Boxoffice-March.06.1948

. . Mary
. . Rose
. . Many
. . His
——
: March
Disney Spokesman
Answers Sorrell
HOLLYWOOD—Although on the whole the
film colony was not following the current
labor probe in Washington by Rep. Carroll
D. Kearns with a great deal of interest, one
recent phase of the hearings drew local fne
when charges made against Walt Disney
studios by Herbei-t K. Sorrell, president of
the Conference of Studio Unions, brought
forth a categorical denial by Disney spokesmen.
Sorrell, testifying as to events in the studio
labor picture which led up to the present
stalemated strike, had charged "torpedoes or
dynamiters" had been imported in an effort
to break up the walkout called against the
studio in 1941, and that several houses of
non-strikers had been dynamited and the
blame placed on striking workers.
Gimther R. Lessing, vice-president and
general coimsel for Disney, branded Sorrell's
charges as absolutely without any foundation;
said that, except for "minor flare-ups
on the picket line," the strike was very peaceful;
and alleged Sorrell was endeavoring at
that time to "bring about a secondary boycott
of Disney films by projectionists." Lessing
also declared efforts to urge Sorrell to
agree to a bargaining election were fruitless
and contended the CSU leader told him
that "imless you make a contract with us,
I'll timi this studio into a dust bowl."
Ray Milland Will Attend
Theatre Opening in Peru
HOLLYWOOD—Guest of honor at the gala
opening of the new Tacna Theatre in Lima,
Peru, April 1 will be Ray Milland, Paramount
star. The showcase is the first to be constructed
and operated by Paramount International
Theatres Corp. Milland will plane
out for Peru March 27.
SAN FRANCISCO
John Bowles, Paramount salesman, won the
' Pontiac car in the Variety Club's heart
fund drive. Just prior to winning it he had
pm-chased a car—a Pontiac . of the
downtown theatres installed wishing wells
to help raise funds for Variety.
Edward C. Gates is the new exploiteer for
Blumenfeld Theatres in the East Bay section.
He succeeds Terry Calleri, who shifted allegiance
to the Oaks baseball team . . .
Ted Galanteer, MGM exploiteer, who injui'ed
a foot skiing recently at Sun Valley, is working
in Portland .
Yerman of the
Paramount exchange is a bride.
George Hickey, western division sales manager
for MGM, was in town .
assistant,
S. J. Gardner, has returned from conferences
in Los Angeles . Golick of Selznick
Releasing Organization is studying Russian
in her spare time . . . After long and diligent
effort, Lilia Goodin, secretary to Butch Wingham,
MGM branch manager, found an apartment.
Bill Parker, U-I manager, has taken a leave
to regain his health. Abe Swerdlow is acting
manager of the exchange and ha^ turned
over his duties as city salesman to R. Kniifin,
who was transferred from Seattle . . . The
body of a newborn baby girl, wrapped in a
towel belonging to a Market street hotel,
was found in the women's room of the Guild
Theatre.
Cashing in on the "best picture" publicity
engendered by the forthcoming Academy
awards, San Francisco Theatres, Inc., last
week offered its patrons a chance to make
their own choices. Lists of the 20 films which
managers believed to be outstanding were
posted at the Balboa, Alexandria, Coliseum,
Harding, Metro and Vogue theatres and the
patrons invited to vote on which they liked
best.
YOU'LL GET THE BEST
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Los Angeles Spotty;
'Saigon' Best Entry
LOS ANGELES—Despite an avalanche of
new first run bookings, business generally
was spotty and only one newcomer, "Saigon,"
could equal the top takes being registered by
"Call Northside 777," which snagged a 150
per cent estimate in its second stanza. Place
and show money, respectively, went to "Three
Daring Daughters" and "Intrigue." "Mourning
Becomes Electra," playing at advanced admissions,
moved closer to a long run record
by completing its 11th continuous week.
(Average is 100)
El Belmont. Culver, Rey, Orpheum, Vogue-
Panhandle (Mono); Louisiana (Mono) 100
Carlhay, Chinese, Loyola, Stale, Uplown-Call
Northside 777 (20th-Fox); Let's Live Again
(20th-rox), 2iid wk 150
Guild. Culver, Ins, Ritz, Studio City, United
Artists—Black Bart (U-I), 2nd wk .100
Downtown. Hollywood Paramounts Saigon
(Para), Mr. Reckless (Para) 150
Three Daring
Egyptian, Los Angeles, Vi^ilshire
Daughters (MGM) 140
Four S'tar—Mourning Becomes Electra (RKO),
-
roadshow, Uth wk -. 90
125
Four Music Halls—Intrigue (UA)
Pcntages, Hillstreet— li You Knew (RKO);
Susie
Dick Tracy Meets Gruesome (RKO) .100
Warners Downtown, Hollywood. Wiltern—
The Voice of the Turtle (WB), 3rd wk 90
"Voice of Turtle' Brightens
Ordinary Week in Seattle
SEATTLE — A very ordinary week was
brightened by the appearance of one newcomer
that opened at 135. It was "The 'Voice
of the Turtle" at the Orpheum. Meanwhile,
"Cass Timberlane" finished up its fifth and
final week with 140 at the Music Hall.
Blue Mouse—T-Men (RKO); Pacific Adventure
(Col), 2nd d. t. wk 75
Fifth Avenue—Call Northside 777 (20th-Fox);
The Lone Woli in London (Col), 2nd wk 100
Liberty-To the Ends oi the Earth (Col);
Blondie's Anniversary (Col), 3rd wk 140
Music Box—Secret Beyond the Door (U-I);
Killer at Large (EL) 50
Music Hall—Cass Timberlane (MGM), 5th wk 135
Paramount—Black Bart (U I), The Upturned
Glass (U-1) 70
Orpheum—The Voice ol the Turtle (WB),
Always Together (WB) 135
Palomar—High Wall (MGM), Blackmail (Rep) 120
Roosevelt-Out oi the Blue (EL);
The Trespasser (Rep), 2nd d. t. wk 80
Big Week for 'Northside'
At San Francisco Fox
SAN FRANCISCO—"Call Northside 777"
created a merrv boxoffice jingle in its opening
week at the Fox Theatre. Second choice of
the first run theatregoers was "A Double
Life." in its second week.
r;quirf--The Smugglers (EL);
Blonde Savage (EL) 130
Fi;,- Call Northside 777 (20th-Fox);
Dangerous Years (20th-Fox) 180
Gr.Hf.n Gat,— If You Knew Susie (RKO), 2nd wk...l20
'in;- ">,!; Black Bart (U-I), 2nd wk 125
P .r.rriount--Albuquerque (Para), 2nd wk 100
?! 4th Fia.'.cis-T-Men (ED) wk 100
St 3le—Betrayed (Mono); Wolf Call (Mono),
reissues 120
United Artists—A Double Life (M-I), 2nd wk 155
United Nations—Gentleman's Agreement
(20th-Fox), 6th v.k 100
Warlield—The Voice of the Turtle (WB);
Always Together (WB), 2nd wk 120
^^C E N T U R Y"
THE MODERN PROJECTOR
187 Golden Gate Ave.,
San Francisco 2. Calif.
Phone UnderhiU 7571
BOXOFFICE
:
13, 1948