 

"Meeting this need is a challenge to all of us. Americans 

everj'where should be encouraged to regularly put aside 

part of their earnings for future needs. And certainly 

part of that saving belongs in the now better-than-ever 

U.S. Savings Bonds." 

The United Stales Governvient does not pay for this advertising. The Treasury Department 

thanks, for their patriotic donation, the Advertising Council and 

H 

BOXOFFICE 

SW-8 


— 

Omaha Council Aide 

Sludies Ticket Tax 

OMAHA—A plan to levy a municipal tax 

of council action. 

'Pride' at $1.25 Okay 

In Mill City No. 2 Run 

MINNEAPOLIS—Scaling "The Pi-ide and 

on theatre and night club admissions is being 

studied by Ai-thur J. Bradley jr., administrative 

assistant of the city council. Members 

of the council would make no statement on 

the proposal. 

Bradley has asked the city's legal department 

for a ruling on the legality of an admissicns 

tax, the customary procedure before 

committee action. 

During the last session of the Nebraska 

legislature, a bill including a similar tax proposal 

was introduced, but was killed in committee. 

The bill was vigorously fought by Omaha 

exhibitors, baseball officials and representatives 

of other entertainment fields. Omaha 

theatremen again are expected to take up 

the battle and are awaiting definite indications 

the Passion" at the same advanced $1.25 admission 

charged for its first-run showing 

dow-ntown for five weeks met no public resistance 

in the neighborhoods, where boxoffice 

results were reported as "entirely satisfactory 

considering the cun-ent flu outbreak." 

"Passion" went into only three of the 12 

neighborhood theatres here in the earliest 

28-day clearance slot because they were the 

only ones to submit satisfactory bids. These 

three played it day and date. 

Sidney Volk, co-owner of two of the houses 

in question, says he's convinced that his 

clientele is willing to pay the same admission 

as is charged by leading dow-ntown 

houses that play the pictures 28 or more days 

earlier. Volk points out that the 28-day 

neighborhood houses have an 85-cent scale 

which is only a nickel less than the leading 

Loop first-run theatres charge after 5 p.m. 

except when the tap is increased for a special 

attraction like "The Pride." 

Also, some of the uptown houses like the 

Terrace charge 90 cents for loge seats. 

After playing the full week in the tlu-ee 

uptown houses, "The Pride" immediately 

went into six other neighborhood theatres 

day and date and they're playing it at their 

regular admission. 

Alltime Job High 

MINNEAPOLIS—The Twin Cities area, according 

to the state security department, is 

headed for an alltime employment record. 

The latest figures show that the number of 

nonagricultural jobs in the area stood at 

515,000. a new high for the particular period 

and exceeded only by last December's 519,- 

200, and with heavy hiring in the offing for 

the winter holiday season. 

Theatre Is 20 Years Old 

WESBY, WIS.—The Wesby Theatre will 

celebrate the 20th anniversary of its opening 

October 29. L. V. Bergtold constructed 

the theatre at a cost of $25,000 and opened 

It Oct. 29, 1937. The house now is operated 

by Louise Bergtold, widow of the builder. 

BOXOFFICE October 26, 1957 

Some Mike Todd Party Guests Are 

Critical, But It All Is Publicity! 

MINNEAPOLIS—Even though local newspaper 

accounts of Mike Todd's big Madison 

Square Garden party weren't complimentary, 

the shindig landed a lot of publicity for 

"Around the World in 80 Days," now in its 

15th Minneapolis week, and for the upcoming 

"Don Quixote." 

The fact that the reporters were Todd's 

guests and that Todd chartered a plane to 

take them to New York and back and footed 

all other bills, didn't prevent Minneapolis 

Morning Ti-ibune's Barbara Flanagan or St. 

Paul Pioneer Press-Dispatch's Bill Diehl from 

calling the affair a colossal flop. The Twin 

Cities' guests included 22 newspaper, TV and 

radio folk chosen by Ted Mann, owner of the 

Academy where "80 Days" is playing. 

ONE DID NOT GO 

Cedric Adams, Minneapolis Star columnist 

and WCCO radio personality who didn't accept 

the invitation to the party, opened his 

WCCO radio noon newscast the day after the 

affair by informing his listeners, "How happy 

I am I didn't go to the Mike Todd party . . 

." 

Miss Flanagan quoted one guest on departing 

as saying, "Well, it was big and it 

also was dull and I'm still trying to figure 

out what it was all about." The Flanagan and 

Diehl accounts emphasized that most of the 

guests didn't even get to partake of the 

simple food, comprising mostly hot dogs, or 

the pink champagne, and were unaware of 

what all the arena doings were about. 

The Diehl story was headlined "Todd's 

Party Flops." Among other things. Diehl related 

that "confusion reigned—yes, poured 

as Todd did a spectacular job of stubbing 

his toe." 

"Mike aimed to toss 'the party of the century,' 

" wrote Diehl. "His aim proved unsteady, 

at least, as far as his guests were 

concerned. Promised a fabulous evening with 

exotic foods from all parts of the world and 

thousands of prizes for all, the assemblage 

was served, instead, a mishmash of donated 

acts, a total absence for the most part of any 

nourishment, and a promise that the prizes 

would be distributed later." 

BLAMES THE UNINVITED 

In another story in the St. Paul Evening 

Dispatch the same day, headlined "Todd Explains 

80 Day Flop—Blames Uninvited Guests 

for 'Bad Night' at the Garden," Diehl said: 

"From the outset of the party, it was evident 

that for Todd, all of Madison Square Garden 

was his stage and the assembled guests 

merely extras. What w'as going on in the 

arena remained a steady secret to those looking 

down from the balconies. On TV, doubtless, 

there was a running commentary." 

But other stories were less critical. For example, 

the Morning Ti-ibune carried a lengthy 

front page story by columnist Will Jones, detailing 

the manner in which Todd spent the 

night before the party In the Garden supervising 

the preparations. The Evening Star 

had a story by critic Bob Murphy which 

wasn't too hard on Todd. 

Murphy said the party turned out to be 

"a sort of miracle of slow motion promotion." 

He related that "the preliminaries 

resulted in unquestionably one of the finest 

jams since Madison Square Garden had the 

circus." Tlie guests didn't have a chance at 

the food, but were "rolled" for cabs and dinner, 

according to Murphy's account. 

"It was reported on good authority that 

thirsty ticket-holders on the three levels of 

the great hall above where the main action 

was going on were paying $7 to $20 for the 

free champagne," wrote Murphy. "It was an 

immense amount of fun if you didn't pay too 

much attention to the "party' idea. I didn't 

get a piece of cake nor so much as a sip of 

cherry mash, but it was a show of shows." 

W. R. Frank Loses Appeal 

For His Liquor License 

ST. PAUL—Circuit owner W. R. Frank has 

been denied a temporary restraining order 

in his suit to regain the on-sale liquor license 

for the restaurant which is a part of 

his suburban West St. Paul West Twins Theatre, 

and the loss of which, he asserts, threatens 

the closing of the showhouse. 

The West St. Paul council approved the 

transfer of the liquor license to another location 

where F^-ank's erstwhile West Twins 

tenant has moved. Frank moved for an order 

to stop the former tenant from using the 

license in the new location and to have the 

council transfer it back to him. 

Before leasing the restaurant out, Frank 

had operated it and held the liquor license 

himself for 15 years. He declares that only 

the profit in connection with the sale of 

liquor on the premises has enabled him to 

keep the theatre open in recent years. 

District Judge W. C. Christianson held that 

the city council hadn't acted "arbitrarily, capriciously 

or unreasonably" in approving the 

liquor license's relocation, as alleged by Fi-ank, 

even though it had been located on Frank's 

premises for years. The judge also ruled 

"there is some indication that there existed 

a situation at the old site of the license 

which might have justified the city councU 

in refusing its continuance at that place." 

Frank has no vested interest in the license 

and it would be an abuse of discretion for the 

court to gi-ant the temporary injunction which 

he sought, according to the decision. 

The William Farrells Open 

Tower in Superior, Wis. 

SUPERIOR, WIS. — The Tower Theatre 

here is now open for business after having 

been closed for almost two years. Mr. and 

Mi-s. William Farrell of Des Moines, who 

operated the Stardusk Drive-In here this 

season, also are managing the Tower. 

The Farrells have been in the theatre 

management business for many years and are 

operating the Tower on a double feature policy, 

opening at noon and running continuously 

until midnight. The Tower now has a 

new Cinemascope screen and lenses. The 450- 

seat theatre is owned by the Berger Amusement 

Co. of Minneapolis. The Stardusk closed 

for the season October 1. 

They Sell 20,000,000 Records 

The 22 artists appearing in Warners' "Jamboree" 

have sold an aggregate of more than 

20.000,000 records in recent years, according 

to Max Rosenberg. 

NC-1

D E S 

MOINES 

Uaydon Peterson of the Parrot Films Studios 

and wife have returned from a motoring 

tour of the south, visiting in New Orleans 

and making the return trip by way of Gulport 

and making the return trip by way of Gulfport 

and Biloxi. In Kansas City, they stopped


yi SAVAGE mm on a blood-mad RAIAPAGE! 

GROWING...! 

GROWING...! 

10 a GIANT! too MONSTER! 

WHEN WILL IT 

STOP? 

CONTACT YOUR j/j/Ttanlcan, ^ ^ntejinatianaL EXCHANGE 

INDEPENDENT FILM DISTRIBUTORS 

DONALD E. SWARTZ 

INDEPENDENT FILM DISTRIBUTORS 

MOREY ANDERSON 

HOLLYWOOD PICTURES, 

MEYER L. STERN 

INC 

1011 Currie Avenue, North 

MINNEAPOLIS 3, MINNESOTA 

706 West State Street 

MILWAUKEE 3, WISCONSIN 

1508 Davenport Street 

OMAHA, NEBRASKA

. . Earl 

. . Republic 

. 

. 

. . The 

MINNEAPOLIS 

TJob Favaro, MGM exploiteer. was honeymooning 

with his bride, the former Lois 

Chollet of the 20th-Fox staff. They were 

married last week . . . M. A. Levy, 20th-Fox 

district manager, returned from a three-week 

European jaunt . . . The Variety Club has 

scheduled a dance in its clubrooms the evening 

after the University of Minnesota-University 

of Indiana homecoming football game 

here November 2. Members will be permitted 

to bring guests. Reservations are being accepted 

by Bill Broms and Mrs. Howard Dale. 

Broms' telephone number is WA 7-9369; Mrs. 

Dale's, BA 9-9311. 

Jack Cohan and the wife spent a weekend 

in Milwaukee where their son attends col- 

lege . . . Bill Murphy, projectionist, was 

St. Mary's Hospital with injuries sustained 

when he was struck by an automobile . . . 

Jess McBride, Paramount manager, is still 

having difficulty in assembling a quorum although 

city salesman Ernie Lund, after three 

weeks with the flu and office staffer Marlys 

Roberson. also a flu sufferer, are back in the 

exchange. Currently it was Jerry Corum and 

booker Les Bird who were flu victims. 

All 2(Hh-Fox salesmen were in Monday for 

an office meeting . . . Warner exploiteer Don 

Walker In from Kan.sas City to work on 

"Bombers B 52." which went to the Minneapolis 

Gopher and St. Paul RKO Orpheum 

on bids . . . Edward L. Hyman. AB-PT vicepresident, 

is due here November 4 to speak 

at a two-day Minnesota Amusement Co. 

managers meeting . Wilson resigned 

as UA southern Minnesota salesman to become 

J. Arthur Ranks Minneapolis-Milwaukee 

representative with headquarters here 

. U-I Manager LeRoy J. Miller and his 

salesmen w'ere in Chicago for a district 

meeting. 

Ted Mann and Henry Greene, Exhibitors 

Trade Ass'n president and executive secretary, 

will attend the National Allied convention 

at Kiamesha Lake, N. Y., next week . 

Ev Seibel, MAC advertising and publicity 

head, returned from a vacation spent hunting 

in Canada and at an Excelsior Springs, 

Mo., resort . . . United Artists here is inviting 

bids for "Legion of the Lost" . . . The Variety 

Club auxiliary will sponsor a charity 

presentation of "The Fi'ont Page" with a cast 

of Twin Cities newspaper folk and Don Stolz, 

director of the Old Log summer theatre here, 

at the Lyceum here for three performances. 

Harold Field's St. Louis Park is one of the 

newer, most modern and beautiful neighborhood 

theatres here, but a substantial amount 

is being spent to give it a complete renovation. 

Liebenberg & Kaplan, leading theatre 

architects here, are supervising the improvements. 

The architect is John Fields, son of 

the owner District Manager 

. 

Walter Manley was a visitor . . . New contracts 

are being discussed by the Minnesota 

Amusement Co. and RKO Theatres and fourwall 

members of Exhibitors Ti-ade Ass'n wîth 

the projectionists union here. Like the MAC 

and RKO Theatres outdoor theatre owners 

are negotiating apart from ETA. Present 

contracts expire next December 1 . . . 

Eric 

Anderson's New London. Minn., Theatre has 

Optical CinemaScope Booth Equipment Seats 

Profitable 

whatever you need for a more 

Theatre Operation 

. . . authorized You'll get it from WESTERN 

RCA 

for economical, dependable 

representatives 

EQUIPMENT and SUPPLIES 

Prompt Service and Quality Parts for All Types of Theatre Equipment 

reopened . . . Japanese star Miiko Taka, star 

in "Sayonara," is due liere November 8-10 for 

newspaper, TV and radio interviews, etc. 

. . . 

The Orpheum here finally landed a 20th- 

Fox release, "No Down Payment" . St. 

Paul Capitol, Dale and Hollywood neighborhood 

houses, playing the "Conquest of Space" 

and "War of the Worlds" reissues with "Mr. 

Magoo Flies to the Moon" cartoon short, in a 

big joint Sunday newspaper ad called the 

pre.sentation "a big unit space and satellite 

show" "Ecstasy" is back in circulation 

. . 

in neighborhood houses. It's also at the St. 

Still bucking cold and 

Paul Midtown . 

rainy weather and possible snow is the 100 

Hi Drive-In here . . . Columbia had a tradeshowing 

of "Pal Joey" at the Uptown on the 

The Broadway comedy smash hit 

21st . . . 

"Auntie Mame" set for the Lyceum here 

next May 5. 

'80 Days' Business Builds 

At Acimiral in Omaha 

OMAHA—After seven weeks of .showing 

"Around the World in 80 Days." Ralph Blank, 

owner of the Admiral Theatre where the 

picture is running, summed up the results 

.so far as follows: 

"Our weekends are awfully good, although 

our Mondays and Tuesdays are way down. 

I'm glad to see, however, that the first part 

of the week is picking up steam. 

'We are getting more orders than ever 

from out of town, and they are group orders—from 

clubs and dealers of all kinds." 

He admitted that during the week Arthur 

Godfrey was in town as the Ak-Sar-Ben 

rodeo feature, "he really kicked us around— 

I guess because people figured they had only 

one week to see him. ' Other theatres, downtown 

and neighborhoods, also suffered. 

Blank said he had many repeaters. One 

woman said she had brought four sets of 

friends to see the picture. 

William P. Gray to Manage 

Moorhead. Minn., House 

MOORHEAD. MINN.—William P. Gray of 

Fargo, N. D.. has replaced Alfred Jaeger as 

manager of the Moorhead Theatre. Gray's 

theatre experience dates back to 1919 when 

he first went to Fargo to manage the old 

Garrick Tlieatre for the American Amusement 

Co. He left the theatre business in 1930 

to enter sales work, resigning last August 

as district sales manager for the Heileman 

Brewing Co. 

Gray is married and has one son William 

jr. of Fargo. 

WESTERN 

THEATRE SUPPLY CO. 

;U N I llltr..|li Om.ih.l. Nrb Phniit AlljniK TO 1(, 

Everything in 

Theatre 

Equipment 

and 

Supplies 

Reopens Walthill Sun 

WALTHILL. NEB.—Burley Chamberlain, 

who has leased the Sun Theatre here from 

Mrs. Herbert Jensen, has reopened the theatre 

for Saturday and Sunday night shows. 

For the opening weekend, Chamberlain 

offered free shows. 

NC-4 

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Send These to Me for Grinding and Use Them for Spares. 

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BOXOFFICE :: October 26, 1957

; October 


VITAL 

FACTS ABOUT 

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Century Projector Corporation, new york 19, n. y. 

SOLD BY 

Quality Theatre Supply Co. 

1515 Davenport St. 

Omaha, Nebraska 

Des Moines Theatre Supply Co. 

1121 High St. 

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Minneapolis Theatre Supply Co. 

75 Glenwood Ave. 

Minneapolis 2, Minnesota 

BOXOFFICE 

: 

26. 1957 NC-5

— 

— 

— 

OMAHA 

A Ibert "Uncle Bert" Beams, exhibitor who 

has been under the neather. is reported 

back in shape and playing pinochle again. 

Bert, who now does the booking for the theatre 

at Sutton, lives in Red Cloud and at one 

time had theatres at Geneva, Clay Center, 

Red Cloud and Sutton . . . Dorothy Falk, 

availability clerk at Columbia, was home 

nursing torn ligaments in her ankle, suffered 

when she stepped in a hole covered with 

leaves. 

. . . Bill Barker of the 

Ralph Blank, owner of the Admiral Theatre 

where "Around the World in 80 Days" 

was playing its ninth week, was one of the 

"chums" at Mike Todd's party, along 

Co-Op 

with 

Mrs. Blank 

Booking Service topped the city keglers when 

he rolled a 637 series in the fast Classic 

League . Ernie Kasebaum. exhibitor at 

. . 

Seward, is driving a new Chevy in place of 

his old Buick. 

Pat Halloran, Variety Tent 16 chief barker, 

said the trophies are all polished up for 

presentation at the annual Variety Club Golf 

League dinner party at the Fireside Inn Monday 

(28K Awards will be given to the winners 

of league play and of the tournament 

for the league individual championship . . . 

May Witthauer, secretary to Manager Herman 

Hallberg at 20th-Fox, and Roy Hudson, 

Fox custodian, are vacationing. 

George Dilley, with the Film Transport Co. 

for 25 years and representative of the firm 

at Sioux City, Iowa, died of pneumonia . . . 

When a new teacher at Franklin, Neb., asked 

a student his name he answered "Roy 

Rogers." Suspecting him of impertinence she 

sent him to the principal's office. The principal 

explained to her there really was a Roy 

Rogei's enrolled in the class. 

Ed Force, manager of 

the Brandeis Theatre, 

said he guessed it is true "there's no rest 

NATIONAL THEATRE SUPPLY 

W. M. "BILL" ALLISON 

307 No. 16th St. Omoho, Neb. 

for the wicked." He just got his assistant 

manager, Leonard Wood, back after a long 

period of vacation and filling in for vacationers 

in other towns when Leonard was 

called to Des Moines to assist in getting 

ready for the opening there in November of 

"Around the World in 80 Days." 

Don McLucas, United Artists manager, was 

back at work after an illness . . . Another cold, 

rainy Monday—the second in a row—again 

brought a hardy crew of exhibitors to the row: 

Oscar Johnson. Falls City; Harry Hummell. 

Scribner; Howell Roberts, Wahoo; Charles 

Thoene, Lyons; lowans Jim Travis, Milford; 

Dick Johnson, Red Oak; Harry Lankhorst, 

Hawarden; Arnold Johnson. Onawa; Frank 

Good, Red Oak. and Frank Ruble, Central 

States of Des Moines. 

State Grange Into Fight 

Against Daylight Time 

MINNEAPOLIS—Minnesota exhibitors, who 

blame daylight saving time for much boxoffice 

damage the past summer, will have 

leading agricultural groups on their side in 

the fight to knock it out in 1959 when the 

state legislature next meets. 

At is convention last week the State Grange 

hit out against the fast time and made known 

it'll join in the battle to get the state back 

on a 12-month central standard basis again. 

The Grange adopted a resolution demanding 

that the legislature quit tampering with time 

and repeal the DST. 

The Minnesota Farm Bureau is expected to 

adopt a similar resolution at its convention 

next month. 

However, unless the governor calls a special 

legislative session, which is unlikely. DST 

will return again next summer. 

Two Relight in Nebraska 

OMAHA—Two theatres in the Nebra.sica 

territory, closed since last spring, have reopened. 

Herb Vermaas resumed operation of 

his Kay at Sumner, and at Beaver City. Ben 

Thorn, exhibitor for many years, has his Sun 

back in operation. 

United Artists will use a series of television 

featurettes for the promotion of "God's Little 

Acre." 

Flu at Minneapolis 

Hurts Boxofiice 

MINNEAPOLIS— Except for the reservedseat 

attraction.s. "Seven Wonders of the 

World" and "Around the World in 80 Days" 

and the holdover. "The Joker Is Wild." the 

latter in its second week, business here continued 

soft. Among the newcomers, the "Conquest 

of Space" and "War of the Worlds." 

reissues, came through satisfactorily. 

A flu outbreak here has reached major proportions 

and exhibitors assert it's hurting 

the boxoffice. Soaring school absentees due 

to the illness were estimated the past week by 

authoritie.s at 20 per cent. Exhibitors feel 

that the flu now is causing a patronage drop 

of from 25 to 50 per cent. They point out 

that even many well people are staying away 

from theatres and other large public gatherings 

for fear of contracting the Ulness. 

"Raintree County" will open at the local 

Lyric Christmas Day as a reserved seat roadshow 

attraction at a probable S2.25 top. exclusive 

for this territory. With "Raintree" 

downtown Minneapolis will have three hardticket 

advanced admission film offerings. 

"Around the World in 80 Days" is expected 

to be still showing at the Academy and the 

Century will have either Cinerama's "Seven 

Wonders of the World" or "Search for Paradise" 

during the "Raintree" run. "World" and 

"Wonders" are now in their 15th and 63rd 

weeks, respectively, here at S2.65 top. 

[Average Is 100) 

Academy Around the World in 80 Days (UA), 

15th wk 200 

Century Seven Wonders of the World 

(Cineramo), 63rd wk 180 

Gopher Satellite in the Sky (WB): The River 

Chonges (WB), reissues 60 

LyriC Seo Wife (20th Fox) 80 

Orpheum No Down Poyment (20th Fox) 85 

Pon Conquest of Spoce (Parol; War of the 

Worlds iParo), reissues 95 

Radio City Story of Esther Costello (Col) 75 

State Slim Carter (U-ll 85 

World Joker Is Wild iParo), 2nd wk 175 

HANDY SUBSCRIPTION

. . The 

MILWAUKEE 

H fter giving three press luncheons, and getting 

every member of each committee 

briefed on his duty, the bottom fell out when 

the notification came that the Hollywood 

Golden Jubilee tour had been called off. It 

left something of a sour taste here. Said Erv 

Clumb, managing director of the Riverside 

Theatre, who headed the publicity committee: 

"I think Hollywood made a big mistake 

in calling off the entire setup. Prevailing 

opinion has it that we'd have been satisfied 

with even a few name stars, with the balance 

of the party as scheduled. That tour was to 

have been the shot-in-the-arm we desperately 

needed to up our boxoffice receipts." 

From here on in, it appears that toll TV 

is going to experience tough going. At the 

moment, there are four toll TV firms seeking 

the city's okay. In addition to an attorney 

representing a few motion picture 

theatres, the radio and TV artists federation, 

the broadcast engineers, and others getting 

set to add their voices, the opposition is really 

lining up against the new medium. 

Al Meskis, manager of the Warner Theatre, 

who has been quite outspoken on the matter 

of the parking problem downtown, which all 

exhibitors know has a bearing on the attendance 

at theatres, is delighted to note 

that the Downtown Merchants Ass'n has 

been holding meetings on the matter. Parking 

space on the lake front appears to be the 

first project on the docket, with others closer 

in to follow. 

. . Arden 

Wisconsin went off the daylight saving 

plan. Opening an hour or so earlier during 

the summer was both costly as well as unnecessary 

. state senate last week approved 

a pilot study on juvenile delinquency, 

the first of its kind in the nation . 

Thur, former ad and publicity gal at Allied, 

now with the American embassy in Cambodia, 

will act as host to one of the nation's 

most distinguished globe trotters, the wellknown 

Mrs. Frank WUliams Jones of the 

Cudahy Tower here. Mrs. Jones will include 

Cambodia on her tour which starts this week. 

A report on Miss Tliur on Cambodian moving 

picture theatres appeared recently in 

BOXOFFICE. 

Bob Hirz, Omaha Salesman 

Injured in Car Collision 

OMAHA—Bob Hirz, Warner Bros, salesman, 

was in St. Joseph's Hospital in Sioux 

City. Iowa, with a broken right ankle and a 

number of broken ribs suffered in an auto 

accident. Hirz and another Warner employe 

were driving from Sibley toward Sioux 

City when an auto coming from the opjxisite 

direction reportedly turned in their lane. The 

car in which Hirz was riding went into the 

ditch and rolled over. HospitaJ authorities 

said Hirz suffered a slight lung puncture 

from the broken ribs but that his ankle was 

shattered. 

Trans-Lux TV in Chicago 

CHICAGO — Trans-Lux Television Corp. 

has opened an office at 1314 South Wabash 

Ave. Richard Carlton, vice-president in charge 

of sales, said it is the second company office 

to have opened within the year. The other 

was in Los Angeles. 

Malkin Disqualification 

Upheld by High Court 

WASHINGTON—The United States Supreme 

Court recently upheld a Court of 

Appeals decision which disqualified an attorney, 

Arnold Malkin, from representing two 

drive-in theatre owners in antitrust actions 

against the major distributors. The court 

denied writs of certioi'ari asked by the attorney. 

The action is another in a long series of 

legal maneuvers by both distributors and 

Malkin, involving the right of the attorney 

to appear on behalf of theatre owners in 

several antitrust cases aimed at the distributors. 

The controversial point first grew out 

of a one-time law partnership Malkin held 

with David H. Isacson. The latter, from 1947 

to 1952, was employed by the firm of Sargoy 

& Stein which represents distributors in a 

variety of capacities. When the Isacson- 

Malkin partnership was formed, one of its 

early clients was Fisher Studio, Inc., which 

filed a 16mm antitrust suit against the distributors. 

To this, the film companies objected, 

contending that Isacson during his 

employment by Sargoy & Stein had access 

to confidential information and should be 

disqualified. This position was upheld in 

the courts. 

While the question was still in the courts, 

Malkin and Isacson dissolved their partnership, 

and Malkin acquired a new partner, 

under the firm name of Malkin & Ellner. This 

firm, on behalf of Austin Theatre, Inc., and 

Laskey Bros, of W. Va., Inc., brought antitrust 

actions against the majors. Again the 

distributors sought disqualification, and the 

courts ruled that while Malkin & Ellner could 

represent Austin Theatre, Inc., it could not 

appear for Laskey Bros, on the ground that 

the client had come to them while the partnership 

was stiU Malkin & Isacson. 

In June 1955, Malkin & Ellner were retained 

to represent the Colonial and Harmar 

drive-in theatres in antitrust actions. 

Once more the distributors went into the 

courts for disqualification. The district court 

refused to disqualify, but the Court of Appeals 

upset the decision, holding that the two 

plaintiff corporations who had retained Malkin 

to bring suits in New York were the same 

as the beneficial owners of the stock of three 

corporations who had originally retained the 

firm of Malkin & Isacson in the Western 

District of Pennsylvania for three other 

theatres in the same chain. The court held 

therefore that the disqualification rule of 

the Laskey case should be applied to the present 

Harmar and Colonial cases. 

Des Moines Orpheum Plans 

'World' Opening Nov. 20 

DES MOINES—"Around the World In 80 

Days" will open at the Orpheum Theatre 

November 20 for an extended run. The 

Orpheum is installing special equipment to 

show the Mike Todd production. 

Manager Matt Plunkett amiounced that all 

seats will be reserved. There will be only 

one performance a day, at 8 p.m., except 

Wednesdays, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, 

when a 2 p.m. showing will also be 

scheduled. 

In 'Muggers' Feature Roles 

Stefen Schnabel, Nan Martin and John 

Alexander will play featured roles in UA's 

"The Muggers." 


for 

MODERN THEATRE PLANNERS 





Kansas City 24. Mo, 

Gentlemen: 

10-26-57 


to receive inlormation regularly, as released, on 

ihe tollowing subjects for Theatre Planning: 

O Acoustica 

Q Air Conditioning 

n Architectural Serric* 

n "Black" Lighting 

D Building Material 

n Carpets 

O Coin Machines 

Complete Remodeling 

n Decorating 

D Drink Dispensers 

D Drive-In 

Equipment 

n Other Subjecte.. 

Theatre 

Seatmg Copacily... 

Addiess 

C.!y 

State 

Signed 

D Lighting Fixluras 

D Plumbing Fixtures 

D Projectors 

Q Projection 

n Sealing 

Lamps 

Signs and Marquees 

n Sound Equipment 

[H Television 

n Theatre Fronts 

[J Vending Equipment 

Postage-paid reply cords for your further conrenience 

in obroining information ore provided in The .MODEKH 

THEATRE Section, published with the firar issue 8? 

g^ch month 

BOXOFFICE : 

: October 

26, 1957 NC-7

ROBERT E. GROSS 

34,500 Lockheed Employees 

Regularly Buy U.S. Savings Bonds 

Portrait by fobion Bachrach 

"We in 

the Lockheed Aircraft Corporation family are 

proud of our record of participation in the U.S. Treasury's 

Payroll Savings Plan. 

"It is important . . . particularly in these times . . . for 

all Americans to support our nation's programs and 

policies in every way. I know of no better way than the 

regular purchase of Savings Bonds. 

"Our records show Bond-buying employees are saving 

at the weekly rate of $165,000 ... a yearly total of 

appro.vimately $9,000,000. 

"This thrift, practiced regularly, is a vital keystone 

in building family security'. It also makes a significant 

contribution to stabilization of the purchasing power of 

the dollar and the prevention of inflation. 

"Each of oin- new emplo\ees is gi\-en the opportimity 

to join his fellow workers in the Payroll Sa\ings Plan. 

We feel this is an important step in insiying America's 

future securit} and prosperity." 

ROBERT E. GROSS, Chief Executive Officer, 

C.ltairinan of the Board, 

Lockbrvit iircrafl (Corporation 

A simple person-to-person canvass that puts a Payroll 

Savings .\pplication Blank in tlic hands of every employee 

is all you have to do to install the Payroll Savings 

Plan or build employee participation in your present 

plan. Your State Sales Director is ready to help you. 

Write today to Savings Bond Division, U.S. Treasury 

Department, Washington 25, D. C. 

JTfte 

United States Government does not pay for this advertising. The Treasury Department 

thanks, for their patriotic donation, the Advertising Council and 

BOXOFFICE 

NC-8 BOXOFTICE October 26, 1957

— 

—— 

— — 

h 

Asiatic Flu Blamed 

For Cleveland Lag 

CLEVELAND—For the second week, downtown 

theatre attendance was below average 

and Asian flu was said to be a contributing 

factor. While "Around the World in 80 Days," 

in its 18th week, took a slight rise over the 

previous week, the other first runs showed a 

drop. "The Black Scorpion" given a saturation 

TV, radio and newspaper campaign, 

just scraped through with an average gi-oss 

for the week. Out in the neighborhoods, the 

Heights Art Theatre scored a hit with a firstrun 

showing of "Nana," which came through 

with a good 200 per cent rating. 

(Averoge Is 100) 

Allen The Black Scorpion (WB) 100 

Embassy The Unholy Wife (U-l); Fury o» Showdown 

(U-l) 80 

Herghts Art Mono (Times) 200 

Hippodrome Jet Pilof (U-I-RKO), 3rd wk 80 

Lower Mall Street ot Shame (SR) 100 

Ohio Around the World in SO Doys (UA), 1 8f 

wk 170 

Stofe No Down Payment (20th-Fox) 70 

Sfillman 3:10 to Yumo (Col), 2nd wk 65 

Slow Detroit Week 

Led by 'Expose' 

DETROIT—Business was generally down 

in the Motor City, with the widespread incidence 

of the flu as the most likely cause 

and unemployment as a secondary contributing 

factor. 

Adams Until They Sail (MGM), 2nd wk 75 

Broadway-Capitol Naked in the Sun (AA); Hit 

and Run (UA) 110 

Fox—No Down Payment l20th-Fox); Copper Sky 

(20tti-Fox) 90 

Madison Tammy and the Bachelor (U-l); Susan 

Slept Here (RKO), reissue 90 

Michigon The Helen Morgan Story (WB); Reach 

for the Sky (RFDA) 110 

Palms Portland Expose (AA); Death in Small 

Doses ( AA) 125 

United Artists Around the World in 80 Days 

(UA), 42nd wk 135 

Flu Holds Dowm Averages 

In Downtown Cincinnati 

CINCINNATI—Business was a victim of the 

flu and the quality of the product offered, although 

"Tammy and the Bachelor," on the 

second week of a return engagement, registered 

the city's only above average gross. 

Albee— Until They Soil (MGM) 95 

Grand Conquest of Spoce (Para); The Wor of 

the Worlds (Para), reissues 90 

Keiths Tammy and the Bachelor (U-l), 2nd wk 

of return engagement 110 

Poloce The Black Scorpion (WB); The James 

Deon Story (WB) 90 

Ben Wachnansy Resigns 

From Michigan Circuit 

DETROIT—Ben Wachnansy, who has been 

with the Nick George Theatre circuit for the 

past seven years, has resigned as general 

manager of the circuit. Wachansy's duties involved 

supervision of three major drive-ins, 

the Fort George, Michigan, and Jolly Roger, 

as well as the Allen Park Theatre, and personal 

management of the Fort George. 

Wachnansy has been a theatre and circuit 

executive in Detroit for the past 25 years. 

His future plans have not been announced. 

On Caribbean Cruise 

DETROIT—Raymond Schreiber, owner of 

the Midwest Theatres circuit, and Mrs. 

Schreiber are sailing November 1 from New- 

York on the New Amsterdam for a 14-day 

cruise of the Caribbean Sea, marking the 

celebration of their 25th wedding anniversary 

on November 6. 

Biggest TV Night Affects 

Detroit Theatres Slightly 

By H. P. REVES 

DETROIT—Detroit area exhibitors, after a 

full decade of television competition, are no 

longer much worried about the impact of the 

regular TV home screen on their boxoffices. 

This is the surprising conclusion from a 

sampling of representative houses, made coincidentally 

with the strongest array of talent 

and entertainment television has ever offered; 

namely, the $1,500,000 Sunday night 

when — three top shows "Pinocchio," the Edsel 

Show and the New Jersey Standard Oil 

Co. 75th anniversary program—went on one 

after the other with galaxies of top talent 

in each, and, almost unique among big show 

offerings, timed so that one viewer could see 

all three in sequence. 

The survey failed to uncover a single exhibitor 

who was much concerned about the 

situation. Roughly one-third of those contacted, 

including operators of large and small 

houses alike, was totally unaware of the TV 

competition. Even the next day, there was 

not a mention of the strong competition 

heard in several hours on Filmrow', in contrast 

to protracted complaints that were common 

a few seasons back on the same subject 

for much lesser shows. 

Returns from the boxoffices indicate that 

the exhibitors were right in not worrying too 

much about it. At the big first runs, business 

dropped an estimated 5 per cent from 

anticipated figures, but this was so slight 

that TV could not be pinpointed as a cause. 

Two increasingly important classes of theatres 

showed no effect whatever— the roadshow 

houses, playing attractions like "Around 

the World in 80 Days" at the United Artists, 

where the advance sale of reserved seats was 

simply not touched by the video competition, 

and the art houses, which appeal to a clientele 

apparently little interested in the popular 

type of television show. A special dramatic 

offering, like the famed showing of 

"Richard II" on television a year ago last 

winter, probably would be a different story. 

Neighborhood theatres were hurt worse 

Build at West Liberty 

WEST LIBERTY, KY. — A new 500-car 

drive-in is under construction east of town 

for owners J. M. Mahaffey of Beattyville and 

Charles K. Mahaffey of Danville. B. C. Phillips 

of West Liberty will manage the new 

ozoner. 

Girl for the Mickey Zides 

DETROIT—The arrival of Deborah Ann 

Zide October 11 was the cause for a double 

celebration on Filmrow. The youngster is 

the daughter of Mickey Zide, booker at Allied 

Film Exchange, his second, and granddaughter 

of exchange operator Jack Zide. 

Reopen Warsaw Towne 

WARSAW, KY.—The Towne Theatre, only 

local motion picture house, has been reopened 

under the management of Robert Courtney. 

The theatre is open six nights per week, closing 

on Tuesdays. 

than downtowns, but even there at least hall 

of the dropoff was attributed to the flu epidemic 

which kept families with children away 

from the shows. The downtown houses are 

less affected by the epidemic. At the Stratford 

Theatre, for instance, partner Gertrude 

Schneider reported business was off 25 per 

cent, but blamed much of the loss upon the 

flu. 

This house incidentally suggested a pattern 

that appeared more widespread—the juvenile 

attendance in the late afternoon was down 

only half as much percentagewise as the adult 

attendance in the evening, suggesting that 

the TV showmg of "'Pinocchio" drew a lesser 

proportion of its target audience away from 

the theatres than did the variety adult shows 

which followed. 

Exliibitors here did not attempt to fight the 

big show competition. As voiced by Harold 

Brown, president of United Detroit Theatres: 

"Why buck them at their strong point? Occasionally 

some great program hurts our 

business, but it always levels off, as in the 

early days of radio. A big rain or snowstorm 

can hurt us just as much." 

The same view was voiced by a spokesman 

of the small neighborhood or small-town theatres. 

Vera Phillips, booker for the Schulte 

circuit, who calmly pointed out that these 

theatres actually can do little or nothing to 

combat such a situation. The available boxoffice 

results indicated little total drop in 

attendance, dependent almost entirely upon 

the strength of tiie theatre's bill, and, of 

course, barring the impact of the flu epidemic. 

The conclusions from exhibitor figures and 

comments apply strictly to conventional television—exhibitors 

generally here are highly 

alarmed over the threat of toll television, and 

Michigan Allied has made a substantial contribution 

to the national committee seeking 

to enjoin its formal testing. 

Allied incidentally paid a special tribute to 

Michigan's Senator Potter "for his outspoken 

and courageous opposition to toll TV." 

Akron Council Considers 

Off-Street Parking Law 

AKRON—The city council is considering 

a new off-street parking ordinance which 

would require new buildings to provide offstreet 

parking in relation to their needs. The 

ordinance would require a new church or 

theatre to provide parking spaces in relation 

to seating capacity. Opposition to the measure 

came from solons who feared the propasal 

would discourage new buildings in the 

city. 

In the meanwhile, the proposal to levy an 

a.mu.sements tax to raise funds to fight Dutch 

Elm disease was killed when sponsors Joseph 

Wheeler and Gilbert Green withdrew the proposal. 

Mayor Leo Berg was against the bill 

from the beginning. 

'80 Da-ys' to Toledo Princess 

TOLEDO—The Princess Theatre, operated 

by Balaban & Katz and recently redecorated 

to include a larger screen, has booked "Around 

the World in 80 Days." starting November 7 

on a roadshow basis. 

BOXOFFICE October 26, 1957 ME-1

. . Ted 

CLEVELAND 

. . George Sawyer 

pddie Bergman, Universal salesman, and his 

wife were called to New York by the death 

of Eddie's father. N. Charles Bergman. Surviving, 

beside Eddie, are three daughters, 

Dianne and Sue. with whom the elder Bergman 

made his home, and Mrs. Irene Maslan. 

Another son Al died about three years ago . . . 

Miles "Bud" Mutchler recently installed new 

Simplex XL projectors and sound equipment 

in the new Pleasant Valley Junior High 

School in nearby Parma . 

of the Jack Armstrong circuit carries his 

showmanship above and beyond the line of 

duty, even to his smoking habits. He smokes 

Between Acts, instead of standard cigarets, a 

habit in which he is joined by Eddie Bergman. 

Fred Doughty has been appointed city manager 

in Defiance by Jack Armstrong, head of 

the circuit that owns and operates the town's 

three theatres, the Valentine, Strand and Defiance 

Drive-In. Fred succeeds Elmer DeWitt, 

who resigned October 1 to go into the theatre 

business for himself with the purchase from 

Mailers Bros, of the Wayne Theatre in Port 

siifjo 

m 

52 timed-right "complete 

service" isssues each year 

D 1 

year at $3 

n 2 yeors at $5 3 years at $7 

n Check enclosed D Pleosc bill me 

THEATRE 

STREET 

TOWN 

STATE 

NAME 

POSITION 

BOKOfflCt 

THE 

ZONE 

THE NATIONAl FILM WEEKLY 

825 Von Brunt Blvd., Kansos City 24, Mo. 

BIG COMBINATIONS 

COME FROM 

Allied Film Exchange Imperial Pictures 

2310 Coss Ave 

2108 Payne Ave. 

Detroit, Mkti. 

Clarslond, Ohio 

Wayne, Ind. Doughty joins the Armstrong 

organization after having been with Y&W 

Theatres in Bloomington, 111., as city manager 

for the past 20 years. 

Lou Sharp of Sharp's Service is convalescing 

from surgery in Mount Sinai Hospital 

. . . Otto Braeunig of DCA had a pleasant 

business trip to Toledo. He closed a deal 

there with Jack Ai-mstrong for a series of 

art pictures for his Cla-Zel Theatre in Bowling 

Green. Otto also clo.sed deals for commercial 

product for the Miracle Mile Drive- 

In. "the Loop and Liberty theatres, Toledo, 

and the Paulding Theatre, Paulding. 

20th-Fox has exhibitor interest at heart, 

as shown by the announcement that "April 

Love" with Pat Boone will be a Thanksgiving 

release and "Kiss Them for Me," starring 

Gary Grant, a Christmas entertainment 

present for the community ... I. J. Schmertz. 

who retired to Florida after 53 years with 

20th-Fox, writes that he i.s enjoying his loafing 

schedule and sends regards to the boys 

back home. 

Louis Weitz, executive secretai-y of the 

Cleveland Motion Picture Exhibitors Ass'n, 

and Rickie Labowitchm, the association's corresponding 

secretary, have something in common. 

October 16 they both celebrated birthdays. 

Lou and his wife went to New York to 

do their celebrating and took in the Mike 

Todd Madison Square Garden party. Rickie 

celebrated in more conventional maimer . . . 

Ray Schmertz. 20th-Fox manager, said that 

'The Abominable Snowman," dualled with 

"Ghost Diver.s." will make its area bow October 

30 .simultaneously in 17 top key situations. 

. . . 

"Around the World," now in its 20th week 

at the Ohio Theatre, opened Wednesday il6i 

to capacity business at the State Theatre, 

Youngstown. November 7 the picture will 

open at the Princess Theatre. Toledo 

Jerry Safron, Columbia manager, happily reported 

that Columbia pictures took over three 

downtown first-run screens simultaneously 

starting October 23. The Hippodrome opened 

with "Operation Mad Ball," the Allen opened 

with "The Story of Esther Costello" and the 

Embassy presented "Tlie Brothers Rico" 

dualled with "Domino Kid." 

Jack Zide, bossman of Allied Film Excliange. 

Detroit, and Imperial Pictures, Cleveland, 

was here to confer with local manager 

Rudy Norton . Levy. Buena Vista district 

manager, had a full house for his invitational 

screening of "Perri" in the 20th-Fox 

screenroom Wednesday night (16), with reportedly 

favorable post-screening comments. 

DCA Hits Playdate Peak 

In Greater Cleveland 

CLEVELAND— Distributors Corp. of America, 

under the management of Arthur Goldsmith, 

former RKO city salesman, has gone 

forward by leaps and bounds since the opening 

of its own exchange in the Film Bldg. 

about six months ago. It reached the pinnacle, 

recently when it had 19 DCA playdates 

simultaneously in 11 Greater Cleveland Theatres. 

"Battle Hell" and "Bermuda Affair" 

played Keiths East 105th. Avalon, LaSalle. 

Lyceum. Garden, Regent, Olympia, Vogue 

theatres, while "The Green Man" was playing 

at the Heights Ai-t Theatre "Scandal in 

Sorrento" at the Mayfield Ait Tlieatre, "Gold 

of Naples" at the Lower Mall. 

Dave Rosenthal New 

Chief at Cleveland 

CLEVELAND— David "Danny" Rosenthal, 

United Artists manager, was elected chief 

barker of the Variety Club at its annual 

meeting held Saturday il8i in its Rudar 

Arms Hotel clubrooms. The following were 

elected to serve with him: first chief barker, 

Jim Kalafat. independent theatre circuit 

owner; second chief barker. Will Dougherty, 

radio station WJW; property man, Sol Gordon. 

AlUed Artists; dough guy, Jim Levitt, 

Universal Hctures. The board consists of the 

above officers and the following newly elected 

members: Marshall Fine. IrAln Schenker, 

Henry Greenberger, Raymond Schmertz. Joe 

Weinst«n. Jack Silverthorne. Sam Weiss, 

Leroy Kendis, Ted Levy and Abe Kramer. 

Rosenthal succeeded Marshall Fine as chief 

barker. 

Alan Mink Starts Career 

At Radio Station WPIC 

CLEVELAND — Alan Mink, son of Max 

Mink, general manager of the Palace Theatre, 

is launched into professional show business. 

He is now a member of the staff of 

radio station WPIC in Sharon. Pa., where he 

has an 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. daily progi-am. During 

the rest of the day, he participates in 

news and sports broadcasts. 

While a student at Ohio State University, 

Alan had a radio program of his own, and 

during the summer, he appeared several 

times on Lights, Camera, Questions, the industry-sponsored 

weekly half-hour TV program, 

pinchhitting for absent panel members, 

who include his dad; Dick Wright, SW 

theatre district manager; Frank Murphy, 

Loew's Theatres division manager, and Jack 

Silverthorne, Hippodrome manager. 

Arrested for Robberies 

AKRON—A three-man bandit gang that 

preyed on drive-in theatres has been broken 

up following a blazing gun battle fit for a 

theatre screen. One member of the gang was 

captured at the edge of a cemetery in southwest 

Akron after an exchange of shots, while 

the other two were captured later at a hideout 

in Canton. The three admitted robbing 

drive-ins in Akron. Tallmadge, Wadsworth 

and Steubenville during August and September. 

These included the East Drive-In. 

Tallmadge. Starlight at Akron, Blue Star at 

Wadsworth and Sunset at Steubenville. 

Installs New Seating 

SPRINGFIELD. OHIO—The State Theatre 

here has 850 new upholstered seats installed 

by the Chicago Chair Mart of Chicago, 111. 

The seat replacement gives patrons more leg 

room and more comfort, according to M. H. 

Chakeres, vice-president of Chakeres Theatres. 

The seats have box springs and nylon 

covering, he said. 

Much Involved in Stor'y 

The story of Warners' "The Big Red 1" 

involves seven countries, seven campaigns, 

three amphibious invasions and three land 

invasions. 

•ME-2 BOXOFFICE October 26, 1957


CONTACT YOUR 

^ntennatia/iCLl EXCHANGE 


JAY M. GOLDBERG 

SELMA G. BLACHSCHLEGER 

1632 Central Parkwoy 

CINCINNATI 10, OHIO 

ALLIED FILM EXCHANGE 

JACK ZIDE 

2310 Cass Avenue 

DETROIT 1, MICHIGAN 

IMPERIAL PICTURE CO. 

RUDY NORTON 

2108 Payne Avenue 

CLEVELAND 14, OHIO

" 

I 

. . . Charles 

. . . Mrs. 

. . Jack 

. . 

Clive 

. . Jack 

. . Arthur 

. . Mrs. 

. . G. 

. . William 

. . Forrest 

DETROIT 

. . . 

•Pom Duane, Paramount manager, is a proud 

grandpa for the second time and it's a 

second boy for Dr. William Duane. now also 

Paul Caruso of the Caruso, 

a Detroiter . . . 

Dowagiac, is busy defending his bowling 

title. He and his brother have been doubles 

champions for two years . . . Leonard Soskin 

S. J. 

was on the Row on a rare visit . . . 

Fagtin of Croydon Advertising, trailer producers, 

was out of town for a couple of weeks 

Frank Upton was off to Cincinnati on 

Cinerama business, after openings at St. Louis 

and Pittsburgh. 

Two BIG 

Money-Makers 

CRETORS and STAR 

POPCORN 

MACHINES 

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Whatever you need— 

we can supply it. 

guîg poRBES 

Theatre Suppljr 

Detroit 1, Mick. 

SE RV ICE-QU ALITY -PRICE 

GOLD CHIPS 

Potato Chlpi Exclutlvely for the Theatre Trade 

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13231 Conant Avenue Detroit 12, Mich. 

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. . . 

Clarence Foster Bell, formerly exploitation 

man for Allied Artists and Columbia, was 

company manager for the big magic show at 

the Riviera Sturm was sporting a 

Monday visitors 

fancy new credit card . . . 

included Bob Fredley, Flint: A. A. Krikorian. 

Holly: Rene Germani. Monroe: Stanley 

Tesluck, Almont. and Don McKenzie, Flint. 

The latter introduced John D. Groves, who 

is taking over the Richards Theatre from him 

William Jenkins closed the Skyline 

Drive-In at Morenci. 

. 

. 

John Kenny, NTS salesman, was hospitalized 

for a minor operation M. Studebaker 

was poised for deer hunting acrass the 

new Mackinac bridge Ruth Lask 

was back on the job after an operation . . . 

Ernie Forbes was a victim of flu . . . George 

McArthur. retired supply man, came in from 

St. Clair . 

Susami, Morrie Weinstein, 

Dick Hayes and John McMahon are chairmen 

for the Sid Bowman Drive. 

. . 

. 

Henry Falk, formerly of the East End, was 

Max Kolin. Owen Blough, 

.seriously ill . . . 

Bob Fullarton, and Mike Colton hit the road 

with auto shows . 

Sachson and 

Kermit Russell, DCA executives, were here 

Burns is a new MGM student 

booker . 

Waxman talked with his 

family in Australia by radio-telephone 

Sid Blumenthal proudly points to the 

. 

new 

Columbia decorative scheme C. 

Thrasher, manager of the Adams, was vacationing 

Leonard and Sol Krim were 

. . . guests at the colossal Mike Todd party in 

N. Y. C. 

Max Gealer, supervisor of the Whittier and 

. . . 

Iris, who has been ill sometime, is feeling 

much better . . . Irwin Lovett. former UA 

salesman, is an occasional relief majiager for 

the Lincoln Park Theatre . 

Baker 

of Elsie, where your scribe recently visited 

the Kenneth Munsons. has taken over the 

Elsie Theatre, operated for a time by Spencer 

Blackford The Marcellus at Marcellus, 

recently closed by DeVerne Darnell, has been 

reopened by Richard E. Reisch and renamed 

the Dix. 

Stanley J. Tesluck, former owner of the 

Almont at Almont. has taken over the Maxine 

at Croswell. formerly operated by Thumb 

Theatres, from the Schuckert interests. His 

son Ernest has an interest in the Yale at Yale 

George W. "Bud" Sampson is back 

home convalescing following a serious operation. 

The senior George Sampsons recently 

... 

OVTtTANOINC 

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CKArrSMANtHie ANO INCINtlAINO 

400-SEAT THEATRE IN PROGRESSIVE TOWN 

A doing Proposition In Lower Eastern Michlgon, Close to Metropolitan Center (Not Detroit). Also 

Included are PARKING LOT end Single HOME (renting for 555 Monthly). SZS.OOO Down Will Hondle. 

8843 E. Jefferson 

F. W. CHRYSLER 

Phone VA 2-8600 Detroit 14, Mich. 

made the rounds of his territory with Bud 

during the Indian summer weather. 

Sam Green, Sterling circuit supervisor, was 

a victim of "Alabama flu" . . . Walter Janiec. 

formerly manager of Regent, was pinchhitting 

for Edward Sullivan at the Del-The 

. . . William Sutton, another ex-Regent chief, 

was transferred to the Roseville. William 

"General" Graham, longtime manager of the 

Booker T. switched to the Grand, succeeding 

Raymond Chyba. who is taking a night school 

technical course. Charles Forman. manager 

of the Parkside. returned after three weeks 

in Florida. 

. . . Carl Dross of E>etroit Popcorn 

Harry Jacobson, manager of the Iris, has 

moved to Houston and Ai'thur F. Brock, formerly 

of the Rouge, succeeds 

Guion, new manager for 

. . . Leonard 

Alexander Films, 

worked for United Detroit Theatres about 

15 years ago. He is a brother-in-law of Lou 

Mitchell 

got his bag of ducks on the first try. He is 

heading north for more varied bird-hunting. 

Seven More Airers Close 

In Detroit Trade Area 

DETROIT—Onset of the fall season is being 

marked here by the Increasing pace of 

drive-in closings. The first ones, notably in 

the northern resort country, started to fold 

right after Labor Day, but others stayed open 

generally, with only scattered closings reported 

at first. The current closings reported 

include H&S. Marlette: Hi Way, Deckerville: 

Ottawa. Grand Haven: Hillsdale. Hillsdale: 

Sundown, Rosebush: Ottawa, Spring Lake, 

and West Point, Battle Creek. 

Drive-ins in the Detroit area proper are 

generally planning to operate as long as 

weather permits, probably well into November, 

while many upstate houses are expected 

to close in the coming weeks. 

BOWLING 

DETROIT—The strain of having to watch 

the Braves win the World Series told heavily 

on the quality of bowling in the Nightingale 

League, with new high scores only in the 

modest brackets—Jack Lang. 235. total 606: 

Jack Llndenthal. 216. 572: Julius Pavella. 197. 

529: Roy Thompson. 200. 533: Roger Valiquette. 

500. 

The new team standings are: 

Teom Won Lost Team Won Lost 

NTS 7 1 Local 199 3 5 

Forbes 5 3 Altec 1 7 

Amsmt Supply 4 4 

Nick Forest and Jack Colwell were laid 

up with severe colds. Edgar Douville was 

called to Buffalo by family illness. Burt London 

increased his average without reading 

that book of how to do it as did Richard 

Kemp. Secretary Floyd Akins read the book 

and his average dropped. Matt Haskin pushed 

the 2-pin over to make a 2-10 split. Francis 

Light did it with the 6-pin to make the 6-7, 

while Bob Juckett came up with the 3-5-7. 

and Joe Pickering the 5-7. Eddie Waddell, 

claiming to be the old man of his team, was 

supported by Roy Thompson. Mel Donlon is 

temporary treasurer. 

To bowlers of Local 160 in Cleveland, Secretary 

Akins sends greetings: "Hello to all 

of you. Keep your eyes on BOXOFFICE for 

news of us. We still look forward to seeing 

you again." 

"The Big Red 1," a Warner film, will be 

produced with the full cooperation of the 

Army, Navy and Air Force. 

ME-4 BOXOFFICE October 26, 1957


VITAL 

FACTS ABOUT 



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Akron Theatre Supply Co. 

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Theatre Equipment Co. 

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Hadden Theatre Supply Co. 

209 South Third St. 

Louisville 2, Kentucky 

BOXOFFICE ; 

: October 

26, 1957 ME-5

I 

. . . Helen 

' 

Ky. 

Theatre, 

. . When 

CINCINNATI 

ni Kolkmeyer, sales manager for the local 

U-I exchange, was taken to the Jewish 

Hospital for treament of bleeding ulcers. A 

number of his Filmj-ow friends answered a 

call from the hospital for blood transfusions. 

Ray Russo. Columbus salesman for 20th-Fox, 

was one of the donors . . . Margaret Woodruff, 

Columbia booker, spent the second week 

of her vacation in Daytona. Fla. . . . News 

was received on the Row that Sam Weiss, 

former salesman for 20th-Fox here and subsequently 

in Cleveland, was appointed exchange 

manager for Columbia Pictures in 

Cleveland. 

Manny Marcus, exhibitor from Indianapolis 

who operates the Columbia Theatre, Dayton, 

in this area, was on the Row, his first trip 

here in some time. Also on the Row were 

Jerry Knight of Columbus and Harry 

Wheeler, Gallipolis ... A number of robberies 

reported included those at the Pike 27 Theatre, 

Florence. Ky., and the Dixie Garden The- 

DRIVE-IN 

Practically 

Yearly 

THEATRES! 

DOUBLE 

GROSSES* 

NSTALL 

EPRAD 

"Hot-Shot" 

IN-THE-CAR 

HEATERS 

Low-Cost, Smoll, Light, 

Compoct, Rugged, Economico). 

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for Drive-ins. 

'Yearly grosses ore neorly doubled by 

odding heoters. 

EASY TERMS! 

THEATRE EQUIPMENT CO. 

1206 Cherry St. Toledo 4, Ohio 

atre. Covmgton. Ky. It is believed the same 

thieves committeed these robberies, as well 

as tho.se at the McAlpin Department Stores 

in the Western Hills and Kenwood Shopping 

centers ... A thief also robbed the local 

U-I office of some payroll checks. He fled 

when he attempted to cash a check at a bank 

and the teller tried to secure identification. 

E. C. DeBerry, Paramount manager, has 

been promoted to eastern division manager 

for the company. This division embraces 

exchanges in Bo.ston. Albany. Buffalo and 

New Haven. DeBerry will make his headquarters 

in Boston. He has been with the 

Cincinnati office for nearly tw'o years. John 

G. Moore, former eastern division manager, 

will handle the mideastern division, covering 

Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Philadelphia 

and Washington. This teiTitory was 

formerly handled by Howard G. Minsky. A 

new exchange manager has not as yet been 

named for Cincinnati. 

James Doyle, Columbus U-I salesman, is 

currently vacationing . Margie 

Combs, U-I telephone operator, was in Florida 

recently, she became ill with flu and w-as 

taken to a hospital there. Margie had a cold 

when leaving for her vacation. She is at 

home now and due back at her desk soon 

Merganthal has joined the local 

UA branch as switchboard operator. 

Thomas Fisher, who operates the Corinth 

has closed the house for the 

I 

winter and will reopen it next April. This is 

his usual custom . . . Mrs. Jack Finberg, wife 

. . . 

of the UA exchange manager, is recovering 

Moe 

at home from a nasal operation 

Potasky of the Troy Dixie Drive-In, Troy, was 

on the Row and said he would try to continue 

operation of his theatre until December . . . 

Condolences were being received by Mrs. William 

Stadtlander. Popular Auto Theatre, 

Lawrenceburg, Ind.. whose mother died Sunday 

(13 1. 

Mrs. Nathan Mutnick, wife of the MGM 

booker, is recovering in Jewish Hospital from 

recent major surgery . . . Mike Berger, MGM 

office manager, was back at his desk after 

being out a w-eek with the flu. Although no 

cases of the Asian flu have been reported on 

the Row. there have been numerous absences 

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because of colds . . . MGM sneak-previewed 

•Don't Go Near the Water" at the Albee Theatre. 

It has been booked at Radio City Music 

Hall to follow "Les Girls." 

Variety was planning a Halloween party 

for Saturday night (26i. starting with a film 

at the Palace screeningroom at 8:30; a buffet 

following at the Variety clubrooms. The fee 

of S2.c0 a person covers both screening and 

buffet or S2 for buffet only. The screening 

was to be limited to 80. 

William Onie, chief barker, has notified all 

members that Monday, November 4, is the 

date for the election of the crew- for 1958. 

According to the constitution of Variety Clubs 

International, the existing crew may at their 

discretion present two weeks before the annual 

election a list of a maximum of 22 barkers 

from whom the membership at the election 

will select the crew. Additional nominations 

may be made from the floor at any 

time prior to the distribution of the ballots. 

Chief Barker Onie and the present crewwill 

welcome names of members who wish to 

serve on the board of trustees. As usual, a 

free buffet w-ill be ser\'ed, starting at 6 p.m. 

The election will follow, no later than 8 

o'clock. Only regular barkers in good standing 

are permitted to vote but all associate 

barkers are urged to attend the buffet and 

meeting. 

Three Clevelanders, 

Years in Films, Die 

CLEVELAND—Death took three local veteran 

film men recently; all of whom had seen 

the industry gi-ow- from the early single reelers 

to the present day mammoth productions. 

Charles "Chick" Taylor, 72, had been in 

local theatre management for more than 40 

years until he retired several years ago. For 

more than 25 years he was manager of the 

Shaw--Hayden Theatre and was one of the 

outstanding citizens of the neighborhood, and 

was so regarded by the two generations whom 

he served. Later he managed the Avalon, 

and briefly, he managed the Center-Maj-field 

in Cleveland Heights. For a very short time 

he tried his hand at managing an outdoor 

theatre, the Fairview, w-hich was later demolished 

to make way for a large shopping 

center. Taylor, who died at his home, 1260 

Winston Rd.. South Euclid, is survived by his 

w-ife Beatice and a sister. Mrs. Jessie T. Mcpherson. 

Mrs. Taylor is secretary to Henry 

Press, 

the Press garden editor. 

Max Rosner. 66. onetime manager of the 

Commodore and Embassy theatres and retired 

for the past three years, died in Cleveland 

Clinic. Sur\-iving are his wife Esther. 

sons David and Mai-vin and tw-o grandchildren. 

Word was received here Monday (14) of 

the death in Miami. Fla.. of Lou Geiger, 72, 

who was city salesman for United Artists for 

many years. Prior to that he was a salesman 

in this territory for FBO. During the past 

five years Geiger has been dividing his time 

between Cleveland and Florida, interested In 

promoting bicycle deals in theatres. Surviving 

are his wife Adeline, a son John of Cleveland, 

a daughter. Mrs. Robert Brenner of 

Chester. Pa., and two grandchildren. 

Whatever You Need — We Can Supply It. 

Produced in Technirama and Technicolor 

Warners' "Sayonara" was filmed chiefly in 

Japan. 

ME-6 BOXOFFICE October 26, 1957

17 

Gus Sun Sees Upturn 

For Theatre Business 

SPRINGFIELD, OHIO — Motion picture 

theatre,s today will make a comeback if they 

have what the public wants, Gus Sun sr., 

veteran showman, said in a birthday interview. 

He was 89 October 7. 

It was 52 years ago that Sun started a 

booking agency, which he says, now is the 

oldest booking office that has been continually 

in the business of booking attractions 

for entertainment. 

He started in show business when he was 

20, which gives him the distinction, he added, 

of being the oldest active living circus and 

minstrel man today. 

He has seen many changes in 69 yeai-s. 

"Vaudeville acts started in beer gardens 

and developed into what later was known as 

vaudeville," he said. 

"The second change was the dramatic 

roadshows which began touring the country 

and appearing in opera houses. 

"The third change was the moving picture. 

"Fourth was the advent of the talking picture. 

That ruined vaudeville. There were 

150 vaudeville theatres in the midwest at the 

time and within 30 days all vaudeville acts 

were discontinued in favor of the moving 

talking picture. 

"The last big change was television." 

His general manager. Bob Shaw, who was 

listening, said that the 1957-58 television 

season has been called a "dud." 

"If television isn't coming along any better 

than it has to date," he said, "the theatres 

will pick up business." 

"Road shows are a thing of the past except 

in the larger cities, because they are so big 

and expensive and the smaller cities can't 

handle the expense," said Sun. 

"Theatres today ai-e changing their 

methods of operation. Some of them are 

former vaudeville theatres and they rely on 

road pictures for their business." 

Examples, he said, are the theatres showing 

"Around the World in 80 Days" and "Cinerama 

." 

At one time, the Sun booking exchange 

booked 80 per cent of the bigtime stars. He 

had ten offices in the United States, but now 

they have been reduced to offices in Springfield, 

Detroit and Pittsburgh. 

The agency currently is booking Pinky Lee, 

Duncan Renaldo. the WSM Grand Old Opry, 

the Renfro Valley Bam Dance and others. 

COLUMBUS 

. . . Mrs. 

J^rs. Harriet Raper, 51. wife of Tod Raper. 

radio and television editor and relief 

theatre editor of the Columbus Dispatch, died 

suddenly following a heart attack 

Ethel Miles reopened the remodeled Drexel, 

Bexley suburban house, October 19 as an art 

theatre. The first attraction was J. Arthur 

Rank's "The Third Key." 

Herman Hunt, operator of Hunt's Cinestage 

where "Around the World in 80 Days" 

is playing, reports he has received several 

. . . 

reservations for New Year's Eve parties at 

the theatre Rein Rabakukk. former 

Loew's Ohio assistant manager, will be stationed 

at Ft. Sam Houston. San Antonio, for 

medical corps training in the army. 

CHECK FOR CHARITIES — Edward 

H. Moss, left, British consul in Detroit, 

receives a checli for the benefit performance 

for a British charities fund from 

previews of "The Green Man" at the 

Coronet and Surf theatres from Albert 

Dezel, who operates both houses. Arthur 

Levy, DCA manager, is looking on. 

Gladys Pike Renamed 

Head of Film Truck 

DETROIT—Mrs. Gladys M. Pike was reelected 

president of Film Truck Service at 

the annual election, held at the Fuller Hotel 

under the chairmanship of Kit Clardy. 

former head of the Michigan Public Utilities 

Commission. Film Truck, which has operated 

principal routes serving upstate theatres in 

Michigan for several decades, has a large 

number of exhibitor-stockholders. 

Others elected: first vice-president, Menden 

Wescott, in charge of the firm's air freight 

operations: second vice-president, William 

Clark, Clark Theatre Service; treasurer. Miss 

Jane Robinson, and secretary, Ernest T. 

Conlon, former Allied Theatres executive secretary. 

Elected dil-ectors were Clark, Ralph Kuris, 

Muskegon theatre owner: Conlon, Menden 

Wescott, Miss Robinson, Kit Clardy and Mrs. 

Pike. 

Mrs. Pike extended an open invitation to 

any stockholder to come to her office at any 

time and receive information regarding the 

company's operation. Chairman Clardy announced 

a plan to supply every stockholder 

with a copy of the annual report filed with 

the Michigan PSC. 

Clardy urged the need of additional types 

of business, other than film transport, to 

bring in added revenue, and discussed the 

possibilities. Charles W. Snyder, a former 

FTS executive, spoke on the importance of 

goodwill and understanding between 

customers and the company. 

'80 Days' to Youngstown 

YOUNGSTOWN—The State Theatre here 

opened "Around the World in 80 Days" 

Wednesday (16). Both the Palace and the 

State promoted a "lucky couple" drawing 

at the Palace, with the winner getting an 

all-expense trip to Mike Todd's party in 

Madison Square Garden to celebrate the first 

anniversary of the film. 

Irving Berlin's new theme song for the 

Warner release, "Sayonara," will be introduced 

by Eddie Fisher. 

Sen. Poller Praised 

For Toll TV Sland 

DETROIT — Allied Theatres of Michigan 

passed a resolution at the board of directors 

meeting strongly commending Sen. Charles 

E. Potter, member of the potent .subcommittee 

on communications, for "outspoken and courageous 

opposition to toll TV." 

Solid outside financial help was given by 

a substantial contribution from L&L Concession 

Co. for the joint committee on toll TV. 

f.dding to Allied's own donation. 

The board agreed to withhold a substantial 

sum collected as a contribution to 

COMPO. "pending National Allied's readmission 

as a bonafide member of COMPO," 

President Milton H. London said. 

It was disclosed that Allied had engaged a 

CPA firm to make an audit of books of Film 

Truck Service, following a 10 per cent rate 

increase granted several months ago. It was 

Allied's understanding that FTS had consented 

to such audit, but FTS declined to open 

its books to auditors. London said Allied now 

expects to petition the Michigan Public Service 

Commission to reopen the whole matter. 

Mrs. Gladys M. Pike, president of Film 

Ti-uck, explained, "We are a public utility and 

full quarterly reports, prepared by CPAs, are 

on public file at Lansing and Washington. 

Such a further report is superfluous. We are 

willing to furnish full quarterly and annual 

reports to any stockholder—and many of 

our stockholders are members of Allied—but 

not to any outsider." 

Theatre Behavior Panel 

Sponsored by Council 

CLEVELAND—Under the auspices of the 

Motion Picture Council of Greater Cleveland, 

managers Frank Cost of the Lake Theatre, 

Fred Holzworth of the Beach Cliff Theatre 

and Sylvester Pierce of the Berea Theatre 

1 

held a symposium Thursday ) in the Higbee 

Lounge to discuss the problem of handling 

teenagers on Friday nights and younger 

patrons on Saturday. 

It was agreed that basically these are family 

problems to be controlled in the home, but 

theatre managers, it was pointed out, can 

help the situation by the exercise of discipline. 

This discipline, the three managers agreed, 

covers both manners and dress habits. 

Manager Cost has put the taboo on shorts 

and sweaters for teenagers—and their parents. 

"We have a sign in our boxoffice window," 

he related, "stating that we do not 

admit patrons in shorts. There has been a 

distinct improvement in conduct since we 

put this order into practice." 

Fred Holzworth belongs to the old school 

that believes sparing the rod will spoil the 

child. He does not literally use the rod. but 

he withdraws the privilege of attending the 

theatre to any young people who fail to conduct 

themselves properly. First offenders are 

asked to stay away from the theatre a month. 

Pi-equent offenders are ostracized for as long 

as a year. "When they come back, and they 

always do," says Holzworth, "they behave 

themselves." 

Pierce deals with the recalcitrant youngsters 

differently. He puts himself down as 

one of them, not as their guardian or chaperone. 

After any act of vandalism or misbehavior 

he talks it over with the culprit on a 

person-to-person level. Usually this approach 

is 

successful. 

BOXOFFICE October 26, 1957 ME-7

ME-8 


BOXOFFICE 

BOXOFFICE :; October 19, 1957

— 

— 

— 

—— 

— 

— 

'Joker Is Wild' 160 

First Boston Week 

BOSTON — "The Jokci- Is Wild" was easily 

the best of the new product in a week which 

was disappointing in many spots. The package 

deal of "Reform School Girl" and "Rock 

Around the World" proved to be a strong 

attraction for the teenagers. Otherwise, business 

was dull in the theatres with new product. 

"Ai-ound the World in 80 Days" still led 

as the best of the long engagements. 

(Average Is 100) 

Astor Interlude (U-l), 6th wk 65 

Beacon Hill The Rising of the Moon (WB)....I10 

Boston Seven Wonders of the World (SW), 59th 

wk 70 

Exeter Street Brothers in Low (Cont'l), 2nd wk. 80 

Gary The Pride ond the Possion (UA), 10th wk. 65 

Kenmore Doctor at Large (U-l), 8th wk 70 

Memorial Run of the Arrow (RKO-U-I) 80 

Metropolitan The Joker Is Wild (Para) 160 

Paramount and Fenway Reform School Girl 

(AlP); Rock Around the World (AlP) 120 

Saxon Around the World in 80 Doys (UA), 

26th wk 130 

State ond Orpheum The Fuzzy Pink Nightgown 

(UA); Spook Chasers (AA) 70 

Providence Grosses 

Still Dull 

PROVIDENCE—For the second consecutive 

week, business at local boxoffices was still far 

from ordinarily expected at the time of year. 

Average business was recorded at Loew's 

State and the Strand, which had "doublebarreled" 

features. Pi-obably the biggest disappointment 

was "The Helen Morgan Story," 

which reported only 80, at the Majestic. 

Albee Naked Africa (AID); White Huntress (AID) 65 

Loew's Chicago Confidential (UA), My Gun Is 

Quick (UA) 100 

Maiestic The Helen Morgan Story (WB) 80 

Strond No Time to Be Young (Col); The Young 

Don't Cry (Col) 100 

Foreign Product Program 

Tops Hartford Newcomers 

HARTFORD— Stanley Warner, originally 

intending to pull "Around the World in 80 

Days" after 11 weeks, had an lltli hour 

change of heart and extended the Strand 

engagement. 

Allyn The Joker Is Wild (Para) 105 

Art The Devil's General (DCA), 2nd wk 80 

Colonial It Happened in the Pork (Ellis) 100 

E. M Loew The Young Don't Cry (Col); No Time 

To Be Young (Col), 2nd wk 90 

Poll Until They Soil (MGM); Action of the 

Tiger (MGM) 100 

Strand—Around the World in 80 Days (UA), 

12th wk 275 

Webb—One Summer of Hoppiness (Times); Game 

of Love (Times) 110 

"Helen Morgan Story' 

Leads in New Haven 

NEW HAVEN—Michael Todd's "Around the 

World in 80 Days" went into a strong Uth 

week and the Whalley's engagement conclusion 

is yet to be announced. 

College 08/15 (Times); The True Story of the 

Civil Wor (Times) 1 00 

Crown The Rising of the Moon (WB) 90 

Paramount The Joker Is Wild (Para); Last Stagecoach 

West (Rep) 105 

Lincoln Passionate Summer (Kingsley) 115 

Poll The Story of Esther Costello (Col); Domino 

Kid (Col) 

no 

Roger Sherman The Helen Morgan Story (WB)..120 

Whalley Around the World in 80 Days (UA), 

11th wk 300 

Victor Borge in Hartford 

H A R T F O R D—Victor Borge's one-man 

show, "Comedy in Music." returned to the 

3,300-seat Bushnell Memorial Auditorium 

here for a single performance Saturday 

night, October 12, at $4.50 top, and attendance 

pattern repeated itself for the sixth 

time. The theatre displayed the SRO sign. 

Manager W, F. Brown Finds Answers 

To Teenage Disciplinary Problems 

BOSTON—William F. Brown has been 

bucking teenage disciplinary problems for 20 

years at the Park Theatre. Worcester, which 

he manages for owner Kenneth Forkey, and 

he has come up with some answers which 

have worked well at his neighborhood house. 

First, he believes that young people should 

be treated as adults and should be appealed 

to on those terms. Along that line, he has 

discovered that school children resent the 

word "teenager" and he always refers to 

them as "young people." 

"The word 'teenager' has come to denote 

an unruly or delinquent child and that's why 

I never use that term to them," Browai 

explained. 

Secondly, he believes that strong disciplinary 

measures should be in effect at all 

times when these children are in the theatre. 

"Constant patroling is essential and no 

manager can afford to sit in his office while 

the youngsters are watching the show," he 

said. 

Brown also believes that since World War 

II there has been a .sharp drop off of liome 

disciplinary measures. 

"Only at school or at church are these 

children told what to do or what not to do. 

When they enter a tlieatre they think they 

can do as they please with no consideration 

for others. This is a point that I explain to 

them in detail," he said. 

Friday evenings and Sunday matinees are 

the most popular times for teenage patronage 

and Brown tries to book family entertainment 

films. Often the film is too slow 

for them and they become restless. 

"To combat this," said Brown, "I patrol 

the theatre constantly, along with my cashier, 

Pauline Burns, who has been with us 

for 18 years. Slie knows the names of many 

of the children and they respect lier as 

much as they do me. Usually the troublemakers 

come in groups of four or more and 

they sit together. They are apt to become 

silly and noisy. First we warn them to keep 

Reopened in Middletown 

NEW HAVEN—M&D Theatres have re 

opened the long-shuttered Capitol in Middle 

town. 

Hartford Airer Curtails Schedule 

HARTFORD — Paul W. Amadeo has 

dropped Monday through Thur.sday performances 

at the suburban Pike Drive-In Tlieatre 

for the remainder of the season. 

Dorothy Sanson Marries 

HARTFORD—Dorothy, daughter of Jack 

Sanson, Strand manager, was married in New 

York recently to Andrew Hall of Saratoga 

Springs, N. Y. The couple honeymooned in 

the Pocono mountains. 

Bill Howard Transferred 

HARTFH3RD—William How'ard, manager of 

the Cine Webb in Wethersfield, has been 

transferred to the Danbury Drive-In by Lockwood 

and Gordon Theatres. 

quiet but, if they persist, they are asked to 

step into the lobby. 'It's kids like you that 

give teenagers a bad name,' I tell them. 

'Now I have given you fair warning, so out 

you go. And no money will be refunded to 

you unless you bring back one of your parents. 

Then I will give them the refund. We 

camiot afford to have noi.sy young people in 

this theatre that disturb the show for 

others.' " 

In his 20 years of managing the Park 

Theatre, Brown has had to make only one 

arrest. It was for two boys who were found 

equally at fault when brouglit into court. In 

some instances, children have been ejected 

and barred from the theatre for two weeks 

or a month, depending on the seriousness 

of their misdemeanors. They are always 

given another chance. 

"Not long ago we were playing 'Oklahoma!' 

on a Sunday matinee with an unusually good 

adult audience, along with the regular teenagers," 

Brown said. "Four boys came in together 

and sat down front. Wlien they purchased 

their tickets, they were warned to be 

quiet. After the first 20 minutes they became 

restless and started their noisy tactics. I 

walked down to them and warned them 

again. 

" 'It is evident,' I told them, "that you 

are not interested in this picture. Let me 

tell you that the film is just like this all 

the way through for another hour and a 

half. Make up your own minds now whether 

you will stay and sit here quietly or leave 

so the others can enjoy the film without 

being disturbed.' 

"I walked back into the lobby and in about 

ten minutes the four boys walked out of the 

theatre. I called them back. First, I complimented 

them on their good judgment. Next, I 

explained that we as theatre people were 

not just interested ui their 60 cents at the 

boxoffice. I gave them four courtesy passes 

for another show. I might add here that the 

four passes were used at the next change." 

PROVIDFNCF 

. . . Mrs. 

n Ibert J. Clarke, Majestic manager, was appointed 

by Gov. Dennis J. Roberts, at a 

dinner-meeting, attended by some 70 of this 

state's leading businessmen, as a member of 

the President's Committee for Employment of 

the Handicapped . . . Chester McLean, Strand 

assistant manager, recently underwent an 

operation in Rhode Island Hospital 

Marie Violo, at one time secretary at Loew's 

State, recently gave bu-th to a baby boy . . . 

N. E. Brickates, Stanley Warner district manager, 

was in LawTence Memorial Hospital, 

New London. 

Here recently was Harry Feinstein, Stanley 

Warner zone manager, accompanied by J. A. 

Bracken. They conferred with Al Clarke at 

the Majestic . . . Once again, the Metropolitan, 

former site of film and stage shows, 

but until recently used as a boxing arena, is 

shuttered. Tlie former Snider house, one of 

the largest in this territory, has tried about 

every conceivable form of attraction without 

success. 

BOXOFFICE October 26, 1957 NE-1

' 

. . 

. . Ray 

. . The 

. . Eddie 

BOSTON 

XXrilliam Riseman Associates has completed 

two renovations for theatres owned by 

New England circuits. In Valley Stream, L. I., 

the Riseman company has doubled the capacity 

of the Sunrise Drive-In, owned and 

operated by Northeast Drive-In Theatres, 

Michael Redstone, president. This theatre is 

open the year round and 1.000 in-car heaters 

have been added. The number of speakers 

has been doubled to 1,600. The Riseman associates 

also have enlarged the concession 

building, adding two more counters to handle 

the extra patrons. In Milford, Conn., for I. J. 

Hoffman, the Riseman company has completed 

renovations on the Capitol Theatre. 

A new front, new marquee, new lobby and 

new boxoffices at a cost of $16,000 have been 

installed. The auditorium was not touched. 

Bill Slater, former U-I and United Artists 

publicist now- with Bonds for Israel, was in 

town for a few days working with the Boston 

office of the bond drive . . . Reports from the 

Deaconess Hospital were encouraging about 

the condition of Ernest Warren, Paramount, 

Needham, who is recovering from major surgery. 

Jack Mercer has been transferred to Loew's 

Yonge Street Theatre, Toronto, after nine 

years here at the State and Orpheum. The 

new manager at the State is Karl Fasick, publicist 

for both houses, who will continue to 

handle the ads for the State and Orpheum. 

Fasick will have Edith Garbsch as his assistant 

manager. She has been with the company 

for over a year. Referring to the transfer 

of Mercer to Toronto, Charles E. Kurtzman, 

division manager, said, "We needed a 

good man in that spot and chose Mercer." 

Edward W. Lider, president of Independent 

Exhibitors of New England, called a board of 

directors meeting attended by a full complement. 

Discussions were held on the practice 

of the film companies holding back their important 

product for holiday playing time, 

causing the e.xhibitors to suffer through runof-the-mill 

films which mean little or nothing 

at the boxoffice. A resolution was passed 

asking the film companies to release a greater 

flow of product during the ten-week period 

between Labor Day and Thanksgiving to relieve 

the situation. This important matter is 

to be brought up at the forthcoming Allied 

national convention at Lake Klamesha, N. Y. 

For the Irish film, "Rising of the Moon. 

Alex Francis-Smith, manager of the Beacon 

Hill Theatre, and Art Moger, Wanier publici-st. 

arranged a large display of Irish products in 

the lobby. The display came from the Irish 

Trade Ass'n of New York and proved to be 

an item of interest to patrons. The entire 

walls of the lobby are decorated with green 

shamrocks. A window display of Irish products 

is in Raymond Whitcomb's office with 

full credit for the picture at the Beacon Hill. 

The three TV spectacular shows Sunday 

evening, October 13, had no appreciable effect 

on dow'ntown theatres but caused a drop 

in attendance at the drive-ins, according to 

a sui'vey conducted among exhibitors who 

were watching the patron respon.se to the 

highly publicized TV .shows. In the downtown 

theatres the evening brought the peak 

of the weekend business for the stronger 

shows, while the weaker ones were no worse 

than expected. The huge 4,200-seat Metropolitan 

Theatre, playing "The Joker Is Wild," 

had the best Sunday evening in many months. 

The Paramount and Fenway theatres, playing 

the package deal of "Reform School Girl" 

and "Rock Around the World," attracted a 

strong teenage audience. "The Fuzzy Pink 

Nightgown" at Loew's Orpheum and "Run of 

the Arrow" at the Memorial were no worse 

Sunday than Saturday. Drive-in business was 

off substantially all over this area and owners 

are convinced that the slack can be attributed 

directly to the TV spectacular shows. 

The Liberty Theatre, Springfield, has been 

sold to be converted into a sales and showroom 

for Joseph Industries, dealers in all 

kinds of boats. Liberty Theatres Corp. took 

over the theatre in 1940 and operated it until 

1953, when it was closed for lack of business. 

It was operated by Rifkin Theatres . 

Sam Badamo, who has been a manager for 

the Rifkin circuit for seven years, has resigned 

as manager of the new Shipyard 

Drive-In, Providence. Badamo and his wife 

are taking a trip south before announcing his 

future plans. His place at the Shipyard has 

been taken by Langdon Wilby. who has been 

transferred from the Pike Drive-In. Johnston, 

R. I., another Rifkin theatre. 

An unusual booking has been arranged by 

Edward Ruff Film Associates for the French 

film, "And God Created Woman." The English 

version is booked into Benjamin Sack's 

Gary Theatre for three weeks starting November 

6 and then will be transferred to the 

smaller, intimate Beacon Hill Theatre, also 

owned by Sack. The second version of the 

same film will be in the original French with 

English subtitles. 

Art Moger, Warner publicist, arranged a 

press luncheon for the Japanese star, Miiko 

Taka, who is featured in "Sayonara" ... In 

connection with the opening of "The Young 

Stranger" at the Kenmore Theatre, Louis 

Richmond arranged a press luncheon for 

James MacArthur, the star of the film who is 

a student at Harvard College. The luncheon 

was held at the time that his mother, Helen 

Hayes, was in town in the stage version of 

"Time Remembered," so she could attend the 

luncheon with her son. 

A new lease has been taken on the Melrose 

Theatre, Melrose, by William Gindele, who 

has signed Joseph G. Cohen to handle the 

buying and booking for the house. Gindele 

took over the theatre October 16 . . . New- 

England Film Distributors was the first film 

company to book an outer space program in 

downtown Boston after the appearance of 

Sputnik. Four days after the satellite appeared, 

Lewis Ginsburg booked the package 

deal of "Rocket Ship X-M" and "Pi-oject 

Moon Base" at E. M. Loew-'s Center Theatre. 

NEWHAMPSHIRE 

gradley T. Callahan, a Concord projectionist, 

pleaded guilty in coiu-t at Littleton to 

charges of evading $2,163 in federal income 

taxes. He was fined $2,000 and sentenced to 

serve 60 days in jail on one count and was 

placed on probation for one year on a second 

count. Callahan was formerly business agent 

for a stagehands union whose charter was revoked 

after it was revealed it had been engaged 

in a membership-selling racket. 

Co-Op on "Morgan Story' 

NEW HAVEN—Ii-ving Hillman, manager of 

the downtown Roger Sherman Theatre, promoted 

a 4 col, 10-inch co-op ad with RCA 

Victor Records on "The Helen Morgan Story." 

HARTFORD 

TDocky Graziano, boxing personality, who 

makes his film debut in Paramount's 

"Mister Rock and Roll," started a New England 

press interview tour here October 14, 

sitting down with local critics and commentators 

at a Statler Hotel luncheon. Arnold 

Van Leer, Paramount exploiteer, and Ray 

McNamara, resident manager at the Allyn 

for New England Theatres, AB-PT regional 

affiliate, lined up local promotion . . . Maurice 

W. Shulman rebooked U-Ts "Tammy and the 

Bachelor" for the Barry Square Webster on 

the strength of requests. 

The Webster has a new dinnerware giveaway 

for lady patrons Tuesdays and Wednesdays 

. . . The Mahaiwe, Great Harrington, 

has joined the burgeoning roster of area 

small tow'n situations playing foreign product 

on one or two nights a week. The opening 

attraction was "The Gold of Naples," 

with imports screened Thursday and regular 

U. S. product the remainder of the week . . . 

E. M. Loew booked a French import, "Maid 

in Paris," a Continental release, into the 

Hartford Drive-In, NewLngton. 

Al Corey, formerly with Loew's Poll theatres 

here, now- selling for Capitol Records 

Corp.. is driving sleek foreign car . . Sperie 

a . 

Perakos booked two space attractions. Paramount's 

"When World Collide" and "War of 

the Worlds," into the Arch Street Theatre, 

New Britain . McNamara, Allyn, w'as 

in New York on business . . . Jack Sanson, SW 

Strand, went downtown to the city to attend 

Mike Todd's "Around the World in 80 Days" 

anniversary party in Madison Square Garden 

Thursday (17). 

NEW HAVEN 

Trving Hillman, Stanley Warner Roger Sherman, 

hosted area youngsters who participated 

in the 1957 Register Fresh Aii- Fund 

activities at a special show October 12. 

Screened were cartoons and "Capt. John 

Smith and Pocahontas" . New Haven 

Section. National Council of Jewish Women, 

sponsored performances of "Man on Fire." 

October 13-15 and "3:10 to Yuma" October 

16-19 at the Bailey Theatres' Westville, with 

proceeds going to the various charitable 

drives. 

. . . 

Roger Mahan brought back a classic, "King 

Kong" for a brief run at his Carroll, Waterbury 

The New Haven Sportsmen's Club 

sponsored a showing of "Tlie Naked Sea" at 

the New Haven Drive-In October 15 for the 

benefit of its building fund . O'Neill 

double-billed MGM's "Battleground" and 

"Blackboard Jungle" at the Bridge Drive-In, 

Groton, part of the Brandt circuit . . . The 

independent Strand, Mystic, advertised imports, 

"The Gold of Naples" and "Rembrandt," 

as "A 24-karat foreign film program!" 

Ernie Orecula, State. Torrington, jumped 

the gun on his competition by distributing 

free Halloween masks (retail value, 39 cents 

to $1) to youngster patrons at his October 

12 matinee program. 

Virginia Mayo will star with Randolph 

Scott and Kai-en Steele in Warners' "Westbound." 

NE-2 BOXOFFICE October 26. 1957


A SAVAGE GIANT ON A BLOOD-MAD RAMPAGE! 

GROWING...! 

GROWING...! 

V. to 

"" 

a GIANT! too MONSTER! 

WHEN WILL IT 

STOP? 

CONTACT YOUR \/Lmenlcaru 

'ntB/uiatlonaL EXCHANGE 

EMBASSY PICTURES CORP. 

JOSEPH LEVINE 

20 Winchester Street Boston, Massachusetts


VITAL FACTS ABOUT 

M 

FO^ \aus\ot^ 

i.c

MARITIME EXHIBITORS CHARGE 

OFFICIAL SNUB OF TAX PLEAS 

Resolutions Say St. John, 

New Brunswick Guilty 

Of Gross Neglect 

By SAM BABB 

ST. JOHN—Two strongly worded resolutions, 

accusing the New Brunswick provincial 

government and the St. John mayor and 

city council of gross negligence of duty in 

refusing to institute amusement tax relief, 

were passed by the Maritime Allied Motion 

Picture Exhibitors Ass'n at its annual meeting 

October 16 in the Admiral Beatty Hotel 

here. 

The first resolution read: 

"Be it resolved that the government of 

the province of New Brunswick, in our opinion, 

has been guilty of gross unfairness and 

negligence of the interests of the theatre 

owners and operators and the public in 

ignoring the appeals of the theatre industry 

for assistance and relief in the field of 

provincial amusement tax." 

CITES MAYOR AND COUNCIL 

The second resolution: 

"Be it resolved that the mayor and common 

council of the city of St. John be 

condemned for negligence to their duties of 

office in ignoring or refusing the appeals 

and allowing the closing of at least two 

theatres in the city of St. John due in part 

to lack of relief from highly restrictive and 

arbitrary business taxation." 

This is believed to be the first time that 

any exhibitor organization in Canada has 

come forward with resolutions specifically 

accusing definite government bodies of unfairness, 

negligence and dereliction of duty. 

The resolutions came after members attending 

the meeting discussed the many 

years of effort by individual exhibitors and 

the association, including appeals by numerous 

delegations and submission of briefs, 

personal representations and other means to 

show the government bodies the declining 

income and the need for relief from the tax 

brackets which have been in force for many 

years. 

OWNERS IN FIGHTING MOOD 

The discussions centered around the fact 

that several theatres have been closed even 

after receiving requests from the government 

to clarify their positions. The exhibitors were 

in a fighting mood as they recalled the 

many years their theatres have served the 

communities as taxpayers, employers and 

servants of the public welfare. 

One association spokesman said that tax 

relief had been granted in other provinces 

and in many sections of the U.S., where the 

industry also is experiencing financial difficulties. 

He said, "As a result of indifference, 

the city and province will lose large amounts 

of revenue which have been paid annually 

by theatres now going out of business." 

Mitchell Franklin, president of the Franklin-Herschorn 

Theatre Co., which operates 

a chain of houses throughout the Maritimes, 

Theatres Dont Deserve Nickel Off; 

Had Many Fat Years Before TV 

ST. JOHN — Government officials were 

quick to deny the Maritime MPEA negligence 

charges. D. D. Patterson, provincial secretary-treasurer, 

declared the accusation was 

not fair. 

"The matter was given careful consideration 

by the executive council on more than 

one occasion," he claimed. "The government 

is fully aware of the problem facing theatre 

owners as a result of TV competition. 

It is not unique: many theatres are closing 

in other provinces and in the USA." 

Mayor W. W. MacAuley of St. John admitted 

the city council had turned down a 

request made by theatres for tax relief last 

fall. Council member Edward G. Harrigan 

declared: "I don't see how the theatre ovmers 

can ask for tax concessions to subsidize 

a profit-making industry. I would not give 

them one nickel off. They have had many 

yeaj-s of good, fat profits before competition 

from TV set in." 

Mayor MacAuley complained the St. John 

theatremen had failed to submit theii- request 

personally. However" Mitchell Franklin, 

president of Franklin & Herschom, 

said "appeal after appeal" had been made 

to the city and province without result. 

He said his company was forced to close 

the Mayfair and Regent theatres after having 

paid city taxes and being an integral 

part of the city economy in all its phases 

for 27 years. He said his company was proud 

of its record of having contributed its time 

and properties to charities of all kinds and 

for having taken an interest in the public 

welfare at large during those 27 years. 

President A. J. Mason, Springhill, in his 

annual report to the convention, said that 

the "burning question" is one of survival for 

theatres now operating, and what can be 

done to help small town operators, now 

closed, to reopen and prosper. 

Mason pointed how that many Maritime 

theatres have been closed or have taken a 

severe financial beating, but he said he did 

not believe that TV was primarily to blame. 

Rather, he said, he believed that in a majority 

of cases closings were due to "the 

impossible price terms demanded by the 

distributors." 

He said that despite distributor "lipservice," 

promising aid to the small town 

exhibitors "nothing tangible has been done 

toward the survival of the independent small 

town theatre." 

"Small communities find themselves in the 

position of dwindling population," Mason 

continued, "while the cities, large and small, 

have been and are still growing at an extremely 

fast rate, filling up with a generation 

which learned its theatregoing habits 

in small towns, which are the spawning 

pointed out that after the St. John theatres 

had made several pleas for reclassification 

of their business from the 150 per cent 

capacity, the St. John council last fall asked 

the circuit to submit records of the Mayfair 

and Regent over a five-year period. This 

was done at much expense and trouble, 

Franklin said. 

Franklin said he had made additional requests 

in the following months, and the only 

answer he got was that his letters had been 

received and filed. He asserted the "indifference 

shown by the St. John common council" 

had hastened the closing of two theatres 

and brought another close to shuttering. 

"It is the council's duty to protect industry 

and not to sit around the council table making 

irresponsible statements," he said. "Since 

the closing of the Mayfair and Regent here 

October 5, the neighborhood businessmen 

and former patrons have complained bitterly. 

More than 25 persons were thrown out of 

work. Now with the apparent sale of the 

Capitol to a church group, the taxpayers 

will have to absorb a loss of more than 

$11,000 in tax revenue." 

ground for the big cities' future welfare. The 

small town theatre operator has always been 

the poorest of the poor relations of this 

industry. Today, his position is deplorable. 

"It is criminally shameful that hundreds 

of people, who have devoted their lifetime 

to this industi"y, carrying all that they own 

in this world, in brick, mortar and lumber, 

should, through changing conditions and 

competitive enterprises be compelled to close 

their doors, not only losing their work and 

weekly wages, but losing their savings as 

well, shattering their investments, their 

properties heavily mortgaged in many cases, 

and leaving the people in their communities 

deprived of the greatest entertainment medium 

this world has ever known. All of this, 

simply because of the short-sighted policy on 

the part of the distributors, who, it would 

appear, prefer to keep features in vaults 

collecting dust, rather than give the small 

operator a fair deal according to his ability 

to 

pay. 

"The record of closed theatres, lost savings, 

shattered investments, can effectively deny 

that the small town theatre operators constitute 

a hypersensitive group, devoured by 

their own self pity. I am convinced that 

producer-disti'ibutors must face up to this 

situation and act quickly before it develops 

to a point where it will be too late for them 

to save their own positions, and thereby ?ave 

the wealth in investment they, the producerdistributors, 

have in the motion picture industry. 

"The fair and just rights of small operators 

(Continued on next page) 

BOXOFFICE October 26, 1957 K-1

Here are a group of officers cf the Maritime Allied Exhibitors Ass'n photographed 

at the convention held in St. John. Front row, left to right: A. J. Mason, 

Springhill. re-elected president; Mrs. Helen Nesbitt, Edmundston, treasurer, and F. 

Gordon Spencer, St. John, vice-president. Back row: Bruce Yeo, Montague, P.E.I., 

vice-president; James McDonough, Halifax, director, and George Walters, Charlottetown, 

secretary. 

Claim Official Snub 

Of Tax Relief Pleas 

1 Continued from preceding page) 

is one subject which I deem a must on the 

agenda for consideration at the forthcoming 

meeting of the National Committee of the 

Motion Picture Theatre Ass'ns of Canada in 

Toronto starting November 25. Again, I re- 

. . 

iterate, it Ls nothing sliort of criminality for 

distributors to hold product shelved, rather 

than give a ix)or. financially hard-pressed 

exhibitor a break at po.s.sible live and let 

live terms . 

"We admit the fact that the small town 

exhibitor is an insignificant portion of the 

whole industi-y. dollar-wise, but he is important 

as the breeding ground for future 

generations migrating to the cities and large 

. . . 

centers. I do not believe the exhibitor is 

any different In a business sense and in 

importance to our industry dollar-wise than 

is the small town businessman selling merchandise, 

regardless of how small his yearly 

purcha.ses might be 

ASKS ONLY FAIR DEAL 

"Despite distributor claims and statements 

to the contrai-y, I believe the small town 

exhibitor expects and demands no more than 

an equitable deal which will give him good 

product at livable terms so that he can 

realize a fair profit from his investment." 

Minutes of the last meeting were read 

by Secretary George Walters, foUow-ed by 

a financial report by Mrs. Helen Nesbitt. 

Vice-president F. Gordon Spencer, heading 

the resolutions committee, read his report 

that included an account of his attendance 

at the Canadian Motion Picture Exhibitors 

Ass'n conference in Toronto. James Mc- 

Donough. secretary of the executive committee, 

in his report ix)inted out that efforts 

on behalf of the association to the government 

of New Bnanswick provmce on tax relief 

w-ere unsuccessful. 

A motion was carried that a protest be 

issued to the Motion Picture Industrial 

Council against the number of black and 

white pictures to be released next year and 

suggesting more in color. Another motion 

protested that present black and white print,« 

have poor definition. The same motion carried 

the provision that exhibitors should not 

be liable in replacing damaged film, as the 

number of prints now in the area are of 

such bad condition that the liability cannot 

and should not be placed on any one exhibitor. 

NEW BASIS FOR FEES 

On the point of membership fees, it was 

agreed that the rate should be changed 

from a per seat basis to a flat rate, according 

to the situation and the number of 

seats. 

The business meeting was follow-ed by a 

dinner attended by many film and office 

managers and representatives of supply 

firms. Presiding at the dinner was P. Gordon 

Spencer. Speakers were Archie Mason; S. A. 

Doane. chairman of the board of censors 

of Nova Scotia; G. R. Elliott, deputy fire 

marshal of New Brunswick; Les Sprague. 

president of the Motion Picture Pioneers of 

the Maritimes; Eric Goldmg, president of 

the St. John Film Board of Trade. A 16mm 

film on early and modern motion picture 

projectors was shown. 

Additional notes of the convention: 

Bruce Yeo, owner and operator of Yeo's 

Theatre, Montague, P.E.I., was a feature 

attraction, wearing a light cream color tengallon 

hat. Personable Bruce has always been 

a great attraction at the amiual meetings 

with his wardrobe of bright cravats and 

suits of various shades and individual 

styling. 

Congratulations were going around to J. 

Willard Boudreau, manager of the Capitol 

Theatre. Dalhousie. on his recent marriage 

to Jane Seems of Hamilton. Ont. A greatly 

admired lady wa-s Mrs. John Coughlan. owner 

and operator of the Rex Theatre and Starview 

Drive-In at Tracadie, N.B. Other than 

doing the booking, buying and operating 

these theatres, she is raising a family of 11 

children. Joshua Lieberman. partner of the 

B&L circuit, reported that his son Stanley 

has become stand-in manager for the Balaban 

& Katz in Chicago. 

ENJOY MASONS' SONG 

Archie Mason and son Lloyd's beautiful 

singing was greatly enjoyed and Archie's 

stories of the early days of 1913 in the theatre 

business were keenly received . . Jim 

. 

McDonough. FP supervisor for the Maritimes, 

was not too happy with the Atlantic 

ocean fish, being a native of Ontario. He 

took a steady diet of cold cuts instead. He 

was also outstanding as the only member 

wearing a vest. 

Joe LeBlanc, owner of the Capitol Theatre. 

Shedlac, was overshadowed by his 

charming wife Gazell, who received most of 

the attention. The charming Mrs. Helen 

Nesbitt, owner of the Star, Edmundston, received 

bows and congratulations on her fine 

report as treasurer. James Mitchell, manager 

of the Capitol Theatre, is quite concerned 

over his future with the near sale of 

the FP Capitol. 

Arthur Fielding, Bridgewater, N.S.. president 

of the SFA circuit, was getting opinions 

on the Christmas cards he proposes to send 

out. Harry Adkins and Romeo Nowlan of the 

Pine Theatre, Richibucto, and Roxy, Buctouche. 

were here with their perpetual 

smiles. Rocky Hazen w-as taking an optimistic 

view over the future of the film industry. 

GREET ALL EXHIBITORS 

A newcomer to tlie meeting was happygo-lucky 

George M. Basha, operator of the 

Page Theatre. Stephenville, Nfld. Cecil 

Johnston, manager of the General Theatre 

Supply, and B. Orr of the Halifax office 

of the same firm, were making sure they 

shook hands with every exhibitor. Johnny 

Tagg. manager of Dominion Sound, provided 

refreshments for the exhibitors. 

George A. Walters, secretary of the association 

and manager of the Capitol. P.EI., 

was always on the go, making arrangements 

and setting down minutes of the meetings. 

Film managers were warding off exhibitors 

who were complaining of high rentals and 

low-priced new deals, etc. Another new face 

at this year's meet was Ed Mullis, manager 

of the Capitol, Amherst, N.S. 

Murray Lynch, manager of the FP Paramount, 

Moncton, was looking forward to his 

two-week, all-expenses paid trip to Miami 

Beach, Fla., which he earned as one of two 

Canadian w'inners in promotion competition 

for Warners' short "Chasing the Sun." Mrs. 

Lynch will accompany him and Norman Mc- 

Cutcheon will take over at the theatre while 

Lyiich is vacationing in the sunny south. 

W. C. Handy Dinner Nov. 21 

HOLLYWOOD— Nat "King" Cole will be 

a guest of honor at the grand testimonial 

dinner to be given for W. C. Handy at New 

York's Waldorf-Astoria hotel on November 

21, celebrating the 84th birthday of the 

eminent composer of jazz melodies. Cole 

portrays Handy as a young composer and 

musician in Paramount's "St. Louis Blues," a 

film biography. 

K-2 BOXOFFICE October 26. 1957

DOUBLE BOXOFFICE BLOCKBUSTERl NO. 15 

CONTACT YOUR 

^nXannaiianaL EXCHANGE 

1. H. ALLEN 

ASTRAL FILMS 

LIMITED

. . Del 

— 

I Wos 

— 

Hidden 

Maritime Pioneers 

Rename Les Sprague 

ST. JOHN—The Maritime branch of the 

Canadian Motion Picture Pioneers held its 

annual meeting at the Admiral Beatty Hotel 

here on Tuesday of last week, a day precedinz 

the annual session of the Maritime 

Allied Motion Picture Exhibitors Ass'n. 

President Les Sprague called the Pioneers to 

order. 

Before the business session got under way, 

a minute of silence was observed for the 

following industryites who died in the last 

year: Joseph M. Franklin of St. John, president 

of Franklin-Herschorn: Capt. Sam 

Herman, manager of the F. G. Spencer Capitol, 

Lunenburg. N.S., who died at the age of 

93 and was considered the oldest living active 

theatre manager on record; Alice Fairweather, 

St. John correspondent for the 

Canadian Motion Picture Digest; Clare 

Graham, Lancaster, former cashier of L. 

Sprague's Gaiety, Lancaster, and Jack Cohn, 

New York executive vice-president of Columbia 

and founder of the Motion Picture 

Pioneers of the U.S. 

Final action of the convention was the 

election of officers, with Sprague returned 

as president. Other officers ai-e Joe Lieberman, 

vice-president for New Brunswick; Jim 

McDonough, vice-president for Nova Scotia; 

Bruce Yeo. vice-president for Piince Edward 

Island; Eric Golding, secretary; Mickey 

Komar, treasurer. New members are Leo 

Simon, Columbia manager, and Mickey 

Komar, Warner Bros, manager. 

ST. 

JOHN 

pjoug King, manager of the local Odeon 

Strand, with the cooperation of eight 

merchants set up a full page advertisement 

for "Man of a Thousand Faces." In addition. 

prizes are given to holders of numbers appearing 

on a herald announcing the picture, 

the numbers corresponding to the numbers 

posted in shops of the participating merchants 

. . . The Baptist churches rented the 

FP Capitol for a crusade the evenings of 

October 20-27 . . . The F&H Community. 

Yarmouth, was rented for a Saturday morning 

showing of a motion picture by the Firemen's 

Protective Ass'n. 

Cecil Beesley will be the projectionist-manager 

of the new 800-seat Base Theatre, Camp 

Gagetown, the largest army camp in Canada. 

Beesley's status will be that of a civilian employed 

by the army. He was in booth work 

here up until a year ago at the Franklin & 

Herschorn Regent Theatre. He left that position 

to run 16mm films for CHSJ-TV, St. 

John. 

The main highway between Sydney and 

Glace Bay has been under repairs for several 

weeks, affecting the boxoffice returns 

at the P&H Midway Drive-In . . . Visiting 

Filmrow was Lloyd Mason of the Capitol. 

Springhill, N. S., in an effort to arrange with 

film exchange managers to reopen the Capitol, 

which was closed last June . . Sid Koffman, 

Toronto, manager of fountain sales for 

the Pepsi-Cola Co. of Canada, called on Maritime 

circuits. Koffman was employed for 

many years by the Twinex Century Theatre 

Corp., Toronto . Buckley, president of 

the Maritime Poster Exchange, was taken to 

St. John General Hospital for surgery after 

he was stricken in his office. 

.1 niio-jnceir.ent of the sale of the FP Capitol, 

the largest theatre in St. John and second 

largest in the Maritimes, is expected soon. 

Jan-.es Mitchell is manager of the 1,600-seat 

theatre . . . The Franklin & Herschorn's 

Mayfair and Regent. St. John, were closed 

The majority of drive-ins 

October 5 . . . 

operating in the Maritimes will close for the 

sca.son Saturday i26i ... The Bay Drive-In, 

owned and operated by Malcolm E. Walker, 

ten miles from Halifax, was closed for the 

.'cason October 5. 

Canadian Short Products 

Continue Steady Pace 

MONTREAL—Output of motion picture 

films of five minutes duration or longer by 

Canadian private companies and by government 

agencies in 1956 consisted of one theatrical 

feature (compared with one in 1955), 

39 theatrical shorts (47 in 1955), 378 television 

films (338) and 355 other nontheatrical 

films (352), the Dominion Bureau of Statistics 

reported in its review of the Canadian 

motion picture industry. 

Some 2,153 television commercials were 

produced in 1956, compared to 1,334 in 1955, 

848 theatrical trailers, newsclips and advertising 

films (1,546), 268 newsreel stories for 

theatres i280), 562 newsreel stories for television 

(385), 478 silent film strips (227) and 

28 sound film strips—compared with a record 

66 in 1955. 

Private industry and government agencies 

printed 67,323,532 feet of film in 1956. The 

footage printed by format was as follows: 

37,367,652 feet of black and white and 5.- 

234,256 feet of color in 16mm; 24,223,368 feet 

of black and white and 498.256 feet of color 

in 35mm. 

There were 59 private firms (including laboratories 

with no motion picture production! 

in the Canadian industry in 1956. employing 

1.127 persons, paying $2,483,910 in salaries and 

wages, and having a production value of $3,- 

726,557. In 1955. 46 firms (not including laboratories 

with no motion picture production) 

had 445 employes, paid $1,460,421 in salaries 

and wages and had a production value of $2.- 

456.038. 

Pioneers Need Nominees 

For This Year's Awards 

TORONTO—In preparation for the annual 

awards banquet of the Canadian Picture 

Pioneers November 28 in the Crystal Ballroom 

of the King Edward Hotel, Oscar R. 

Hanson, chairman of the "Pioneer of the 

Year" committee, has announced that the 

c'.o.sing date for nominations for the honor 

is October 31. 

Morris Stein, national CPP president, also 

sent out a call to the branches of the organization 

for suggestions to be considered in 

connection with the annual awards which 

include "Honorary Mentions" in addition to 

the chief honor. 

CPP branches are functioning at Toronto, 

Montreal, St. John, Winnipeg, Calgary and 

Vancouver, all of which will be represented 

at the dinner. 

Ticket reservations for the awards night are 

being handled by George Oullahan, Sterling 

Films, King Edward Hotel, Toronto, and Mrs. 

M. V. Chinn, assistant CPP secretai-y. Suite 

1210, 21 Dundas Square, Toronto. 

Good Weather Perks 

Up Winnipeg List 

WINNIPEG— Indian 

summer was bringing 

people out of their homes and getting them 

out to the theatre. 

Capitol— Jet Pilot (U-l), 2nd wk 

Gorety—Around the World in 80 Days iUA), 8th 

wl

. . . A. 

. . . The 

. . . On 

. . The 

Midwest Drive Aimed 

At Lost Customers 

KANSAS CITY—A vigorous fall campaign 

to sell more people on theatregoing, particularly 

those who have stopped regular attendance, 

was outlined at the recent fall 

convention here of Pox Midwest Theatres. 

"Other industries have succeeded in getting 

people out of their homes and into different 

modes of entertainment," pointed out 

Fred C. Souttar. Kansas district manager, who 

presented the fall promotion proposal. "It's a 

challenge; what other businesses can do. we 

can do." 

DIRECT HOME APPEAL 

Pointing out that screen trailers and attraction 

posters do not reach the people who 

have stopped going to theatres, Souttar asserted: 

"We must go into the home with our 

appeal and excite people about our coming 

attractions. We can't win back our lost 

audience by trailers on our screens and 

posters in our lobbies alone. We must have 

a new approach." 

The new approach which Fox Midwest 

proposes to use this fall is a 10x14 booklet 

titled Movie Chatter, designed to impress the 

public with the "big shows coming to the 

theatre screens" this coming season, in the 

fashion the TV networks are being filled with 

plugs on big shows returning to TV this fall. 

Oversize drawings of the proposed fall 

Movie Chatter were shown to the managers 

and others at the convention. Fox Midwest 

has prepared a format for a booklet ranging 

from 6. 8, up to 16 pages. It includes a 

first page of publicity material, etc.; at least 

one interior page playing up a selected group 

of coming films, and a page each devoted to 

the attractions of each film company. These 

pages, of course, will vary from town to town, 

depending on the individual theatre bookings. 

Fox Midwest, through Richard Brous, president, 

Souttar and other officials is lining 

up distributor cooperation on these pages. 

Each page of the sample dummy displayed 

at the convention showed the exciting array 

of product that can be presented to the public 

if the fUm companies cooperate on the 

idea. 

TWO-COLOR COVER 

The cover is planned in two colors. Cuts 

and mats will be supplied by Fox Midwest. 

Each theatre—or group—will pay the cost 

of printing of the Movie Chatters it—or they 

—wUl use in their own town, plus transportation 

and distribution, according to Souttar. 

Each distributor has been asked to contribute 

to the cost of prepai-ing the publication for 

printing. The price per thousand will be $15 

to $17.50, depending on the number of pages. 

However, those managers who wish to 

print their own Chatter locally can use the 

circuit-supplied mats and make revisions. 

Souttar announced the use of the material 

has been offered to other exhibitors. In 

Salina, Kas., it was revealed, the local Fox 

theatres and their competition will put out 

the publication as a joint project. In Wichita, 

C. C. Mm-ray, Fox city manager, is working 

with the Sullivan Management Co. on presenting 

Movie Chatter in that city. The 

Wichita Beacon has offered to feature the 

booklet as a Movie Section insert in the Sunday 

paper, assuring distribution of about 

130,000. 

WINNIPEG 

. . . 

The following drive-ins have closed for the 

sca.son: Stardust Drive-In. Melville; Rabbit 

Laks Drive-In. Kenora, Ont.; Big Island 

Drive-In, Flin Flon, Man., and the Pembina 

Drive-In, Winnipeg The Saskatchewan 

Exhibitors A.5s'n held their annual meeting 

at the Saskatchewan Hotel in Regina Monday 

(211. The chairman was Duane Mc- 

Kenzie. Orpheum Theatre, Estevan. 

Tiie Koyal and Fort theatres in Fort 

Frances. Ont., situated just over the border 

from the Minnesota town of International 

r'alls, is facing tough opposition in that the 

theatres in International Falls are offering 

free toll on the International Bridge between 

the two towns for all patrons attending from 

After being temporarily 

the Canadian side . . . 

closed. John Dederer's Hat Drive-In 

in Medicine Hat has reopened and Johnny 

is really giving the drive-in an extra push 

by offering free coffee for the grownups and 

free comic books to the kiddies. 

Something new has been added to the Foto- 

Nite offer at the Royal, Lake and Fort theatre.s. 

Fort William, with the addition of a 

1957 Chevrolet from Cam Motors or $2,050 

in cash. All a patron has to do is to be at 

one of the above theatres and have in his 

possession a book of Famous Players theatre 

tickets w'hen his name is selected. There is a 

second offer of $350 in cash and gifts . . . 

In promoting their special kiddies cartoon 

shows for Thanksgiving morning, October 14, 

the Lake and Port theatres offered free 

Bambi comics and Kraft caramels. 

All Rank Films offices in western Canada 

were closed October 15 in honor of the 

Queen's visit to Ottawa . . . Harold Bishop. 

Famous Players Manitoba supervisor, garnered 

a lot of extra publicity for the engagement 

of "Around the World in 80 Days" 

when the theatre offered the winners of a 

draw a trip to New York to attend the party 

put on in Madison Square Garden by Mike 

Todd. Bishop was able to get a three-column, 

ten-inch photograph and reader showing the 

award of the winning tickets at the local 

Trans-Canada Airway office in the Tribune 

and Free Press papers. 

Theatre Poster Exchange of Calgary and 

the Theatre Poster Service of Winnipeg have 

combined in arranging a special promotion 

for their comic book giveaways. They are 

offering a special 75-foot trailer free to all 

accounts that regularly use their comic books. 

This trailer helps to promote Saturday matinee 

business and advertises that comic books 

will be given away at the matinee showings 

W. Shackleford, the Famous Playei-s 

partner in Lethbridge, is again running for 

town council. Shackleford has been mayor of 

Lethbridge for a number of years. 

Barry Littleworth, governor of the Headingly 

jail, a provincial institution, was host 

to the local film distributors, exhibitors, and 

service personnel to thank them for the 

previous 12 months cooperation they have 

given the institution in supplying films and 

keeping the equipment running. At the luncheon 

were Harold Bishop and Johnny Ferguson. 

Famous Players: Charlie Maybe, General 

Theatre Equipment; Charlie Krupp, Associated 

Theatre Services; Hy Swartz and Nate 

Rothstein. Rothstein Theatres; Somer James, 

Theatre Poster Service; Abe Feinstein, United 

Artists; Abe Levy, MGM; Stuart McQuay, 

Rank; Harry Hurwitz. Odeon-Morton Theatres, 

and Mike Mandell. International Films. 

The Belmont Drive-In continues to be the 

leader in promotions in the Edmonton area. 

October 13, they offered 25 grade A turkeys 

as gate prizes to the ladies . . . The Nortown 

Theatre in Regina is running special matinees, 

with 2'i.' hours of Walt Disney cartoons 

Rex in Regina is again running 

Elmer parties, sponsored by the Rotary Club 

and the City Police, with prizes and fun for 

all the children. Admission for the first week's 

party October 12, was a label from a Burns 

weiner package. 

Filmrow visitors included Joe Hatton, operator 

of the Paragon Theatre, Creighton, and 

the Garry Theatre, Indian Head, who visited 

with Charlie Krupp of Associated Theatres, 

arranging bookings for the winter months; 

George Miller. Vogue, Wynyard, and Nick 

Linkewich, Broadway Theatre. Schreiber. and 

Roxy Theatre, Terrace Bay. 

Charlie Chaplin, UA general manager, on 

his return from Vancouver spent two days 

here with Abe Feinstein, local UA manager 

the sick list were Mrs. Dave Wolk. 

wife of the Western Theatres office manager; 

Mrs. Meyer Nackimson, wife of the 

Empire-Universal exchange manager, and 

Richard Stckoloff, Theatre Posters, who underwent 

surgery in Victoria Hospital. 

Cy Brownstone, longtime local showman 

who recently sold out his interests in the 

Starlite Drive-In in Transcona to Western 

Theatres circuit, has been appointed manager 

of Winnipeg's only art house, the Valour. 

EDMONTON 

n 

double-bill program of 2 German hits was 

shown at the Palace— "Csardasfuerstin" 

and "Wenn Adends Die Heide Traeumt," both 

with English subtitles ... A piano marathon 

replaced the regular showing of film at the 

Sahara Theatre Monday (7). "The Pride and 

the Passion" went into its fifth week at the 

Roxy . Garneau Theatre started a 

sneak preview series, to be offered every 

Thursday. 

Six Windsor Theatres Aid 

In Drive Against Flu 

TORONTO—The rare occasion when theatre 

managers publicly request patrons to 

stay away from their shows went into the 

books at Windsor, where a public notice was 

issued that the attendance of children and 

students was not wanted at six theatres—the 

Capitol. Centre, Palace, Park, Tivoli and Vanity. 

The step was taken "in cooperation with 

the Windsor Board of Health in an effort to 

overcome the incidence of influenza." The 

period affected included the Canadian 

Thanksgiving Day. when juveniles generally 

go to the picture show in force. 

The formal announcement was signed by 

the Windsor Theatre Managers Ass'n. The 

ban was expected to be lifted in a short time. 

Shirley McLaine will play the feminine 

starring role in MGM's 'Too Big for Texap." 

BOXOFFICE October 26. 1957 K-b

. . Leslie 

. . Odeon 

. . Vancouver 

VANCOUVER 

. . . Dave Borland, manager of the 

. . Borland's 

. . . 

TXTinnie Smith of ihe International Cinema 

floor staff, who suffered a breakdown 

sometime ago. has returned to work . . . Len 

Johnson, owner of the Lougheed Drive-In 

at Burnaby. was hospitalized for gall bladder 

surgery 

Dominion Theatre, reports his daughter Ann 

gave birth to a baby named David . 

other daughter, married to Bob Benton 

of Dominion Sound Equipment, is the mother 

of three daughters Les Wedman. movie 

editor of the Vancouver Province, became 

the father of a daughter. 

Sandy DeSantis, 48. in the local amusement 

business for 32 years, and the former 

owner of the Palomar Supper Club, died after 

a long illness ... J. J. Fitzgibbons. president 

of Canadian Famous Players, conferred with 

District Manager Maynard Joiner. He hosted 

a luncheon for the Vancouver first-run managers 

United Artists Manager Harry 

. . . 

Woolfe came in second in the recent UA booking 

drive, and the entire local staff received 

a two-w-eeks salary bonus ... A Filmrow 

visitor was Harold Warren, owner of four 

theatres in the Albernie district on Vancouver 

Island. Warren said business was in 

''®k.^ 

} FOR SALE ^ 

VfS.' 

10,000 LATE MODEL 

USED OR RECONDITIONED 

Also n«w British Luxury Chairs ovoilabi* 

THEATRE 

CHAIRS 

Spring edge steel bottom seat cushions ond 

(ully upholstered bocks—spring bock types also. 

Carpeting, ospholt, rubber. Vinyl tiles and 

linoleum. 

WE ARE FACTORY AGENTS- 

Drop US 

AT BARGAIN PRICES 

a line—we will give you photographs 

and full information. 

"LA SALLE" 

RECREATIONS, Ltd. 

Theatre Chairs. Carpel. Linoleum and Tile Division. 

945 GRANVILLE ST., VANCOUVER 

MARINE 5034-5428 

^ 

low gear due to shutdowns of lumber interests. 

settcfine 

Pete Barnes, who runs a circuit of houses 

in Washington state and has three British 

Columbia theatres, was in booking and buying 

The safe at the Paramount Drive-In 

. . . in North Burnaby was blown open over the 

holiday weekend and $1,260 was taken. It's 

the second time this year the ozoner was 

looted . . . Webb & Miller's 500-seat Lu.x Theatre 

at Fort St. John in the Peace River area 

of British Columbia was opened recently. It 

will be competition to the 400-seat Fort Theatre 

James Hoppe opened his new Circle 

. . . Theatre in Alix. Alta.. replacing his old 175- 

seat Alix in the farming village of 450 population. 

The new house is a 300-seater. 

Vivian Gibbons, former Vogue cashier, is 

now with 

JARO office 

Hudson 

. . . 

Larry Katz, 

Bay Co. . . . 

manager, was a flu victim 

Sovereign Films. 16mm section of Empire- 

Universal, has closed its midt-own office and 

service and sales now are being handled on 

Filmrow by E-U. The 16mm situations have 

been declining with the extension of television 

service through stations and community 

antennas. 

Famous Players is getting rid of most of 

its suburban houses here. Three more—the 

Grandview. Regent and Kerrisdale—up for 

sale as real estate . recently closed 

four British Columbia situations because of 

lack of business . Island exhibitors 

are facing real slump as cable TV 

gains more subscribers weekly, the logging 

industry laying off 2.000 men and fishermen 

on strike . Allen, well known here 

as a film exchange and theatre owner, is 

now associated with a Toronto stock exchange 

company. 

16 Stores in 'Days' Co-Op 

OTTAWA— For "Around the World in 80 

Days" at the Somerset. Morris Berlin, owner, 

arranged a page co-op with 16 merchants in 

the Ottawa Citizen in the second week of 

the engagement. 

The IGA grocery chain also cooperated by 

offering two free seats to customers who 

.send in $100 in cash register receipts from 

any of its stores prior to November 16. Berlin 

arranged a drawing at the theatre, the winner 

receiving an all-expense trip to New 

York for two to attend the Mike Todd birthday 

party in Madison Square Garden. 

2 ycors for $5 Q 1 yeor for $3 n 3 years for S7 

n Remittance Enclosed Send Invoice 

THEATRE 

STREET ADDRESS 

TOWN ZONE STATE... 

NAME 

POSITION.. 

BOKOfflCf THE NATIONAL FILM WEEKLY 52 issues a year 

825 Von Brunt Blvd., Kansas City 24, Mo. 

MONTREAL 

T ocal moticn picture theatre operators and 

others connected with the industry declared 

themselves highly interested in the 

campaign launched by the Canadian Motion 

Picture Distributors Ass'n to advise service 

clubs concerning the activity of certain promoters. 

Because of the alarming growth of 

visiting entertainment promoters, a coast-tocoast 

campaign to educate service clubs 

against bad deals that leave the community 

a very small net profit has been launched by 

the association, according to Clare J. Appel, 

Toronto, executive director. The campaign 

will include not only directives to service clubs 

but a publicity campaign through newspapers 

and other publications. The association's 

action was sparked by Russell Simpson, general 

manager of the Ottawa Valley Amusement 

Co.. operator of a theatre circuit. Simpson 

claims that "Canadian towns have been 

plagued by service clubs getting themselves 

into the show business with the mistaken 

idea that club efforts will be productive of 

revenue for charitable purposes." He maintains 

that the charity nets a very small return, 

with a considerable lot of money leaving 

town by sharp promotion and that these 

rackets have become alarming in size and 

detrimental to theatres. 

The Capitol Theatre here will present 

Warner Bros.' "The Helen Morgan Story" 

November 1. The black and wliite Cinema- 

Scope musical drama stars Ann Blyth and 

Paul Newman—another Warner Bros.' film is 

obtaining good receipts at Loew's Theatre, 

Holding for the third week was "The Pajama 

Game." starring Doris Day ... A large number 

of executives and staff members of United 

Amusement Corp.. were badly stricken by influenza 

and several days of work were lost. 

Among those affected by the grippe were Bill 

Lester, vice-president and managing director: 

George Destounis Lester's assistant; Bill Deveault 

and John Parker, accountants; Allen 

Spencer, advertising department; Mrs. Irene 

Meekle. switchboard operator and H. W. 

Mannard. secretary-treasurer. Bob Stein. Fox 

sales representative, also was absent due to 

illness. 

.'\ime Dallaire of the Midway Theatre. St. 

Lawrence Boulevard, lost $1,000 to a bandit 

who robbed him of the theatre's weekend receipts 

in the forenoon of October 15. Dallaire 

told police that he was on his way to make 

a bank deposit when the gunman confronted 

him. The thug forced him to turn over a shoe 

box containing the cash. Dallaire told detectives 

he chased the bandit two blocks but 

finally lost him in the crowd. 

Jock Koher. president of Peerle.ss Films, left 

for Toronto to spend .some time at his office 

Joe Sarich. owner of the Beattie 

there , . . 

Theatre of Duparquet. northern Quebec, has 

closed permanently his theatre situated in 

Exhibitors who 

Quebec's mining district . . . 

visited Filmrow included Mr. and Mrs. M. 

Leduc. Normandie Theatre. Ste. Martine; 

Paul Gendron of the Victoria. Victoriaville. 

and Georges Champagne, manager of a theatre 

circuit. Shawinigan Falls. 

New Plainfielci Manager 

HARTFORD — Community Amusement 

Corp. has named Francis Mineau as manager 

of the Plainfield Theatre, succeeding 

Marjorie Mineau, resigned. 

K-6 BOXOFFICE October 26, 1957

. . "The 

. . The 

. . . W. 

. . The 

OTT AW A 

Uoward Binns, manager of the Elmdale, 

featured a program of British comedies 

during the week of the Queen's visit which 

he called "Fun Fit for a Queen, With Britain's 

Kings of Comedy." Top feature was 

"Up in the World" . staff choir of 

Crawley Films under the direction of William 

McCauley reached a new milestone in 

its three-year history when the voluntary 

group of 40 employes made the first recording 

of choral numbers under a five-year contract 

with Columbia Records. They won at 

festivals in Canada in the last two years. 

. 

Morris Berlin of the Somerset has widened 

the scope of his advertising for "Around the 

World in 80 Days" which opened October 

1, by using out-of-town newspapers as far 

away as Kingston. 120 miles from here 

The Britannia Drive-In, a unit of 

. . 

20th-century 

Theatres, announced it had conducted 

its last Sunday midnight show of the season 

October 14. The Brockville Drive-In has 

also dropped double bills for the balance of 

the season. 

Tiie Famous Players' Capitol, through Manager 

T. R. Tubman, arranged for a one-night 

stage engagement of the Carib-Creole Camival 

Wednesday (23) . . . The Ottawa Film 

Society, of which Betty Zimmerman is president, 

has organized a series of Tuesday night 

shows for members in the theatre of the National 

Museum, starting with "La Grande 

Illusion" November 19. The Sunday series, 

"A Festival of International Hits," will open 

October 27 with "Le Plaisir" at the Elgin 

under an arrangement with Manager Ernie 

Warren. 

AI Baliska, formerly of Pembroke, has gone 

to Toronto to join CHUM, operated by Phil 

Stone, prominent member of the Toronto 

Variety Tent . Secret of Karsh," a 

film on Yousef Karsh, Ottawa photographer, 

has been made by Marcel Gaudart, veteran 

The National Museum 

European producer . . . 

gave a free screening of Robert 

Flaherty's "Man of Aran" . . . C. Harry Bell 

J. 

of Brockville has been elected president of 

the AFM Conference of Eastern Canadian 

Locals. 

TORONTO 

T eonard VV. Brockingrton, president of Odeon 

Theatres and Rank Film Distributors of 

Canada, delivered a tribute from here over 

CBC in honor of Queen Elizabeth during her 

official visit to Ottawa Manager FYed 

Trebilcock of the 

. . . 

Famous Players' Tivoli, 

where "Around the World in 80 Days" has 

completed its 11th week, joined in the widely 

conducted stunt with a drawing at the theatre 

through which a local couple secured 

a free trip to New "Vork for Mike Todd's 

party in Madison Square Garden. 

Earl Hubbard has a special crew busy with 

installation of equipment, along with structural 

alterations, at the University Theatre 

for the opening October 24 of "This Is Cinerama," 

the chief engineer for the extensive 

job being William McAllister of New York. 

Seats have been removed from the front 

and back of the main floor, 11 speakers have 

been put in and a 70x27-foot screen installed. 

Four projectionists are being trained in the 

special technique. 

The Danforth and Humber, two Odeon 

units here, combined for a midnight show 

in which a preview was given of "Sea Wife" 

T. Cruickshank of Wingham, a former 

projectionist, started from scratch in the 

operation of a radio station there and is now 

the owner of television station CKNX-T'V, 

which he financed with the cooperation of 

friends . Cinema at Hamilton got a 

handsome run for four weeks with a revival 

of "Bambi" despite the wave of influenza 

among children. 

. . . Because 

In honor of the Queen's visit to North 

America, Manager Ken Davies of the London 

Odeon played the short, "Queen Elizabeh 

II," in company with "The Pajama Game." 

Jim Dickinson of the Hyland at London 

played "High Tide at Noon," a British feature, 

and "Festival in Edinburgh" 

of the publicity in connection with the introduction 

of Charlie Chaplin's new feature 

across the Atlantic, a revival of "Modern 

Times," made in 1936, has again roused interest 

around Ontario. 

Brantford, Ont.. Theatre 

Reopened by Ben Schachar 

BRANTFORD, ONT.—The College Theatre 

here, closed since March, has been reopened 

by Manager Ben Schachar, showing standard 

pictures from the U. S. and some foreign 

imports. The theatre, which seats 549 

persons, is virtually unchanged since its 

closure. 

"We have not had to change anything," 

said Schachar. "The drapes have been 

cleaned, but all that was needed to prepare 

for reopening was dusting and sweeping." 

The theatre is operating evenings only 

during the week, with continuous shows from 

1 p.m. Saturdays. 

Shawinigan Falls Capitol 

Open Saturday-Tuesday 

SHAWINIGAN FALLS, QUE.—The Capitol 

Theatre in Shawinigan South has been reopened 

after being closed for several months 

due to lack of attendance. English-language 

features are being shown on Saturdays, Sundays, 

Mondays and Tuesdays every week. 

Features are primarily top Hollywood pictures, 

which formerly were offered at the 

Auditorium Theatre. The latter theatre has 

been closed permanently. 

For the other three days of the week, English-language 

pictures are being shown at the 

Cartier Theatre. 

RFDC Times Short Release 

With the Royal Visit 

TORONTO—Following the Royal visit to 

Canada and the United States, Rank Films 

Distributors of Canada has issued a special 

short subject called, "Queen Elizabeth II." 

It was produced by Castleton Knight, who 

made "The Queen Is Crowned" for Her 

Majesty's Coronation. 

Charles R. Mason, director of publicity, 

pointed out that the narrator of the new 

short is a Canadian actor, Robert Beatty of 

Hamilton. 

The passover scene of Warners' "Marjorie 

Morningstar" is being filmed under the technical 

supervision of Rabbi Max Vorspan. 


for 

MODERN THEATRE PLANNERS 






Gentlemen 

10-26-57 


lo receive information regularly, as released, on 

the loUowing subjects for Theatre Planning; 

n Acoustics 

n Lighting Fixtures 

n Air Conditioning Q Plumbing Fixtures 

n Architectural Service 

n "Black" Lighting 

D Building Material 

D Carpets 

n Projectors 

n Projection 

° Seating 

Lamps 

n Coin Machinee ^ Signs and Marquees 

n Complete Remodeling 

D Decorating 

D Sound Equipment 

D Television 

D Drink Dispensers D Theatre Fronts 

D Drive-In Equipment Q Vending Equipment 

n Other Subjects 

Theatre 

Seating 

Capacity. 

Address 

, 

City : 

State 

Signed 

Postage-paid reply cards for your further convenifince 

in obtaining information are provided in The MODERi^ 

THEATRE Section, published with the first issue oi 

each month 

BOXOFFICE :: October 26, 1957 K-7

Sell 

and Sell 

Scores of busy little messages 

go out every week to a tremendous 

audience— and they get a tremendous 

response! 

Every exhibitor is 

busy— buying, 

selling, renting, hiring. All this is 

made easier and more profitable 

vîth the classified ads in Clearing 

House each week. 

READ • USE • PROFIT BY— 

Classified Ads 

in 

BOXOFFICE 

Greatest Coverage in the Field—Most Readers for Your Money 

Four Insertions for Pnce of Three 

K-8 BOXOFFICE :: October 26. 1957

• ALPHABETICAL INDEX 

• ADLINES & EXPLOITIPS 

• BOXOFFICE BAROMETER 

• EXHIBITOR HAS HIS SAV 

• FEATURE RELEASE CHART 

• FEATURE REVIEW DIGEST 

• REVIEWS OF FEATURES 

• SHORTS RELEASE CHART 

• SHORT SUBJECT REVIEWS 

• SHOWMANDISING IDEAS 

THE GUIDE TO i BETTER BOOKING AND B U S I N E S S - B U I L D I N G 

ket 

Black Scorpion' Ads Local Civil Defense Equipment Turns 

Stress Dare Device 

Minneapolis tlieatres seem to be trying 

to outdo one another in promising spine 

chills via newspaper ads and trailers, etc. 

The RKO Orpheum undoubtedly has 

achieved a new high in this respect with 

its "Black Scorpion" ad copy. Ads insist 

the Warner release is the ultimate in scariness 

and will frighten patrons nearly to 

death. 

"Are we too nervy in showing 'The Black 

Scorpion'?" ask the Orpheum ads. 

Then, answering their own query, the 

ads say: "We don't think so. We know from 

experience people strong of heart and steelnerved 

enjoy a good scare when they go 

to a horror picture. So we've pulled out 

all stops."' 

The ads declare "you haven't really seen 

horror on the screen till you see the horror 

of 'The Black Scorpion.' " 

Ads and trailers 

V 

instruct those attending 

the picture shouldn't be ashamed to 

scream because screams "help to relieve 

tension." And further to lend emphasis 

to the bloodcurdling occasion, the public 

is advised that "the management reserves 

the right to put up the lights anytime the 

audience becomes too emotionally disturbed." 

Exhibitors say they've found it pays to 

dare the people to see the horror pictures 

and to make it appear that attendance is 

a test of one's courage. 

Out for Jet Pilot' at Santa Cruz 

^ JET 

PILOT 

^ 

Civil defense rescue truck parked out front of the Theatre Del Mar in Santa Cruz, Colif. 

When Robert Manuel was turned down 

in his effort to line up support by local 

Air FVjrce facilities in behalf of "Jet Pilot." 

the manager of the Theatre Del Mar at 

Santa Cruz, Calif., went to the civil defense 

authorities and got plenty of cooperation. 

Each day through the full-week run of 

the film. Mannel had a different piece of 

civil defense equipment parked in front 

of the theatre. The big rescue truck was 

on exhibit on opening day. At night its big 

floodlights were on, and it looked like there 

was a big premiere at the Del Mar. The 

next day the big hook and ladder fire 

truck was present. 

Mannel obtained window displays in the 

dime and variety stores, and sold a page 

co-op on the holdover to a grocery store, 

headlined "Sky High Values at Down to 

Earth Piices . . . See Jet Pilot Now at the 

Theatre Del Mar." 

He had been saving mock jet plane, first 

used on "Toward the Unknown," for a year 

and a half, and he hung this under the 

soffit in his "Jet Pilot" front. 

Ed Linder Hits Jackpot 

With Three News Breaks 

The Town and Country Theatre in the 

Arlington area of Jacksonville, Fla., hit 

the news-break jackpot in a recent edition 

of the weekly Arlington Post, with news 

items spotted on pages one, three and four 

of the four-page paper. 

Ed Linder, manager of the theatre, said 

the news breaks proved that "a kind word, 

a smile and lots of patience sure pays off 

when it comes to the newspaper folks." 

The page one break described the annual 

Klwanis Club Kids E>ay program at 

the theatre. The item on page three was a 

\ good writeup about John Wayne in "Jet 

'^ Pilot," and the third break was about the 

theatre's new kiddy show policy, offering 

two features and three cartoons every 

Saturday at 10 a.m. in place of a single 

feature and cartoons. 

Nothing seems to be too large to display in a theatre lobby, judging by this mammoth jet-type engine, 

which was shown in the lobby of the Indiono Theatre, Indianapolis, for "Jet Pilot." Manager Maurice J. 

DeSwert worked out the promotion with the local Allison division of General Motors. The Indianapolis 

Times gave the theatre a special break on the display, which also attracted a lot of public attention. 

In the photo, DeSwert is showing one of his ushers. Jack Payne, how to operate the electric 

motor which puts the engine in a slow-motion operation. 

BOXOFTICE Showmandiser : : October 26, 1957 — 255 1

Al Wheeler included an impressive salute to motion picture industry's Golden Jubilee end 

at the same time promoted his latest film in the lobby of the St. Louis Theatre. A neorby 

bakery baked the 150-pound cake, plus many smaller ones, for distribution to patrons on 

opening day. 

The Santa Claus theme appeared early at the DeWitt 

Theatre in Bayonne, N. Y., where alert Manager Nyman 

Kcssler keeps up a lively succession of promotions. 

Here is a coming attroctions board with the new titles 

painted in on his last years Christmas greeting 40x60 

obtained from National Screen. 

The spacious lawn in front of the Community Theatre in Morristown, N. J., featured an 

animal display arranged by Manager Paul Peterson for "Bambi." A Bombi type deer and 

his several friends made a truly interesting exhibit. 

Sam Gillman had a recorder playing back noises 

similar to the satellite Sputnik code from behind 

Robby the Robot in the lobby of Loew's State at Syracuse, 

N. Y. During the run Robby was put in a tencent 

store window. 

"Sea Wife" opened in 

the College at New 

Haven when Richard 

Burton, star in the film, 

was playing across the 

street at the Shubert in 

a play. Manager Sid 

KIcpcr had Burton over 

to the College. 

*. 

Al Dezel, manager of 

the Surf and Coronet 

theatres in Detroit, got 

special displays for "The 

Green Man" in two 

travel agencies. Shown 

above is the one in the 

famed Thomas Cook & 

Co. 

window. 

25G — BOXOFFICE Showmandiser :; OctX)ber 26, 1957

— 

MORE TESTED ATTENDANCE-BUILDING IDEAS 

In the following paragraphs are additional 

attendance-building ideas selected 

from the Success Stories booklet distributed 

to managers of the National Theatres 

circuit theatres by Frank H. Ricketson jr., 

ii.ii*^\ vice-president and general manager. Rick- 

''' 

êtson is organizing a Ricketson Idea Club 

among the managers, membership being 

issued with the submission of a field-tested 

attendance-boosting idea. 

'"*' 

THEATRE RENTALS 

Hugh Siverd, Pima, Kansas City. 

Rental of the Plaza Theatre during nonoperating 

hours to such organizations as 

the Kansas City Musical Club and Smith 

College Club, co-sponsors of the Thursday 

Morning Series. 

Such personalities as Dr. Norman Vincent 

Peale, Rudolph Bing, Bennett Cerf, 

Cornelia Otis Skinner and Dunninger, as 

well as people from our own industry 

Charles Laughton, Constance Bennett, 

Claude Rains, Agnes Moorehead, Hedda 

Hopper and others—have been presented 

for this series during the last two years. 

Also, I have recently completed arrangements 

for the Kansas City Philharmonic to 

play five concerts in the Plaza. The net 

cash revenue from these events is important 

to us in our year's GOI, but of even 

more importance is the prominence and 

prestige. The theatre name is kept before 

^ the people throughout the year, continu- 

) ally establishing it as an important art 

and cultural center. 

SPONSORS SPORTS RALLY 

William Welton, BurfoTd, 

Arkansas City. Kas. 

Junior College Basketball Rally usually 

held at the start of the basketball season, 

with members of the team and the local 

Quarterback Club sponsoring a benefit 

ticket sale. We always try to book a feature 

which has a sports angle, preferably 

basketball if possible. The Junior College 

pep band and pep squad appear on stage 

during the intermission and lead the audience 

in cheers for the new team. The coach 

then introduces the new team giving a little 

background history of each squad member 

to-acquaint the local people with the new 

players. The pep band finishes the rally. 

This idea has either doubled or tripled average 

business. Strictly a one-day booking. 

HOTEL DINNER SHOWS 

E. J. Sullivan, Crest, aiid Max Brodie, 

Senator, Sacramento. 

The Ci'est and Senator theatres have a 

tieup with the Senator Hotel in Sacra- 

\ mento. The hotel management puts on a 

'f^ special theatre dinner which includes a 

free ticket to the theatre and free parking. 

This gives us an additional revenue of from 

$200 to $500 per month, depending on the 

attractions we are showing. 

DEVELOPS COLUMNIST FEATURE 

Oscar Nyberg, Evergreen, Portland, Ore. 

My best attendance 

BE MY GUEST 

Al oay FOX EVERGRECN 

M«atr« In Portland 

TONIGHT 

MRS. PATTERSON, our 

column guest today, reports 

a family feud. 

"Our almost teenager 

has tên the pledge not 

to see Pat Boone because 

he is trying to t.ike Elvis 

Presley's rightful place." 

she UTites. "We want to 

see "Bemardine" and have 

threatened her with a baby 

sitter. We think Boone and 

Presley are different as day 

and night." 

It's all a matter of taste 

Mrs. Patterson also wants to 

know whether Ronnie Burns 

of the Burns and Allen family 

is in the cast. He is. He 

plays a lêy role in the screen 

version of the Mary Chase 

play. 

Two free tickets await Mrs. 

Patterson any Fox-Evergreen 

theatre— Fo.^, Orpheum 

or Hollywood on presentation 

of this column. 

boosting idea brings 

the Evergreen Theatres 

a minimum of 

three inches daily on 

the drama page of 

the Oregon Journal 

Monday through R'iday each week. 

gratis. Very often it 

amounts to five or six 

inches. Some nine 

months ago I contacted 

Arnold Marks, 

drama editor of the 

Oregon Journal, and 

informed him that I 

had a stimulator for 

his drama page, but 

the very nature of it 

forbade telling unless 

he would give me an 

exclusive. The column 

is now a daily feature 

for Evergreen Theatres, 

The idea is this: The lucky patron whom 

Marks mentions each day, Monday through 

F^-iday, has but to tear out the drama sheet 

of the newspaper and present it to the 

doorman for two admissions. 

This feature has brought to the Journal 

drama desk from 12 to 30 letters a day, 

with varied comments on motion pictures. 

We try to extend to each of these guests 

a feeling of warm welcome at the theatre, 

thereby strengthening their desire to retui-n 

soon. In essence, this stunt brings 

new patrons, extra gratis newspaper publicity, 

plus making the drama critic feel 

more kindly toward our organization. 

CAR GIVAWAY DRAWS 

H. W. Burnett, Granada, 

Mount Vernon, III. 

A 1957 convertible Chevrolet giveaway 

where we showed to approximately 5,000 

people for seven days of registrations. We 

had 22 participating merchants who distributed 

750,000 tickets, giving one ticket 

with each 50-cent purchase. This not only 

helps business on the particular week, but 

also for weeks to follow as you get people 

who are not regular showgoers. 

TEENAGERS SHOW 

Robert Apple. California, Berkeley 

A one-shot midnight show for teenagers, 

only. Go out after the teenagers and give 

a show designed especially for them. With 

the knowledge that most teenagers have 

one thing in common (music and records), 

we promoted a local music store for 50 

Presley recordings that we gave away that 

night. We also gave Pi-esley photos to all 

the girls. The program we had for them, 

"Dracula" and "Frankenstein was far from 

" 

good. However. I made an announcement 

to the effect that if they didn't care for 

the pictures they could talk, sing or make 

faces—that it was their show and as long 

BOXOFFICE Showmandiser :: October 26, 1957 — 257 — 

as they had the proper regard for the physical 

wellbeing of my theatre, no adult was 

going to interfere with their having a good 

time. The teenagers were completely satisfied 

and we turned in a terrific gross! 

TALENT SHOW BIG 

DRAW 

Charles Allum, Rialto, Rock Springs, Wyo. 

To offset advent of television in Rock 

Springs, we worked out a talent show with 

the Salt Lake TV station for a series of 

talent shows in Rock Springs for ten weeks. 

The ten weekly winners then appeared on 

the Rialto Theatre stage so that the three 

finalists could be selected. The ten acts 

were all photographed by the TV station 

for a future television broadcast, and the 

three finalists appeared on a live program. 

The top act also was given the right to appear 

on the Lawrence Welk show on TV. 

The idea that they were taking pictures for 

a future TV broadcast packed the house. 

The program was so successful that the 

local merchants are helping sponsor the 

second series by purchasing tickets and 

giving them out to their customers. 

MOST BEAUTIFUL BABY CONTEST 

Charles Barries, Granada, 

Kansas City, Kas. 

Local photographer took pictures of entrants 

(1 to 5 years). Photos displayed in 

theatre foyer, and balloting cut entries to 

five babies, Rnal selection before theatre 

audience by this unique ineans: Each patron 

provided with envelope containing five 

different colored candies (Sweeties). Pictures 

of five finalists were projected on 

screen, each outlined in one of five colors 

corresponding with five colored candies. 

Patrons voted by depositing colored candy 

coinciding with baby of his choice into one 

of five glass jars passed by ushers. When 

jars were assembled, it was readily discernible 

who best baby was. During voting, a 

diaper changing contest was held on stage 

with large dolls as baby substitutes. 

LADIES SHOPPERS MATINEE 

Arthur Paulson, North Park, San Diego. 

My best attendance boosting idea was 

instituting the weekday shoppers matinee. 

Patrons attended the theatre who had not 

come in years. It was primarily started 

for the ladies, and was called "Ladies Shoppers 

Matinee." The merchants participated 

through a flat rental for ten weeks 

and gave out free tickets to all lady shoppers. 

The past couple of years it was 

turned into a children's matinee, and the 

theatre was filled with children and juniors 

and not too many adults. The idea was 

hard to sell at the first, but the second 

year the merchants came to us to ask us 

to do it. We have tried to institute this 

same idea this year but because of the children 

attending, the merchants were not 

too cooperative and suggestions were made 

to skip it this year and start fresh next 

year which we are planning to 

do.

Promotion for 

Sunshine Club Features 

Card Punches and Guest Privileges 

A Sunshine Club promotional kit, containing 

all the material needed to put over 

a campaign to attract the senior citizens, 

is being offered to fellow exhibitors by 

Howard "Jim" Morin. who manages the 

Cooper Theatre in Brazil. Ind.. for the 

Citizens Theatre Co. 

"The people of retirement age constitute 

the largest percentage of our lost audience." 

Morin points out in relating why 

he came to work up the promotion. "I am 

sure you will find out, as we have, that 

few of them are attending your theatre." 

And the fact that the percentage of these 

older citizens is increasing each year struck 

Morin squarely in the face, as it does every 

observer who is in close touch with the 

people of his community, as is a theatre 

operator in the smaller cities and towns. 

Morin's program includes points which 

First Contribution Is 

'Bernardine' Pitch 

Erskin Wimberly. manager of the Center 

Theatre in Hartsville, S. C. making his 

first contribution to Showmandiser, forwarded 

a photo of his theatre front and 

successful campaign on "Bernardine." 

The front display, only part of which is 

seen in the above photo, was the work of 

the entire Center staff, and represents "a 

lot of elbow grease." Tony Stager, the projectionist, 

made the paper "records" strung 

from beneath the marquee. Also going into 

the display were a 24-sheet, six-sheet, two 

three-sheets and a roll of wallpaper. Assistant 

Jerry Garden dii'ected the cooperative 

effort on the front. The material 

was used inside two weeks in advance, then 

moved out front. 

Wimberly and his staff distributed 2.000 

heralds at schools and drive-in eating 

places around tovm and took $25 worth of 

spots on the radio. 

Although the opposition was playing 

"Loving You," Wimberly reports he realized 

a "very nice boxoffice." 

strengthen the weak spots in the Golden 

Age Club idea which have spread over the 

country in the last year or two; it requires 

a certain minimum attendance to protect 

the admission price reduction given to the 

card holders—or club members. 

"The entire plan has but one purpose, 

and that is to bring more people back into 

the theatre." he says. "All the points of 

the campaign have been well studied, and 

if handled with respect and dignity, it can 

well be a theatre's best campaign of the 

year. 

Morin's kit includes instructions, membership 

cards, mats, letters, publicity releases, 

placards and instructions for a 

week's campaign. It can be repeated at 

intervals. Morin is offering the kit under 

the name of Midwest Exploitation Service. 

Box 226. Brazil, Ind. 

What Ad Chiefs Says About Ads 

Quotes from the advertising chiefs of 

three motion picture companies regarding 

their "likes" in theatre ads are reprinted 

from a recent issue of the Martin Tipster, 

publication of the Martin circuit in the 

southeast. 

S. F. SEADLER. Loew's, Inc.: 

/ think that movie advertising ought 

to tell something about the picture. 

This must not lessen the attractiveness 

or the provocative interest of the ads 

which is a foremost requirement. 

GEOFFREY MARTIN, Rank Film Distributors 

of America: 

Advertising should always be honest 

and fair, but that does not preclude 

an attractive wrapping. I think it is 

bad to use art unlike anything in the 

picture. That goes for copy too. 

ERNEST EMERLJNG, Loew's Theatres: 

Any concerted industry business 

building effort must not attempt to con 

the public into sioallowiiig a lot of 

bosh about films. That is why I oppose 

any planned "institutional" campaign 

that speaks in generalities. Any 

sucfi campaign, to succeed in increasing 

our attendance, must be linked to specific 

attractions. Centuries ago Shakespeare 

said, "The play's the thing!" 

It's still true. "Movies are better than 

ever!"— "Get out of the house and see 

a great movie!" and similar slogans 

are meaningless unless backed up with 

films of merit. 

I also feel that the public is no longer 

fooled by our over-ttse of the superlative 

and the extravagant claim. 

Whenever possible our advertising 

should indicate, via copy or illustration, 

what the picture is all about. 

Everglades Family 

In Lobby for 'Sun' 

Curtis Miller, advertising and publicity 

director for Claughton Theatres, arranged 

a unique and eye-popping exploitation 

campaign for "Naked in the Sun." The 

film, depicting the story of Osceola and the 

Seminole war of 1835, played the Trail 

Theatre in Miami, and was filmed in the 

Everglade environs of Miami. 

Miller had as his guests in the lobby of 

the Trail every night, a group of Seminoles 

—four adults, seven children—wearing, of 

course, their intricately and beautifully 

made native costumes. They had brought 

with them a display of articles which are 

sold as souvenirs by the tribe. These included 

handmade tomahawks, dolls, knives, 

etc.. and the colorful group attracted, says 

Miller, "considerable attention." The newspapers 

used pictures. 

Miller had also arranged a large and 

handsome display in the main downtown 

public library, using stills from the picture, 

with palmetto and other forms of Everglade 

flora as background. 

Several thousand bookmarks, mentioning 

the title of the Frank G. Slaughter 

book. "The Warrior," from which the picture 

was made, as well as the film title, 

theatre and playdates, were distributed by 

the main library and all its branches. 

Girls Leave Lip Prints 

On Giant Postal Card 

A giant postal card addressed to EHvis 

I»i-esley and placed in the lobby of the Roxy | 

Theatre. Glendale. Calif., was the main 

feature of promotion staged for "Loving 

You" by Manager Sully Altieri. 

"The idea," said Altieri, "was to Invite 

the girl patrons, of which there were many, 

to send the impression of their lips along 

with their signatures on a giant post card 

addressed to Elvis. The idea caught on so 

well that besides the lips and signatures 

the girls began writing sweet sayings in lipstick 

to their current heart-throb. 

"We ran out of space and the girls began 

writing on the back of this attractive 

display. The card was placed in the lobby 

of the theatre for one week in advance and 

during the two-week i-un of the picture. 

"Although the idea is not new. there was 

a tremendous amount of favorable comment." 

It's 

Sponsored Kid Show 

But Tickets Sold, Too 

Hubert Bourne, manager of the Bucyrus 

(Ohio) Theatre, recently had a back-toschool 

cartoon show which was sponsored 

by eight merchants, all of whom had tickets 

to give out to the kids. However. Bourne 

went one better and had tickets on sale at 

the boxoffice for the kids who were unable 

to get tickets from the merchants. Bourne 

said this brought in additional receipts and 

made the show one of the most successful 

back-to-school affairs yet held at the Bucyrus. 

| 

258 — BOXOFFICE Showmandiser :: October 26, 1957

I 

rtav 

:li 

:ket « 

'Loving You' Marathon 

On Springfield Radio 

C. E. McDonald, manager of the Tower 

Theatre, Springfield, Mo., and his assistant. 

Miss Ethel, pulled some old tricks out of 

the promotion bag for "Loving You" and 

made them pay off at the boxoffice for the 

largest gross the theatre has had in months. 

The picture opened on a Thursday, and 

the following day was FYiday the 13th. To 

"break the jinx" there was an "around the 

clock movie marathon" from 3:30 p.m. to 

3:30 a.m., with a broadcast direct from the 

Tower lobby over radio station KICK'S 

Dusk to Dawn program. 

On the stage, McDonald had an Elvis 

Presley impersonation by five boys who 

have a base, piano, drums and an electric 

guitar. 

The concession stand sold "hot dogs—25 

cents" and "hound dogs, a foot long—35 

cents." This was ballyhooed in the lobby 

and by announcement from the stage. 

McDonald promoted prizes for the best 

Elvis haircut, the best collection of Presley 

records, the largest group attending the 

theatre, the oldest and youngest persons 

and for the gioup coming the greatest distance. 

He tied in with a local photographer to 

take pictures of any child who would 

bring his "hound dog" and pose next to an 

Elvis Presley standee. This standee was 

stolen, so in addition to the assistance from 

the police department, McDonald advertised 

for its return and gained a nice publicity 

story in the daily paper. 

He had juke box tie-ins and extensive 

window displays in record shops on both 

the records and sheet music. His Saturday 

night gross was a good healthy four-figure 

gross and the entire run was exceptionally 

fine. 

New Pressbook Is Out 

On 'Commandments' 

Paramount is distributing to exhibitors 

what it describes as "the most unique, 

elaborate and comprehensive pressbooks in 

the history of the motion picture business." 

The subject is "The Ten Commandments." 

The book embodies the thinking not merely 

of distribution promotion experts, but the 

brainwork principally of the best theatremen 

in the country, according to Jerry 

Pickman, Paramount vice-president in 

charge of advertising-publicity. 

"We have had almost a full year of special 

engagements of 'The Ten Commandments' 

in theatres of virtually every size 

and in every kind of community," Pickman 

said, "and the sum total of experience 

in seUing an unusual motion picture to 

the public is embodied in the thoroughly 

comprehensive pressbook we have turned 

out for the benefit of the showmen who 

will be playing 'The Ten Commandments.' " 

The crimson-covered pressbook measures 

17x22 inches, with 24 pages. 

Pickman called attention to the exceptionally 

wide variety of newspaper ads represented 

in the book. 

Offers 

Nickelodeon 

During 75-Year 

Festivities 

Otdtime nickelodeon-days decorations 

were used on the front 

of the Markay Theatre in Jackson, 

Ohio, for the city's sesquicentennial 

celebration. Manager 

Robert Oda offered oldtime 

silent pictures and admission 

prices of five cents to 

everyone. Each day when the 

street parode was held, Oda 

emptied the theatre, closed It, 

then, when the parade was 

over, let the patrons oil bock 

in. Shown in front of the theatre 

are Oda, the cashier, doorman 

and concession girl. 

Airer Manager Uses BOXOFFICE News 

For Wintertime 

Instead of accepting the fact that Alliance 

Amusement Corp. would close the 

Marionair Drive-In for the winter, along 

with the circuit's other drive-ins, Manager 

Glen Allen looked about for ways and 

means to keep this local airer alive before 

the community throughout the long 

winter months. He solved the problem by 

contacting the Examiner at Marion, Ind., 

for free publicity. The editor suggested 

that Alien submit a weekly column on 

Hollywood. 

Allen's column, Hollywood & Vine, has 

become a popular feature with Examiner 

readers. Each week he goes through BOX- 

OFFICE and selects the most interesting 

and appropriate stories and news about 

Hollywood. His closing line each week is: 

"See you at the movies . . . theatres that 

is!" 

As an example of how a theatreman may 

develop BOXOFFICE news into a local 

a recent Allen column that 

column, here is 

appeared in the Examiner: 

"Ai'rangements have been completed to 

shoot World Series games in New York and 

Milwaukee, and it will be the first 20th- 

Pox test of Cinemascope newsreel . . . 

International Boxing Commission estimates 

only 60 per cent of capacity instead 

of 90 per cent from screenings of Basilio- 

Robinson bout in 174 theatres in 131 U. S. 

and Canadian cities . . . Long Island Drive- 

In may be first to serve liquor. Prudential's 

all-weather project expected to get license 

to operate cocktail lounge in connection 

with its indoor-outdoor theatre; liquor 

board reported giving its approval, although 

license not yet issued. 

"Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer has chartered 

two planes to transport approximately 100 

Hollywood Column 

stars, newspaper, magazine and tradepress 

writers and home office and studio executives 

to Louisville, Ky., for the world premiere 

of 'Raintree County' and the festivities 

connected with it . . . Richard Widmark 

will make a nine-city tour on behalf of 

his Heath Pi-oductions' 'Time Limit,' starting 

in Denver this month . . . MGM will 

stage the world premiere of Elvis Presley's 

Jailhouse Rock' in his hometown of Memphis 

soon. 

"Tab Hunter has been assigned the role 

of the young baseball player in Warner 

Bros. 'Damn Yankees' filmization of the 

Broadway musical . . . Ingrid Bergman has 

been set to star in 'I Thank a Pool,' to be 

filmed in England and Ireland. 

"United Artists has been promised the 

support of disc jockeys on 463 radio stations 

and the cooperation of 13,000 music 

dealers for its 'Salute to Satchmo,' promotion 

for 'Satchmo the Great,' the film dealing 

with Louis Armstrong's international 

jazz tour . . . Casting highlights: Bill Goodwin, 

TV announcer, has been signed for a 

top role in 'The Big Beat' . . . Jim Backus 

was inked by MGM for a leading part In 

'Bay the Moon' . . . Robert Mitchum has 

written the music for the two songs to be 

used in his DRM production, 'Thunder 

Road.' See you at the movies . . . theatres 

that is!" 

Ad Copy for 'Tammy' 

Ernest A. Grecula, State Theatre, Torrington, 

Conn., rebooking "Tammy and the 

Bachelor" on the strength of the title 

tune's popularity, came up with this ballyhoo: 

He offered free admission to girls 

wearing pigtails. "Hey Girls!" he advertised. 

"If you have pigtails like Debbie 

. . . Just show them to the doorman Friday 

and walk in free!" In subsequ°nt advertising, 

he enthused: "The RX Picture! 

Ask your neighbor ... or anyone that's 

seen 'Tammy and the Bachelor' . . . Then 

go see it. You'll agree that it's better for 

you than a doctor's prescription!" 

BOXOFFICE Showmandiser :: October 26, 1957 — 259

P^^^^GT' 

BOXOFFICE BAROMETER 

This chart records the performance of current attractions in the opening week of their first runs in 

the 20 key cities checked. Pictures with fewer than five engogements are not listed. As new runs 

are reported, ratings are added and averages revised. Computation is in terms of percentage in 

IAj

An interpretotive analysis of lay and tradepress reviews. The plus and minus signs Indicate 

degree of merit. Listings cover current reviews, updated regularly. This department serves 

also as an ALPHABETICAL INDEX to feature releases. Symbol O denotes BOXOFFICE 

Blue Ribbon Aword Winner. Photography: © Color; © CinemoScope; ® VistoVision; ® Super- 

Scope; (S) 

Noturomo. For listings by company^ in the order of release/ see Feoture Chort. 

Review digest 

AND ALPHABETICAL INDEX 

H Very Good; + Good; — Fair; - p

REVIEW DIGEST - very Good; - Good; ^ Foir; - Poor; = Very Poor. 

8 

ii\ k 

51 

zo 

+ + ± 

+ + 

± + 

+ 

8+2- 

6+1- 

+ 6+6- 

± {H-3— 

+ 7+2- 

+ 7+ 

1+ 

++ 14+ 

* 7+2- 

± 7+2- 

++

,. . D 

Ac 

Ad. 

Ho 

. 

D 

) 

F««tar« producflont by compony tn ordor of releosa. numoer In square Is natlonol releoit dots. Running 

tbna it in parentheses. ® Is for CinemaScope; (^ VistaVitlon; :§) Superscope; ® Haturama; © RegolScope; 

® Tcchntromo. Symbol ij denotes BOXOFFICE Blue Rlhbon Award; O color photogrophy. Letters and comblnotiofu 

thereof tndicote story type—(Complete key on iMXt poge.) For review dates ond Picture Guide 

page numbers, see Review Digest. 

ÊATURi 

CHART 

ALLIED ARTISTS I li 

AMERICAN 

INT 

COLUMBIA 

M-G-M 

PARAMOUNT f £;: 

BH ©Last ol the Badmen 

(80) © W..570b 

George Montgomery, Kellb liUrsen, 

Douglas Keonedy, Meg UMtidiill 

M Hold That Hypnotist 

(61) C..5706 

Uuntz Hall. Stanley riemenls. 

Jane Mgb, liavld Contlon 

Nightlall (78) D..127 

Aldo Ray. Anne Bancroft 

Wicked as They Come (94) .0. 132 

Arleoe I»ahl, I'hll Carey 

Utah Blaine (75) W..129 

lEory CalbouD. Susan CummlngH 

©The Barretts of Wimpole 

Street (106) © D 718 

Jennifer Jones, Sir John Glelgud. 

Bill Travers 

. . 719 

Hot Summer Night (86) 

Leslie .Nielsen. Colleen MLIer 

g§ ©The Wings of Eagles 

(110) D 720 

Idhn Wayne. Maureen fl'Hara 

©The Rainmaker (120) ®.C..5606 

Hurt Laiifisler. Katharine Hepburn. 

Wemlell Corey. Lloyd BrldgM 

(3j Attack of the Crab 

Monsters (64) Ho. 5703 

Richard Garland. Pamela Imncaii 

a) Not of This Earth (67) Ho. .5704 

Paul Birch. Beveily Garland 

M Footsteps In the Night 

(62) Ac. 5708 

Bill Elliott. Don Haggerly. 

EieiUtore Tallin. Zt'iKi M:ilsllall 

Voodoo Woman (75) Ho.. 

.\l:irla English. I'om Connay 

The Undcad (75) Ho. . 

Fanjela Uuucun, Richard (Jarlaiui 

. . 

Full of Life (91) C 130 

Judy Holllda;, Richard ConU 

The Man Who Turned to Stone 

(71) Ho. 134 

Victor Jory. Ann Dorao 

Zombies of Mora Tau (70) . 135 

Gret;g Palmer, Allison Hayes 

The Shadow on the Window 

(73) D. .133 

Betty (Jarrett. John Barrrmore Jr. 

m ©Invitation to the Dance 

(92) Ballet Film 721 

Gene Kelly, Igor VuuskevUcb 

SI Lizzie (81) D 722 

Eleanor Parker, Richard Boone 

5|1 ©Ten Thousand Bedrooms 

(114) © M 723 

Mean Martin, Eva Rartok. 

Anna Maria Alherghettl 

Fear Strikes Out (100) ®..D .5607 

Aiilhnny Perklnî. Karl - Maiden 

^Dragoon Wells Massacre 

j 

(88) © 0D..5709 

Barry Sullivan. Muria Kreemaii. 

Demila O'Keefe. Katy Jurado 

Rock All Night (62) M. .201 

Dick Miller. .\bby Dalton. Russell 

.lolinson 

Dracstrip Girl (70) Ac. 202 

Fay Spain. Steven Terrell, .liilin 

Ashley 

©The Guns of Fort Petticoat 

(82) W..131 

Audle Murpb;, Katliryn Grant 

The Phantom Stagecoach 

(69) W..137 

William Bishop. Kathleen Croviley 

©Designing Woman (117) ©C .724 

Gregory Peck. Lauren Bacall. 

Dolores Gray 

SSThe Vintage (92) © 0.727 

.kihn Kerr. I'ler Angeli. Me! Fer'er. 

Michele Morgan 

©Funny Face (103) (». MC .5608 

Fled .\stalre. Audrey Hepburn. 

Hay rimiiipsun, Robert Flemynj 

SThe Tall T (78) 0D..136 

Randolpb Scott, Maureen 'Sullivan 

IQ Calypso Joe (76) M..5711 

Herb Jeffries. Angle Dickinson 

E Hot Rod Rumble (79) . .Ac .5717 

Leigh Snowden. lUdiaid Uartunlan 

ED ©The Oktahoman 

(80) © 00. .5712 

Joel MeCrea. Barbara Hale 

H The Badge of Marshal 

Brennan (76) W. .5713 

Jim Davia, Arleen Wtaelan 

Abandon Ship! (97) D..139 

Tyrone Power, Mai Zelterling, 

Lloyd Nolan 

The Strange One (97) D..138 

Ben Gazzara, James Olson, Julie 

Wilson 

Hellcats of the Navy, (82) . 

.141 

Ronald lleagaii. Nancy llavls 

Sierra Stranger (74) W..140 

Howard Duff. Gloria McGhee 

3) ©Tarzan and the Lost Safari 

(80) Ad. 728 

Gordon Scott. Bella St. John 

jTj This Could Be the Night 

(103) C..729 

Jean Simmoits. Paul Douglas 

S©The Little Hut (91). C. 730 

Aâ Gardner, Stewart Granger. 

Iiavld Nlven 

The Buster Keaton Story 

(91) ® CD 5609 

Donald O'Connor. Ann BIytb 

gGuiiliijhl at the O.K. Corral 

(122) (Vj W..5610 

Hurt Lancaster. Kirk Douglas 

g] Spook Chasers (62) . . . C. .5716 

Hunt: Hall. Stanley Clements 

The Persuader (72) . .5714 

51; . 

James Craig. Krlsllne Miller 

U Destination 60,000 

(65) Ac. 5715 

Preston Foster. Coleen Gray 

S ©Let's Be Happy 

(93) © M..57G7 

Tonj Martin. Vera-Ellen 

. 

Q] Love in the Afternoon 

(125) CD. 5719 

Gary 0>oper. Audrey Hepburn 

35 Dino (96) D 5721 

BbI Mlneo. Brian Keith 

n Daufhter of Dr. Jekyll 

(71) Ho .5710 

John Agar. Olorla TaltHitt 

a Cyclops (65) Ho. 5702 

Jamea Craig, Tom Drake 

I Was a Teenage Werewolf 

(76) Ho.. 203 

.Michael Undon, Yvonne Lime 

Invasion of the Saucer Men 

(70) C 204 

Steve Terrell. Gloria Castillo 

©Beyond Mombasa (90) .142 

. 

Cornel WUde. Donna Reed 

The Burglar (90) Cr. .143 

Dan Duryea. Jayne Mansfield 

The Garment Jungle (88).. 0.. 144 

Lee J. Cobb. Gla Scala. V. French 

Calypso Heat Ware (CSS) . .M . .147 

The Night the World 

Exploded (64) SF..145 

Kathryn Grant. William Leslie 

The Giant Claw (76) Ho.. 146 

3Fire Down Below (116) © Ad. 201 

Rita Haywortii, Robert Ultchum 

20 Million Miles to Earth 

(82) SF..202 

Joan Taylor, WUllam Hopper 

The 27th Day (75) SF 203 

Gene Barrj, Valerie French 

m The Seventh Sin (94) ©..D.731 

Eleajior Paiker. George Sanders. 

Jean Pierre Aumont 

g| Something of Value (113). .734 

Hock Hudson, liana Wynler. 

Wendy HlDer. Sidney Poltler 

[5] Man on Fire (95) D..735 

Bmg Crosby. loger Stevens 

j 

©Silk Stockings (117) © M . .737 

Fred Aslalre, Cyd Charlsse 

The Lonely Man (87) ®..W. 5611 

Jack Palaiice. Anllinny Perkins 

©Beau James (105) ®..D .5612 

H.'b Hope. Vera Mllei 

The Delicate Delinquent 

(100) ® CD..5€13 

Jerry Leu is. Darren McOavln. 

Martha Hyer, Robert Ivers 

-< 

H 

Portland Expose (72) . .Ac .5722 

Eduard BInns. Carolyn CYalg 

BD Death in Small Doses 

(79) Ac. 5729 

Peter Graves. Mala Powers 

il From Hell It Came (72) Ho. .5727 

Tod Andrews. Tina Carver 

gl The Disembodied (65). .Ho. .5720 

Paul Burke. .Alll.'ioD Hayes 

[E Gun Battle at Monterey 

(76) W..5726 

Sterling Hayden. Pamela Duncan 

a Teenage Doll (71) D..5736 

.lime Kenney, Fay Spain 

@ Undersea Girl (66) Ac. 5718 

Mara Corday, I'at Conway 

@ ©Naked in the Sun 

(72) Ad. .5730 

James Craig, Uta Milan 

©Naked Africa (71) Ad. .207 

(Narrated by Quentln Reynolds) 

The White Huntress (75). Ac .208 

Susan Stephen. John Bentley 

Reform School Girl (71).. Ac. 205 

Gloria Castillo. Ross Ford 

Rock Around the World (71) M..211 

Tommy Steele, Nancy Whiskey 

The Amazing Colossal Man 

(SO) 

SF..209 

Glenn Ungan, Cathy Downs 

Cat Girl (69) Ho. .210 

Barbara Shelley, Robert Ayers 

Jeanne Eagels (108) D..204 

Kim Notak. Jeff Chandler 

The 'I'oung Don't Cry (89) Ac. 205 

Sal Mlneo. James \Thltmore 

No Time to Be Young (82) Ac .206 

Hubert Vaughn. Merry Anders 

Town on Trial (73) My.. 207 

John Mills. Charles Oobum 

Pickup Alley (92) ©....Ad. 208 

Victor Mature. Anita Etberg 

3:10 to Yuma (92) W. .210 

Glenn Ford. Van Hetlln 

The Parson and the Outlaw 

(71) W..212 

Buddy Rogers. Anthony Dester 

©Woman of the River (98) . 

. 

. 

213 

Sophia Loren, Gerard Oury 

The Brothers Rico (81) Cr..211 

Richard Conte, Dlanne Foster 

g! Tip on a Dead Jockey 

(109) Ad.. 738 

Robert Taylor. Dorothy Malone 

J] 

Decision Against Time 

(87) D..739 

Jack Hnwklns. Elizabeth Sellars 

15 ©Gun Glory (89) © W..740 

stiMsrt Granger. Rhonda Fleming 

M Action of the Tiger 

(94) © Ad. .801 

V.in Johnson. Martlne Carol 

J] House of Numbers 

(92) © Cr..802 

Jack Palance, Barbara Lang 

S The Hired Gun (63) ©. .W. .803 

Rory Calhoun. Anne Francis 

©Omar Khayyam (101) ® Ad.. 5615 

Cornel Wilde. Debra Paget 

©Loving You 

(101) ® C/Songs. .5616 

Elvis Presley. Llzabeth Scott 

Wendell Cx>nf 

Stowaway Girl (87) A"" ?^ 

Trevor Howard. Elsa Martlnelll 

Short Cut to Hell (87) ® Cr. 5702 

Robert Ivers. Georgann Johnson 

Mr. Rock and Roll (86) ® M..5703 

Alan Freed. Rocky Grnzlano, Lionel 

Hampton and his b:uid 

d] 

Looking for Danger 

(61) C-D. .5728 

Hunti Hall. Stanley Clements 

D. .5723 

51 Affair In Havana (80) . . 

Jotui Cassavetes, Raymond Burr 

S ©The Tall Stranger 

(SI) © W..5724 

Joel Me(;rea, Virginia Mayo 

The Story of Esther Costello 

(103) D .a4 

Joan CrawTord, Kossano Brazzl. 

Heather Sears, Lee Patterson 

Domino Kid (74) W. .215 

Korj Calhoim. Krlstlno Miller 

The Tijuana Story (721/2) . Ac. .220 

Rodolfo Acosta, Jamet Darren 

3 Until They Sail (95) © D..S04 

Jean Simmons, Paul Newman, 

Joan Fontaine, Piper Laurie 

p The Invisible Boy ( . . 

© SF..S05 

RiclLud Eyer. Harold J. Stone 

©The Devil's Hairpin 

(82) ® Ac. 5704 

Cornel Wlldc, Jean Wallace, Mary 

Astor, Arthur Frana 

The Joker Is Wild (123) ® D . 5705 

. 

Frank Sinatra. Mltal Gaynor, 

Jeanne Crain, Eddie Albert 

Hear Me Good (80) ® C. .5706 

Hal March, Joe E. Ross. Joey 

Faye. Merry Anderi 

00 

m 

70 

O 

O 

DO 

[J ©Hunchback of Notre 

Dame (110) © D..5725 

Glna Lollobriglda, Anthony Qubrn 

@ Honkong Incident (81) D..5731 

Jack Kelly, LIU Hwa 

S ©Sahu and the Magic 

Rino (65) Ad .5732 

Saljii, William Marshall 

Operation Mad Ball (105) C..217 

Jack Lcmmon. Mickey Ronney, 

F.rnle Kov.ics. Kathryn Grant 

©Decision at Sundown (..) W. .221 

R.indolph Scott. Valeric French 

Escape From San Quentin 

(..) Ac. .222 

Johnnv Desmond, Merry .Vnders 

Torero (75) Doc. 209 

Luis Procuna In his own story 

a Jailhouse Rock (97) © D/M . 

,806 

Elvis Presley. Judy Tyler. .Mickey 

Shaughnessy 

53©Les Girls (114) ©..MC..S07 

(fcne Kelly. .Mitzl Gaynor. Kay 

Kendall, Talna Elg 

Zero Hour (SO) D..5707 

Dana Andrews. Linda Darnell. 

Sterling Hayden 

The Tin Star (93) ®.. .W..5703 

Henry Fonda. Anthony Perkins. 

Betsy Palmer 

O < 

BOXOFFICE BookinGuide ;; October 26, 1957

FEATURE 

CHART 

RANK

The key fo letters and combinations thereof Indicating story type: (Ad) Adventure Drama; (Ac) Action 

Drama; (An) Animated-Action; (C) Comedy; (CD) Comedy-Drama; (Cr) Crime Drama; (DM) Droma 

with Music; (Doc) Documentary; (D) Drama; (F) Fantasy; (FC) Force-Comedy; (Ho) Horror Drama; (HI) 

Historrcal Drama; (M) Musical; (My) Mystery; (OD) Outdoor Drama; (SF) Science-Fiction; (W) Western. 

FEATURE 

CHART 

WARNER BROS. 

>- 

< 

oi

. Nov 

. 

. Feb 

. ) . Feb 

. 

. 

' 

^HORTS CHART 

Short sublecti, Ibted by company. In order of reloose. Running Mme follows tlflo. FInt Is notional rtiooM 

month, second the dote of review In BOXOFFtCE. Symbol between dotes Is rating from BOXOFFICE 

review. « Very Good, -t Good. — Fair. — Poor. = Very Poor. Photography: Color ond process os specified. 

Q.Z CO o: 

BUENA 

VISTA 

FEATURtllES 

LIVE-ACTION 

(In Color) 

0068Welbacli Hound (20)..JunS7H 5-2S 

0069 The Story of Anyburg, 

U.S.A. (10) 

0049 Samoa (31) (4-rMl) 

WALT DISNEY CLASSICS 

(Tecliricolor Reiuuts) 

74104 Purloined Pup (7) Oct 56 . 

74105 Billiiosten (8) Qtl 56 

74106 Piulo's Playmate (8) Ho* 56 

74107 Donald s Snow FioM 

(7) Dk 56 

74108 Society Dog Show 

(8) Dec 56 

7410.' Donald's Gold Mine 

(7) Jin 57 

74110 T-Bone lor Two (7). .Ffk57 

74111 Dumbell of Ibi Yukon 

(7) Mar 57 

74112 Bone Trouble (9). Mar 57 

74U3 Window Cleaners W/2) 

COLUMBIA 

ASSORTED FAVORITES 

1425 A Mits in a Mets 

(ISi/j) Feb 57 

1426 Hot Heir a&A) Asr 57 

(1957-58) 

2421 A Pinch in Time 

(16) Sep 57 

2422 Niirsie Behave (161 '2) Nov 57 

CANDID MICROPHONE 

(One-Reel Reissues) 

1554 Subject 6. Series 3 

(10) Mar 57 

1555 Sublect 1. Series 4 

(10) May 57 

1556 Subject 2. Series 4 

(11) Jul 57 


2551 Subject 3, Series 4 

(10) Sep 57 

CAVALCADE OF 

BROADWAY 

(Reissues) 

1955 Tlie Versailles (U). Feb 57 

1956 The China Doll (11) Apr 57 


2951 Havana Madrid (10).. Sep 57 

2952 New York Alter 

Midniaht (11) ..Nov 57 

CINEMASCOPE FEATURETTES 

(Technicolor) 

1441 Wonders of New Orleans 

(19) Jan 57 

1442 Wonders of Washington. 

D. C. (18) Apr 57 H 5-2S 

1443 Arrlvederci Roma (19) Jun 57 


2441 Land of Launhtet (15) Oct 57 '• 10-12 

COLOR FAVORITES 

(Technicolor Reissues) 

1609 Cat-Tastronhy (6). .Apr 57 

1610 Punchy De Leon (6V2) Apr 57 

1611 Wacky Quacky (6) ... May 57 

1612 Grape Nutty (6) Jun 57 

1613 Swing. Monkey, Swing 

(8) Jun 57 

1614 Two Lay Crows (7) Jul 57 

1615 Indian Serenade (8) . .Jul 57 


2601 Miner's Daughter 

(6',/j) Sep 57 

2602 Bio House Blues (7) Oct 57 

2603 Gidrty.ip . 

{&/z) 57 

2604 Snovvlime (7) Nov 57 .... 

COMEDY FAVORITES 

1435 Stage Frights (19) ..Mar 57 

1436 Mr. Wright Goes Wrong 

(19) Jun 57 


2431 He's in Again (le'/j) Oct 57 

2432 Sappy Pappy (16; . Nov 57 .... 

COMEDY SPECIALS 

2411 Tricky Chicks (IS'-j) Oct 57 -j 10-12 

MR. MAGOO 

1754 Magoo Goes Overboard 

(6) Feb 57 3- 9 

1755 Matador agoo (6) . May 57 + 5-11 

1756 Magoe Bruks Par 

(6) Jun 57 -f 7-27 

1757 Magoo's Glorious 

Fourth (6) Jul 57 + 8-10 

1758 Magoo's Masquerade 

(6) Aug 57 -f 8-10 


2751 Magoo Saves the Bank 

(6) ic> Sep 57 f; 10-12 

2752 Rockhound Magoo ( ) Oct 57 .... 

2753 Magoo's Moose 

Hunt (..) Nov 57 

SCREEN SNAPSHOTS 

1852 Hollywood Star NlgKt 

(10) Feb 57 + 3-23 

1853 Waif International Ball 

(9) Mar 57+ 5-U 

1854 The Walter WInchell 

Party (9) Apr 57 ± 5-U 

1855 Meat th« Photoplay 

Winners (10) May 57 + 7-27 

1R56 Moeambo Party (10) Jun 57 * 7-27 


2851 Hollywood Glamour 

on Ice (..) Oct 57 

SERIALS (15 Chapters) 

1120 Hop Hartigan Not 56 

1140 Congo Bill Mar 57 

1160 The Green Archer .... Jun 57 

2120 The Vigilante Sep 57 

STOOGE COMEDIES 

1406 A Merry Mix-up (16). Mar 57 1407 Space Ship Sappy (16) Apr 57 1408 Guns Apoppin' (lei/j) Jun 57 + 


2401 Horsing Around 

(151/2) Sep 57 + 

2402 Rusty Romeos (15).. Oct 57 + 

WORLD OF SPORTS 

1803 Tee Tounotchers (10) Dec 56 + 

1804 Sbarpshootin' Sportsmen 

(9) Jan 57 + 

. 

. 

1805 Flying Horses (9). 57 -f 

1806 Winged Fury (lOI/a) . 

1807 Panama Playland (9) 

Apr 57 +f 

May 57 + 

. .Jun 57 

Around (9) ISOSAnglin' 

1809 Wrestling Knights 

(6) Jul 57 + 


2S01 Champion Stunt 

Drivers (..) Oct 57 

METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER 

CINEMASCOPE CARTOOliS 

C-931 Mucho Mouse (7).. Sep 57 

C-932 Blackboard Jumble 

(7) Oct 57 

C-933 Tom's Photo 

Finish (7) Nov 57 

C-934 One Droopy 

Knight (7) Dec 57 

C-935 Happy Go Ducky (7) Jan 58 

C-936 Sheep Wrecked (7) Feb 58 

C-937 Royal Cat Nap (7) Mar 58 

C-938 Mutts About Racing 

(7) Apr 58 

C-939 Vanishing Duck (7).. May 58 

C.94O Robin Hoodwinked (7) Jun 58 

C-941 Droopy Leprechaun 

(7) Jul 58 

C-942 Tot Watchers (7) Aug 58 

GOLD MEDAL REPRINTS 

W-961 Out-Foxed (8) Sep 57 

W.962 Jerry and the 

Lion (7) Sep 57 

W-963 Goldilocks and the 

Three Bears (11) -Oct 57 

W-964 Texas Tom (7) Nov 57 

W-965Thc Fishing Bear (8) Nov 57 

W-966 Tom & Jerry in the Hollywood 

Bowl (7) ... .Dec 57 

W-967 The Milky Way (8) Jan 58 

W-968The Midnight Snack 

(9) Jan 58 

W-969 Cock-a-Doodle 

Dog (7) Feb 58 

W-970 Casanova Cat (7) Mar 58 

W-971 Daredevil Droopy (6) Mar 58 

W-972 Jerry and the 

Goldfish (7) Apr 58 

W-973 Droopy's Good 

Deed (7) May 58 

W-974 Jerry's Cousin (7) May 58 

W-975 Symphony In 

Slang (7) Jun 58 

W-976 Sleepy-Time Tom (7) Jul 58 

W-977 His Mouse Triday(7) Jul 58 

W-978 Puss 'N' Toots (7) Aug 58 

PARAMOUNT 

CARTOON CHAMPIONS 


S17-1 Deep Boo Sea (7) Sep 57 

517 -2 Spunky Skunky (7) Sep 57 

5173Cat-Choo (7) Sep 57 

S17 -4 Audrey the Rainmaker 

(8) Sep 57 

S17-1-5 Cat Tamale (7) Sep 57 

S17-I -6 By Leaps & 

Hounds (8) Sep 57 

517-: 7 Scout Fellow (8) Sep 57 

S17-1S Cat Carson Rides 

Again (7) Sep 57 

sn-i9 Tlle Awful Tooth (7) Sep 57 

S17-: -10 Law & Audrey (7).. Sep 57 

S17-: 11 City Kitty (7) Sep 57 

S17-: -12 Clown on the Farm 

(7) Sep 57 

CASPER CARTOONS 

(Technicolor) 

B16-3 Hooky Spooky (6).. Mar 57 

B16-4 Peekaboo (6) May 57 


B17-1 Boo Bop (7) Nov 57 

B16-5 Ghost of Honor (6) Jul 57 

B16-6 Ice Scream (6) ...Aug 57 

HERMAN & KATNIP 

(Technicolor Cartoons) 

H16-2Cat in the Act (6).. Feb 57 

H16-3Sky Scrappers (6).. Jun 57 

H16-4 From Mad to Worse 

(6) Aug 57 


H17-10ne Funny Knight 

(6) Nov 57 

NOVELTOONS 

(Technicolor) 

P16-4 Fishing Tickler (6). Mar 57 :£ 

3-23 

5-25 

8-10 

10-12 

10-12 

3- 9 

3- 9 

3-23 

5-25 

8-10 

8-10 

6- 8 

6-29 

-1- 6-29 

6- 8 

P16-5 Mr. Money Gags (7) . .Jun 57 ++ 

P16-6 L'Amour the Merrier 

(7) Jul 57 


P17-1 Possum Pearl (6). Sep 57 

P17-2 Jumping With Toy (6) Oct 57 

P17-3 Jolly the Clown (6) Oct 57 

P17-4 Cock-a- Doodle Dino 

(6) Dec 57 

POPEYE CARTOONS 

(Technicolor) 

E:16-4 Nearlyweds (7) Feb 57 -f 

L16-5 Tlie Crystal Brawl (6) Apr 57 -f 

E16-6 Patriotic Popeye (8) May 57 + 

Lunch 

POPEYE 

(6) . Jun 57 

CHAMPIONS 

E16-7 Spree 

E17-1 Tops in the Big Too 

(6) Sep 57 

E17-2 Wotta Knight (7).. Sep 57 

E17-3 Tar With a Star (7) Sep 57 

E17-4 How Green Was My 

Spinach (7) Sep 57 

a7-5 Fistic Mystic (7) ..Sep 57 

E17-6 Safari So Good (7) Sep 57 

E17-7 Barking Dogs Don't 

File (7) Sep 57 

E17-8 Baby Wants Spinach 

(7) Sep 57 

20th CENTURY-FOX 

MOVIETONE 

CINEMASCOPES 

(Color as Indicated) 

7701-6 ©Port of Sports (9).J»n 57 H 

7702-4 ©Divided by the 

Sea (7) Feb57 •+- 

7703-2 Future Baseball 

Champs (7) Mar 57 + 

7704-0 ©Bluefin Fury (8). Apr 57 

7705-7 ©Orient Express to 

Hong Kong (9) May 57 

7706-5 ©Guardians of the 

North (8) Jun 57 

7707-3 ©Tempo of Tomorrow 

(9) Jul 57 

7708-1 ©Swamp Boat Sports 

. ( ) Aug 57 

6-29 

6- 8 

6-29 

6-29 

5-U 

6- S 

7-27 

. 

. 

. 

. . Nov 56 

7709-9 ©Midway Medley 

( . ) Sep 57 

7710-7 ©Journey Thru Ceylon 

. ( ) Oct 57 

7711-5 ©Trotters and Pacers 

(. .) Nov 57 

7712-3 ©Legend of the Orient 

( ) Dec 57 

. 

TERRYTOONS 

(Technicolor) 

5733-1 Phoney Baloney in African 

Jungle Hunt (7). .Mar 57 + 7-27 

5734-9 Dimwit in Daddy's 

Little Darlinj (7). Agr 57 

5735-6 Love Is Blind (7). May 57 

5736-4 Mighty Mouse in Beauty 

on the Beach (7). Jun 57 

5737-2 Dingbat In All This and 

Rabbit Stew (7)... Jul 57 

5738-0 Beaver Trouble (7). Aug 57 

5739-8 Mighty Mouse in Goons From 

the Moon (7) ... .Sep 57 

5740-6 Nutsy in Squirrel 

Crazy (7) Oct 57 

5741-4 Helpful Geni (7) Nov 57 

5742-2 Mighty Mouse In Injun 

Trouble (7) Dec 57 

TERRYTOON-CINEMASCOPES 

(Technicolor) 

5701-8 John Doormat in Topsy 

TV (7) 

Jan 57 H 5-U 

5702-6 Spooly In Gag Buster 

(7) Feb 57 -t- 

6-29 

5703-4 Beefy in a Bum Steff 

(7) Mar 57 

5704-2 sniffer in the Bone 

Ranger (7) Apr 57 

5705-9 Gaston Is Here (7) . M«y 57 

5706-7 John Doormat In Shove 

Thy Neighbor (7) . .Jun 57 

5707-5 Clint Clobber's C»t 

(7) Jul 57 

5708-3 Flebus (7) Aug 57 

TERHYTOON TOPPERS 


5609-3 Kitten Sitter (7)... Sep 56 

5610 1 Flying Cups & Saucers 

(7) Oct 56 

5611-9 One Note Tony (7) 

5612-7 Mystery in the Moonlight 

(7) Dec 56 

UNIVERSAL-INTERNATIONAL 

COLOR PARADE 

Feb 57 + 1-19 

3673 Frozen Frontier (9) . . 

3S74 Junior Jamboree (9) .. Mir 57 -(- 4-13 

3675 Crossroads of the 

Ages (9) May 57 + 4-13 

3677 Hurray All Boats (9) Sep 57 -|- 7-27 

3678 A Brief Case (9) Oct 57 + 8-10 

MUSICAL FEATURETTES 

3651 Riddles in Rhythm (15) + 1-19 

3652 Skylarkin' Time (15) -)- 1-19 

3653 Rhythms With Regis 

(15) Fei57 -H 4-13 

Feb 57 + 4-13 

3654 Golden Udder (15) . . 

3655 Swingin' and 

Singin' (IS) Mar 57 

3656 Riot in Rhythm (16) Apr 57 + S-10 

3657 Dance Demons (14).. Hay 57+ 8-10 

3658 The Coolers (16) . . . .Jun 57 8-10 

3659 The Elgart Touch (15) Jul 57 + 7-27 

SPECIAL (Two Reel) 

3601 ©Song of the Grape 

(20) Mar 57 H 4-13 

SPECIAL FEATURETTE 

2640 A Time Out of \Mv 

(22) Aug 56+ 5-25 

VARIETY VIEWS 

3691 Milk Run (9) Feb 57 + 4-13 

3692 Monkeys Are the 

Craziest (9) Mar 57 4-13 

3693 Bears Go Rural (9) . Apr 57 + 5-U 

3694 Brooklyn Visits Detroit 

(9) May 57 + 4-13 

3695 Washington Zoo (9).. Jun 57+ 7-27 

WALTER LANTZ CARTUNES 

(Technicolor) 

3612 Fowled Up Party (7).. Jin 57 

3613 Red Riding Hoodlum 

(7) Feb 57 

3614 Plumber of Seville (6) Mir 57 1-19 

3615 Box Car Bandit (6) Apr 57 + 1-19 

3616 Operation Cold Feet 

(6) May 57 + 1-19 

3617 The Unbearable Salesman 

(7) Jun 57 + 5-11 

3618 International Woodpecker 

(6) Jul 57 + 4-13 

3619 To Catch a Woodpecker 

(6) Jul 57 4-13 

3620 Goofy Gardener (16) Aug 57 + 8-10 

3621 Round Trip to Mars 

(6) Sep 57 + 8-10 

WALTER LANTZ REISSUES 

3632 Sleep Happy (7) Nov 56 

3633 Wicket Wacky (7) Dee 56 

3634 Sling Shot 6 7/8 (7). Jan 57 

3635 Redwood Sap (7) Feb 57 

3636 Woody Woodpecker 

Polka (7) Feb 57 

WARNER BROS. 

BLUE RIBBON HIT PARADE 


4305 Swallow the Leader (7) Jan 57 

4308 For Scent-imentil 

Reasons (7) Feb 57 

4307 Mouse Wreckers (7).. Mir 57 

4308 Dough for the Do-Do 

(7) Apr 57 

4309 Fast and Furry-Oui 

(7) A»r57 

4310 Bear Feat (7) May 57 

BUGS BUNNY SPECIALS 

4725 To Hare Is Human .... Dec 56 

4726 All Baba Bunny (7). Feb 57 

4727 Bedevilled Rabbit (7). Apr 57 

4728 Piker's Peak (7) .. May 57 

WARNERCOLOR SPECIALS 

(Two Reel Pictures) 

4001 East Is East (18) Sep 56 

4003 Howdy Partner (18)..Dk5< 

4003 Pearls of the Pacific 

(..) Mar 57 

(One Reel Pictures) 

4401 Playtime Pals (9) Oct 56 

4402 I'll Be Doggoned ( . 57 ... 

MERRIE MELODIES—LOONEY TUNES 

(Technicolor) 

4705 Two Crows From Tacos 

(7) «o»56 

4706 The Honej Mousers 

(7) Dec 56 

4707 The Three Little Bopf 

(7) Jm 57 

4708 Tweet Zoo (7) J»itS7 

4709 Scrambled AeKei (7).JinS7 

4710 Go Fly a Kit (7) Feb 57 

47U Tweety and the BeamtiH 

(7) «»r57 

4712 Boyhood Daie (7) Apr 57 

4713 Cheese It, the Cat 

(7) May 57 

4714 Fox Terror (7) May 57 

WARNERCOLOR SCOPE GEMS 

(Two Reel Pictures) 

4101 South of the Himalayas 

(18) Oct 56 

4102 The Legend of El Dorado 

(18) Dec 56 

(One Reel Pictures) 

4501 Crossroads of the 

World (9) Sep 56 

4502 Magic in the Sun (8) Nov 56 

4503 Under Carib Sklei (9) . Feb 57 

INDEPENDENT 

Ballet Girl (23) Brandon tt 111-13 

OA Short Vision 

(7) Geo. K. Arthur + 3-9 

©The Red Balloon (34) (Featurette) 

Lopert Films ++ 3-23 

©Bloodstock (15) Br. Inf. Services + 3-23 

raimprcssion of London (14) BIS.. ++ 3-23 

©Majesty in the Air (21) BIS. + 5-2J 

. 

Challenge in the Air (14) BIS.. ± 5-25 

©Trooping the Colour (10) BIS.. + 5-25 

The Chicken (16) DCA + 7-27 

(ConitKl.v n1tli Inirrid Borgman) 

Queen Elizabeth II (U) RFDA 

' 

) 

12 BOXOFFICE BookinGuide 

: 

: October 26, 1957

' 

' 

— 

— 

— 

liaH^ 

ALLIED ARTISTS 

Hot Shots (AA)~Huntz Hall, 

Stanley Clements, Phillip Phillips. 

Even when Gorcey was 

around, the boys were on the 

.;ii \i) downgrade, and for us it looks as 

if it is going to go lower with 

Leo gone. Sure would like to see 

what the boys could do with a 

good comedy story. Played Wed.- 

Sat. Weather: Warm. — Harold 

Bell, Opera House, Coaticook, 

Que. Pop. 6,341. 

Shotgun (AM —Sterling Hayden, 

Yvonne DeCarlo, Zachary 

Scott. Old—but mighty good for 

a small town. Played Sun., Mon. 

Weather: Rain both nights.—I. 

Roche, Vernon Theatre, Vernon. 

Fla. Pop. 610. 

BUENA VISTA 

Disneyland, U. S. A. (BV) — 

Featnrette. I doubt that a trip 

to Disneyland could be any more 

entertaining than this wonderful 

short. Makes everyone want to 

go there, and one of our customers 

saw it and left the next 

day with his family. He said actually 

the kids got nearly as 

much good out of the movie as 

they did in 50 bucks worth of 

tickets. Played Fri., Sat.—Bob 

Walker, Uintah Theatre, Fruita, 

Colo. Pop. 1,463. 

Samoa (BV) — Travelog short 

subject. A 30-minute Cinema- 

Scope and color short. It was 

just gorgeous. I watched it ten 

times and loved it. Intend to 

— play it again. Played Wed. -Sat. 

Weather: Warm.—Jim Fraser, 

•n -' Auditorium Theatre. Red Wing, 

Minn. Pop. 10,645. 

O 

COLUMBIA 

Masterson of Kansas (Col) — 

Reissue. George Montgomery, 

Nancy Gates, James Griffith. 

Short western in Technicolor. 

This would be all right on either 

end of a double bUl, but it is not 

strong enough to stand alone. In 

my opinion, it has too much blood 

and thunder. I'll admit it takes a 

certain amount of this kind of 

action to make a western, but 

this has too much of it. People 

didn't like it and they told me 

about it. Now, in my turn, I'd like 

to take the opportunity to tell 

the producers. We did all right 

on the two-day run because my 

patrons turn out for any western. 

Played Mon., Tues. Weather: 

Fair.—F. L. Murray, Strand Theatre, 

Spiritwood, Sask. Pop. 355. 

Nightfall (Con— Aldo Ray, 

Anne Bancroft, Brian Keith. A 

real dang good little feature in 

1930 color. It had everyone hating 

the bad guys and pulling for 

the good guys, just like their 

moms and dad were doing in 

front of the set at home. Well, at 

least for a few hours a week, 

we're keeping the kids from being 

juvenile delinquents. Wish they'd 

decide to sustain theatres with 

tax money like they do the ones 

in the school house. Played Fri,, 

Sat. Weather: Lovely.—Bob Walker, 

Uintah Theatre, Fruita, Colo. 

Pop. 1,463. 

7th Cavalrj- (CoD—Randolph 

Scott. Barbara Hale, Jay C. Flippen. 

I know the reports on this 

are not too good, but it did okay 

for me and I've seen worse westerns. 

I had a Three Stooges comedy 

with it. so it might have been 

they came to see the Stooges. 

Anyway, I think Scott had something 

to do with the better than 

average business, and the color 

is good. Played Fri., Sat. Weather: 

Cloudy and cool.—Victor R. 

Weber, Center Theatre, Kensett, 

Ark. Pop. l.OOO. 

A Real Comedy 

Real down-to-earth comedy 

in "Toy Tiger," and, take it 

from me, that boy Hovey did 

malce them laugh! I received a 

lot of good comments on the 

picture and had a few return 

for the second night. It is a 

picture that you could well see 

the second time. Anyway, quite 

a number of patrons saw it and 

I made some money. Give us 

more like this one. 

F. L. MURRAY 

Strand Theatre 

Spiritwood, Sask. 

Ten Tall Men (CoD—Reissue. 

Burt Lancaster, Jody Lawrance. 

Gilbert Roland. This reprint did 

okay for me and It is still a 

better picture than a lot of the 

stuff we are getting now. Played 

Tues.. Wed. Weather: Good.—W. 

L. Stratton, Lyric Theatre, Chains, 

Ida. Pop. 728. 

To the Ends of the Earth (CoD 

—Reissue. Dick Powell, Signe 

Hasso, Ludwig Donath. This was 

a very good reissue. Perfect print, 

clear and bright. It simply didn't 

look like a reissue. This one is 

good enough for any day of the 

week. We would like to see Dick 

Powell more often. Played Sun. 

S. T. Jackson, Jackson Theatre. 

Flomaton, Ala. Pop. 1,036. 

20 Million Miles to Earth (Col) 

—William Hopper, Joan Taylor, 

Frank Puglia. This picture may 

not boast of top names or the 

most romantic scenery or color 

or scope but it is one of the very 

few science-fiction pictures that 

makes any degree of sense, meaning, 

acting and good animation. 

It is billed as being bigger than 

"King Kong" and it most certainly 

is. This is an exception to 

the general run of such films, 

when I feel like hiding as the 

patrons go out. William Hopper 

turned in a fine job of acting 

and I hope we can look forward 

to more of his roles. Played Wed- 

Sat. Weather: Good. — Frank 

Phillips. Nortown Theatre, Flint, 

Mich. Pop. 200.000 plus. 

Utah Blaine (CoD—Rory Calhoun, 

Susan Cummings, Max 

Baer. Rory and Susie brought us 

an interesting, satisfying western. 

Okay at the boxoffice. 

Frank E. Sabin, Majestic Theatre, 

Eureka, Mont. Pop. 929. 

METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER 

Edge of the City (MGM)—John 

Cassavetes, Sidney Poitier, Kathleen 

Maguire. A nice little feature 

that, with a little rock and roll, 

mighta been a biggy. But without 

any jive, it's just a time-killer to 

put up on the bottom of the 

marquee. I enjoyed It, but my 

XHIBITOR HAS HIS SAY 

lABOUT PICTURES 

ticket cost too damn much. 

Weather: Chilly, but lovely. 

Bob Walker, Uintah Theatre, 

Fruita. Colo. Pop. 1,463. 

Julie (MGM) —Doris Day. Louis 

Jourdan, Barry Sullivan. Doris 

Day in a dramatic role and 

everything came off fine. Real 

fine job by a fine lady. Business 

was okay, and the picture had 

plenty of suspense. It starts off 

that way and ends up the same. 

Played Fri.. Sat. Weather: Cloudy 

and cool.-^Victor R. Weber. Center 

Theatre. Kensett, Ark. 

Julie (MGM)—Doris Day. Louis 

Jourdan, Barry Sullivan. Maybe 

we had read and heard too much 

about this one before playing, 

and were expecting a little more 

than we got. The last 15 minutes 

is the whole show. Played Wed.- 

Sat. Weather: Still raining.- 

Harold Bell, Opera House, Coaticook, 

Que. Pop. 6,341. 

Trial, The (MGM i— Glenn 

Ford, Dorothy McGuire, Arthur 

Kennedy. Something went wrong 

with this picture here. It didn't 

draw very well. Maybe they didn't 

like the title. Maybe it was the 

weather, which was bad. Anyway 

they just didn't turn out and left 

me holding the bag. Black and 

white is just no good any more. 

Played Mon., Tues. Weather: 

Wet.—F. L. Murray, Strand Theatre, 

Spiritwood, Sask. Pop. 355. 

Vintage, The (MGM) — Mel 

Ferrer, Pier Angeli, John Kerr. 

A fair show, but we had the worst 

business of the year. This had a 

good trailer and a fine story and 

acting, but it simply will not draw 

enough people to allow you to 

break even. Played Wed., Thurs. 

Weather: Good.—Audrey Thompson, 

Ozark Theatre, Hardy, Ark. 

Wings of Eagles, The IMGM)— 

John Wayne, Dan Dailey, Maureen 

O'Hara. Ah, man, how good 

can movies get! If I was as rich 

as some of you out there, I'd play 

'em just for myself just to spite 

those folks who don't have sense 

enough to know they oughta be 

spending their spare time here. 

Damn, I'm almost doing it anyway. 

Boy, this is the funniest, 

best one I ever saw Wayne in, 

and when you see the trailer, 

you just get to dreaming about 

money. I don't know where everyone 

went after they saw the 

trailer, though, but they sure 

popped heck out of my dream. 

It deserves the most, and yet it 

didn't get back rental and film 

haul here. I blew my top and 

Jerked my midweek when folks 

let a movie like this go by, it 

ain't gonna be long now. Dang, 

I wish I'd stayed with Chesterfield. 

I might have the money to 

go to a movie now and then. 

Bob Walker, Uintah Theatre. 

Fruita, Colo. Pop. 1,463. 

PARAMOUNT 

Mountain, The (Para)— Spencer 

Tracy, Robert Wagner, Claire 

Trevor. This one must have held 

interest because a lot of comments 

were left at the boxoffice 

and nobody seemed to be sorry 

that Robert Wagner got killed. 

He's a favorite in town, too. 

Played Wed.-Sat. Weather: Ccol. 

—Harold Bell, Opera House, 

Coaticook, Que. Pop. 6,341. 

Three Violent People (Para)— 

Charlton Heston, Anne Baxter, 

Gilbert Roland. Not a bad western, 

but the title hurt it. Tlie 

Saturday matinee was way off. 

The kids didn't show up. I wLsh 

the producers would watch the 

way they brand a picture by a 

poor title. For this situation it 

can make the difference between 

a good draw and a complete flop. 

Played Sat. Weather: Clear and 

warm.— E. K. Holder, Pines Theatre, 

Dierks, Ark. Pop. 1,253. 

Three Violent People (Para)— 

Charlton Heston, Anne Baxter, 

Gilbert Roland. Good. Customers 

liked it. Fine cast. VistaVision 

gave us beautiful background 

and color. Sharp focus. Played 

Fri., Sat., Sun.—Prank E. Sabin, 

Maje.stic Theatre, Eureka, Mont. 

Pop. 929. 

Pardners (Para)—Dean Martin, 

Jerry Lewis, Lori Nelson. After 

playing four pictures in black 

an(l white this one looked real 

good. It is too bad these two broke 

up the team because they have 

a following of people of all ages 

and they really put out good, 

clean entertainment. Played Sun., 

Mon. Weather: Damp.—B. Berglund, 

Trail Theatre, New Town, 

N. D. Pop. 1,200. 

CENTURY-FOX 

20th 

Crash Dive (20th-Fox)—Reissue. 

Tyrone Power, Anne Baxter, 

Dana Andrews. This is a good 

reissue. If you are using any of 

them, this is worth your while. 

Played Fri.— S. T. Jackson, Jackson 

Theatre, Flomaton, Ala. Pop. 

1,036. 

Girl Can't Help It, The (20th- 

Fox) —Tom Ewell, Jayne Mansfield, 

Edmond O'Brien. This wallto-wall 

flicker is just about the 

cutest thing to happen along in 

quite a while. As for Jayne Mansfield, 

well, I slam forgot to make 

several changeovers. O-la-la! 

Played Sun.. Mon. Weather: Fine. 

—I. Roche. Vernon Theatre. Vernon, 

Fla. Pop, 610. 

Good for Weekend 

A good action western in 

color, "Man Without a Star" 

took well here. Good stars and 

a fast moving action picture. 

Fine for the weekend. The 

price was right and we had a 

lot of complimentary comments. 

The small towns need 

this kind of film. We made a 

few dollars clear. 

W. M. FINLEY 

Lyric Theatre 

Norfork, .^rk. 

Girl Can't Help It, The (20th- 

Fox)—Tom Ewell. Jayne Mansfield. 

Edmond O'Brien. Somebody 

over on the Fox lot goofed, 

and now that folks ain't going 

to shows any more. Fox has 

started trying to make pictui'es 

that'll please the crop of customers 

that are on the way 

our last hope. After all the years 

I griped at this company, finally 

they're on the ball. They're damn 

near out there by themselve.s, 

though. This didn't make a feast, 

but it eased the famine and I 

(Continued on following page) 

BOXOFFICE BookiaGuid» :: October 26, 1957 18

B 

— 

EXHIBITOR HAS HIS SAY 

(Continued from preceding page) 

got entertained, too. And boy. if 

anybody needs a laugh, it's Walker. 

Played Sun., Mon. Weather: 

Lovely. — Bob Walker, Uintah 

Theatre, Fiuita, Colo. Pop. 1,463. 

Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison 

(20th-Fox)—Deborah Kerr, Robert 

Mitchum. If all the TV stations 

had gone dark and all the 

working mamas could keep up 

the family payments on the family 

budget without working, so 

they'd feel like going out . . . 

ah, pinch me! There I go dreaming 

again. But ifen these things 

coulda happened, the joy it would 

have been to stand out front and 

listen to those happy people that 

were in such great sympathy 

with poor Mr. Allison! And ifen 

we coulda had the business we 

shoulda, we coulda gotten along 

nicely without the business we 

did. Such a pity more folks don't 

know I got the most entertainment 

in town any more. Played 

Sun., Mon. Weather: Lovely, but 

chilly.—Bob Walker, Uintah Theatre, 


Oklahoma! (20th-Fox) — Gordon 

MacRae, Gloria Grahame. 

Gene Nelson. One of the best! 

Even those who do not care too 

much for musicals were high in 

their praise of this one. Excellent 

draw. Played Sat., Sun. Weather: 

Good.—Harold Smith, Dreamland 

Theatre, Carson, Iowa. Pop. 613, 

Revolt of Mamie Stover f20th- 

Fox ) —Jane Russell, Richard 

Egan, Agnes Moorehead. Fox has 

done a lot better with these folks 

and all that color plus the pushed 

out print, but even so this provides 

so much better entertainment 

than they're used to lately 

that this should have packed 

them in. It didn't earn its spot 

on the program though, and I'd 

have been better off not to have 

met Mamie. Played Sun. Mon.— 

Bob Walker, Uintah Theatre 


Tnie Story of Jesse James, The 

Opinions on Current Productions 

ÊATURE REVIEWS 

Symbol O denotes color photography; © CinemoScope; ® VistoVision; ® Superscope; ® Naturamo. For story synopsis on each pictura, see reverse side. 

The Story of Mankind F ,";';!! 

ccedvp^.a 

Warner Bros. (706) 100 Minutes Kel. Nov. 9, '57 

A name-studded cast, headed by Ronald Colman, Hedy 

LaMarr, all three of the Marx Bros, and Virginia Mayo, 

plus the promotion values of Henrik Van Loon's epic novel, 

one of the all-time best-sellers, offers exhibitors tremendous 

exploitation angles which will pay off in good boxoffice returns 

for this Technicolor film produced and directed by 

Irwin Allen. However, as entertainment it falls short of its 

great possibilities, despite an added, timely prolog in which 

the Spirit of Man and the Devil argue as to whether Man 

should be destroyed by a super H-bomb. But the presentation 

of various vignettes from history alternates between a 

few interest-holding dramatic moments and a dozen or more 

ridiculously burlesqued and broadly acted scenes in which 

Cleopatra, Nero, Peter Minuit, Isaac Newton and others are 

pictured as nitwits—even though Virginia Mayo, Peter Lorre, 

Groucho and Harpo Marx do garner a few laughs thereby, 

the picture can't be taken seriously. Agnes Moorehead, who 

is magnificent as Queen Elizabeth, and Cathy O'Donnell, 

as an early Clmstian. make their roles stand out and Ronald 

Colman, Vincent Price and Sir Cedric Hardwicke are effective 

in the opening scenes as a Heavenly Tribunal. 

Ronald Colman, Hedy LaMarr, Groucho, Chico and Harpo 

Marx, Vincent Price, Agnes Moorehead, Peter Lorre. 

Torero 

Columbia (209) 

75 Minutes 

A Ratio: Documentary Drama 

1.66-1 

Ret. Nov. '57 

A fascinating and completely engrossing autobiographical 

documentary about the career of Luis Procuna, one of the 

world's greatest matadors, this short (75-minute) film is 

made-to-order for the, art houses, where previous pictures 

about bullfighting created great audience Interest. Although 

this was the official Mexican entry at the 1956 Venice Film 

Festival, where it won a special citation, the picture is narrated 

in English—making it suitable for a supporting booking 

in many of the better neighborhood spots, although it's 

a bit gory for the younger kids. Procuna, portrays himself 

in his later years in a modest and completely natural fashion 

and his memorable fights in the bullring are edited from 

thousands of feet of actual newsreel footage. Also seen are 

such noted toreros as Carlos Arruza, Luis Briones, Manolete, 

_ 

Manuel Dos Santos and Lorenz Garza in expertly edited 

scenes. An unnamed young actor ably plays Procuna in his 

struggling early years while Procuna's wife and children 

are shown in some of the at-home sequences. Written by 

Hugo Mozo and Carlos Velo and so well directed by Velo that 

the spectator is never aware that some of the early sequences 

are being re-enacted. The stark black-and-white 

photography is excellent, as is the musical score, based on 

traditional bullfight themes. 

Hi) 

leas) 

fir'' 

Zero Hour! F ^[ 

Paramount (5707) 80 Minutes Kel. Nov. '57 

Nerve-tingling suspense is the forte of this carefully constructed, 

excellently executed air adventure drama that will 

have the customers gripping the edges of theu- seats and 

leaving the theatre limp from expended excitement and 

loudly shouting the picture's appeal. Resultantly, and 

because of the film's compact running time, it is amply 

qualified to cai'ry either end of a double bill. Inasmuch as 

there are three reasonably magnetic names heading the 

competent cast and in view of the enthusiastic word-ofmouth 

reactions that initial showings are certain to generate, 

the offering will supply much exploitation weight to any 

program it graces. Over and above the high entertainment 

quotient, the feature is noteworthy as the kick-off venture 

of a new and promising independent company, Bartlett- 

Champion Pictures, in which John Champion and Hall 

Bartlett—both of whom boast enviable records of past 

performances—are partnered. The former produced impressively 

while the latter directed and brought forth sterlmg 

performances by the trio of topliners as well as those contributed 

by the supporting troupers among whom a bright 

newcomer, Peggy King, is a standout: and to which grid 

star Elroy "Crazylegs" Hirsch adds merchandising value. 

Dana Andrews, Linda Darnell, Sterling Hayden, Elroy 

"Crazylegs" Hirsch, Geoffrey Toone, Peggy King. 

Hear Me Good 

F 

Ratio 

Comedy 

2:1 iji 

Paramount (5706) 80 Minutes Rel. Oct. '57 

There can be little doubt that Hal March's longtime 

occupancy of the master of ceremonies position on the 

"$64,000 Question" television show creates a ready-made 

market for this bright, laugh-packed comedy which will 

assure patronage materially in excess of what it might otherwise 

enjoy. In only one sequence does the story deal with 

video and therein it doesn't take itself too seriously, completely 

circumventing the pomposity that is all too often 

an adjunct of telecasting activities. The film is a threepronged 

credit for Don McGuire, who wrote, produced and 

directed and accomplished each of the trio of chores with 

praiseworthy effectiveness. The most outstanding facet of 

his work lies in the fact that he extracted from the topliner 

an ingratiating, acceptable performance, one that is entirely 

free of the smug mugging that many TV viewers find 

objectionable in his emceeing of the granddaddy of the 

funds-for-all-programs. While March's name—and Vista- 

Vision, of course—must serve as the keystone for the feature's 

outsize possibilities for merchandising, he doesn't 

corner acting honors by any means. Comparably good performances 

are contributed by his costars Joe E. Ross, Jean 

Willes and Merry Anders. 

Hal March, Joe E. Ross, Merry Anders, Jean 'Willes, 

Milton Frome, Joey Faye, Richard Bakalyan. 

vJ 

How to Murder a Rich Uncle F 

Columbia ( ) 79 Minutes 

Ratio: Comedy 

2.55-1 © 

Rel. 

Only on rare occasions flashes of the celebrated subtlety 

of British humor break through the low ceiling of comedy 

that otherwise completely covers this floundering import. 

Because of its low laugh content and inasmuch as its name 

value is comparably limited, the picture can anticipate little 

more consideration in this country than supporting-niche 

bookings. Fortunately its running time is sufficiently compact 

to suit it for such treatment and when so used, most 

especially if teamed with a strong top-sider, the feature will 

prove inoffensive and even mildly amusing to some spectators. 

While veteran and always competent Charles Coburn 

is the only Hollywoodian in the cast, and expectedly romps 

home with acting honors, the names of his costars, Nigel 

*Patrick and Wendy Hiller, will prove familiar to some Americans, 

art house patrons particularly. The threesome and the 

fact that filming is in Cinemascope will furnish some merchandising 

possibilities. The offering, .somewhat in the tradition 

of "Arsenic and Old Lace." was directed by Patrick 

for producer John Paxton while Irving Allen and Albert R. 

Broccoli, paj'tners in Wai-wick Films, functioned as executive 

producers. 

Charles Coburn. Nigel Patrick, Wendy Hiller, .'Vnthony '''|j 

Newley, Athene Seyler, Kenneth Fortescue. -^ 

The Sad Sack 

Paramount (5709) 

F 

Ratio: 

21 

Comedy 

98 Minutes Rel. Dec. '57 

The starring presence of Jerry Lewis in this black-andwhite 

film assures the interest of a large section of the 

populace with a liking for light and goofy entertainment. 

The presence also of David Wayne supplies marquee value. 

In order to bring the laughs—and they should be frequents 

resort is had to situations and gags that have been well 

tested in the past and found not wanting. An example 

is a night spent mistakenly in a WAC dormitory with ensuing 

discovery in the morning. Fc- perhaps two-thirds of 

the film it is broad, farcial comedy of the type to be expected 

in a Lewis vehicle; then, when the characters are captured 

by but eventually escape from Arabs in the desert, it somewhat 

resembles the scramblings of the Keystone Cops of 

earlier days. Lewis works hard and registers as the misfit 

soldier that even the Pentagon in Washington takes an interest 

in training—with dire results. Wayne and Joe Mantell 

are very good as his pals. Phyllis Kirk fits into the decor as 

the female psychiatrist whose good looks interfere with her 

army assignment. It is a Hal Wallis production directed by 

George Marshall. 

Jerry Lewis, David Wayne, Phyllis Kirk, Peter Lorre, 

Joe Mantell, Gene Evans, Shepperd Strudwick. 

The reviews on these pages may be filed for future reference In ony of the following woYs: (D '""'Z.^nczirt ei^lSt 

loose-leaf binder; (2) Indtvidually, by eompony. In any itondard 3x5 card Index flic; or (3) Jn the "OXOFFItt PltTUKE 

GUIDE three-ring, poeket-siie binder. The latter. Including a year's supply of booking and dally b

. . Army 

. . What 

. . Never 

. . . Alone 

FEATURE REVIEWS Story Synopsis; Exploitips; Adiines for Newspaper and Programs 

THE STORY: •'Zero Hourl" (Para) 

Commanding a Canadian Air squadron during the closing 

days of World War II, Dana Andrews is forced to make an 

unfortunate decision wliich results in the death of six of 

his pilots. Suffering from a deep-seated guilt complex, he 

falters through the post war j'ears, unable to hold a job 

"nd losing all confidence in himself. His wile, Linda 

Darnell, loses all respect for him and leaves him, taking 

their young son with her. He catches up with them on the 

transcontinental passenger plane on which they are fleeing. 

Many of the passengers, the pilot and co-pilot are stricken 

with food poisoning while aloft and the fogged-in plane 

seems certain to crash. Andrews takes the controls, lands 

the craft and becomes a hero. 

EXPLOITIPS: 

In addition to Dana Andrews and Linda Darnell who are 

reunited for the second time (they were paired once before 

in the noted hit, "Fallen Angel,") play up the fabulous 

Elroy "Crazylegs" Hirsch, football great of all time, voted 

All-American and 'most valuable" professional player. 

CATCHLINES: 

Past the Point of No Return, Both in Their Marriage 

and a Nerve-Tearing Aerial Nightmare . Guilt 

Plagued This Tortured War Veteran? . 

Such Blazing Excitement in the Air. 

Before 

|Ontthf 

THE STORY: 

"The Story of Mankind" IWB) 

In Heaven, the residents are discussing man's invention 

of a super H-bomb and a High Tribunal is called to see ^. 

whether or not it should be allowed to go off and destroy ( | 

Mankind. Flonald Colman, as the Spirit of Man, presents 

various historical characters to prove that Man should surjua„ 

Vive while his adversary, Vincent Price, as the Devil, shows 

noted evil characters, such as Cleopatra. Nero and Napoleon, 

to show that Man is inherently bad. In the end. a child who 

will be the Man of Tomorrow is brought before the Tribunal, 

which reserves decision until a future time. 

EXPLOITIPS: 

The exploitation angles include tieups with bookshops 

for window displays of Henrik Van Loon's book said to be 

one of the three greatest best-sellers in the world. 

The starstudded 

cast includes such current TV personalities as 

Groucho Marx and Marie Wilson to attract TV fans. An 

attention-getting stunt would be a frame with the 20 or so 

noted personalities in their historical costumes—with prizes 

offered for patrons guessing them all correctly. 

CATCHLINES: 

Henrik Van Loon's Noted Book—an All -Time Best-Seller— 

Now on the Screen With a Star-Studded Cast . . . Should 

Man Be Destroyed by a Super H-Bomb or Is Mankind Worth 

Saving? . . . Ronald Colman As the Spirit of Man and Vincent 

Price As the Devil Present a Parade of the World's 

Most Exciting Historical Moments. 

THE STORY: "Hear Me Good" (Para) THE STORY: "Torero" (Col) 

Hal March and Joe E. Ross, a couple of sharp-shooters, 

are out to make a buck in Manhattan. They owe everybody, 

but they have an idea. They'll rig a beauty contest, bet on 

the winner, and walk off with a bundle. The girl they select 

is Jean Willes. special girl friend of a gangster, who loans 

them the $250 entrance fee plus some more money which 

they promptly bet on a horse. When Jean backs out of the 

contest, the boys talk Merry Anders into entering, only to 

have Jean's boy friend decide she should re-enter. In a last 

minute hilarious scheme, March fixes it so Merry wins the 

contest— and also wins her love after he makes the big 

decision to "go straight" from then on. 

EXPLOITIPS: 

Hold a local contest, perhaps a take-off on TV's $64,000 

Question, the winners of which must correctly guess which 

girl in the picture wins the beauty contest—and how. Prizes 

could be free tickets to the theatre. Exploit Hal March in 

his first starring movie role. 

CATCHLINES: 

What Happens When Hal March Rigs a Beauty Contest, 

With a Gangster's Moll as His Entry? . . . Laugh, Love and 

Live-It-Up With Hal March in the Zaniest Comedy of the 

Year. 

atre, 

As Luis Procuna prepares to return to the bullring after 

a bad goring and a long period of convalescence, his memories 

revert to his boyhood, w-hen he was a tattered youth who 

was luckily tagged for grooming with the cape and sword. 

Later, he became one of Mexico's public idols and was acclaimed 

for his many bullfights, whose trophies included 

520 ears. 218 tails and six hoofs. After his beloved Manolete 

was fatally gored. Procuna attends the funeral and feels 

depressed. But, in the end, he conquers his fear and returns 

to the bullring to triumph again. 

EXPLOITIPS: 

.„ Hire or improvise a bullfighter's costume for the ballyhoo 

re All man or your house doorman to wear. Display Mexican flags 

with American flags in your theatre lobby and play Torero 

or Mexican music from a lobby phonograph. Street arrows 

leading to the theatre should read: "Bullfight Today." 

CATCHLINES: 

Toreros Never Die in Bed—the Thousand Thundering 

Excitements of the World's Most Dangerous Game . . . The 

Passionate Life of Luis Procuna, Bullfighter Extraordinary 

With His Steel. His Cape and His Courage, a Hero 

Conquers Fear of the Bull and the Fear Inside. 

CI 

THE STORY: "The Sad Sack " (Para) THE STORY: "How to Murder a Rich Uncle" (Col) 

David Wayne and Joe Mantell are assigned to teach Jerry 

Lewis how to become a soldier. Instead, all three use the 

special detail to gain freedom and carouse. After a hard 

night, they are caught in a WAC domiitory. The penalty 

Is assignment to Morocco. Jerry falls for a cabaret singer. 

Told she is "taking him." he goes AWOL. He meets three 

Arabs who have the parts of an American cannon. They lure 

him into the desert to assemble it. but he is rescued. He gets 

a medal and then goes on trial for being AWOL. 

EXPLOITIPS: 

Since the story deals with a misfit soldier and the title 

is that of a well-known cartoon character, the obvious appeal 

is to veterans as well as other Jerry Lewis followers. 

A dummy with a rifle in a uniform that violates all military 

regulations will make a good lobby display to attract 

Interest and furnish a clue to the comedy theme. 

CATCHLINES: 

See Jerry Lewis as the Rookie Soldier 'Wlio Couldn't Do 

Anything Right 

. Regulations and Lovely Gals Get 

Jerry Lewis in a Peck of Tiouble . . . Jerry Lewis in a Side- ^ries 

splitter. 

-ept 

When Charles Coburn decides to return to his home in 

England after making a fortune in Canada, little does he 

suspect that Nigel Patrick, up to his ears in debt, has decided 

that the only way to save the financial honor of the 

family is to murder him and spread his money around 

where it will do the most good, as far as making ends meet 

—is concei-ned. Patrick takes the family into his confidence, 

and then plans various ways and means by which to do away 

with Coburn—among them an automobile accident which is 

to occur on Coburn's way home from the station, poison in 

his tea. and a double-barreled shotgun pointed straight at 

his bedroom door. Unfortunately for Patrick, but happily 

for Coburn. none of the schemes materialize, and the latter 

is finally free to return to Canada—providing no other member 

of the family decides to take up where Patrick left off. 

EXPLOITIPS: 

Sell this as one of the hilarious films of the year, reminding 

patrons that Charles Coburn is tops in the art of 

comedy. Since his name probably will attract the older 

fans, a special screening for a group of elderly ladies might 

be ananged. with publicity photographs of Coburn given. 

CATCin.INES: 

Murderously Funny Is the Description for This Hilarious 

5Pî 

j.Yarn of a Family Intent on Doing Away With Their Rich 

^j 

Uncle. 

CI 

BOXOFFICE B»«kinGuide 

: 

: Ootobar 26, 1007

. 

New 

I ences 

I 

Brooklyn 

HATES: 15c per word, minimum S1.50, cash with copy. Four consecutive insertions for price 

of three. CLOSING DATE: Monday noon preceding publication date. Send copy and 

• answers to Box Numbers to BOXOFTICE. 825 Van Brunt Blvd., Kansas City 24, Mo. • 

POSITIONS WANTED 

Couple. 27 years wirie experience. Projectionist, 

around repiiirmjin liootli to i^creen. 

all Concession, 

cashier. m;inaging. Permanent only. Indoor, outdoor. 

Have mobile home. B.xpect reasonable salary, 

although location more important. 10 days notice. 

I'rojeclionist. 6407 Wells. Wellston, Mo. 

GENERAL EQUIPMENT—NEW 

Order 

CLEiminG HOUSE 

Jacksonville area. Manager 25 years experience 

theatre operaiion, Curneiitional I heat re desired. 

Best rererrtices. T. W. Hagaii. lii:i W ^th Si . 

Jiicksonville li, Fla. 

HELP WANTED 

Drive-ill managers. Expansion program has 

created openings for several lop notch men who are 

willing and able to meet the demands of an organization 

whose standards are among the highest 

in the industiy. Year round employment, liberal 

benefits, tiftport unity for advancement. Send 

resume and eastern or midwest location preferejice. 

CO Smith Management Co., 480 Boylston 

St., Cosinn Iti. Mass. 

Manager for downtown first run. Must be 

thoroughly experienced, exploitation and advertising. 

Write, phone or wire: N. T. Prager, Criterion 

Theatre. Oklahoma City. Okla. 

Manager for targe all year drive-in. metropolitan 

York area. Give all particulars and referin 

first letter including small picture and 

salary desired. Turnpike Theatre, 1454 51st St., 

19. N. Y. 

Wanted, managers for both dri\e-in and indom 

theatres. Write. Frels Tlieatre, Inc.. Victoria. 

Texas. 

Theatre and concession manager. 450-car drivein. 

Sunset llrive-ln Theatri". P.O. Box 7. Arm. 

Brunswick. Oa. 

Manager for 1st run theatre in central 111 

Keply staling age. referenres. experience. P.O. 

Box :!4!". Decatur, lit 

TICKET REGISTERS 

Ticket registers, like new. One year guarantee. 

$1)0 per unit. .\Nn stidi-rod ticket control boxes, 

new. $7.5. Tliese are special nfferings. only while 

Ihey last. Ticket Register Indiistiies. r22:i S. 

Wabash. Chicago 5, 111. 

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES 

Tourist attractions are hig business 1 Lost historic 

city discovered. Iôst since 1759. 150 building 

foundatitpns. street-^, cemeteries, forts, market 

place, etp. Fully authenticated. Lease. Ideal location. 

Boxoffice. 761ti. 

'We Warned You— 

ABOUT NOT USING A BOX 

NUMBER ON THAT AD YOU 

RAN IN 

BOXOFFICE!' 

BOXOFTICE October 26, 1957

SERVICE 

Of me wousjfir

Boxoffice-October.19. 1957

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