Boxoffice-March.06.1948

: March
Says Showmanship in Australia Runs
From Very Good to Extremely Poor
By WILLIAM A. BEECHAM
Australian Bureau, Boxoffice
PERTH, W. A.— It would seem that two
Australian film trade publications are waging
a war regarding the question o£ theatre
showmanship in Australia. One insists that
Australian showmanship is as high as any
in the world, while the other is certain that
iL is at a low ebb. An outside observer might
be pardoned (after more than a quarter of
a century of observation i for coming to the
conclusion that both publications are right,
and both are wrong.
In many cases, in both large and small
cinemas, the showmanship displayed (and
this covers the general running of the theatre
is of a very high order, and patrons must
1
feel to some extent that it is a pleasure to
pay their money at the boxoffice. But in
some theatres (again both large and small)
the word "showmanship" does not mean a
thing. Staffs are ill-trained and even discourteous,
the plant is woefully out-of-date,
and a general attitude of "take it or leave it"
is very apparent. The contrast between the
efficient and the inefficient houses is very
great, and unfortunately the proprietors of
the inefficient theatres do great harm to the
industry as a whole.
Maj. R. P. Baker, managing director of
Ealing Studios and associated companies,
was recently given a luncheon at the Adelphi
hotel, Perth. Speaking on the success of the
Australian production, "The Overlanders,"
he said: "It has been listed as one of the
ten best films of the year in America and
we hope to get many dollars from there. It
is doing big business in the English and
American zones of Germany, but we cannot
get our money from there. It is a success
in Italy, but the lira is frozen; similarly is
popular in France, but not only is the franc
devalued, but we cannot get our money from
there either. Still, a profit has been made,
even though it will be some time before we
receive the cash."
Custard pie nights are proving extremely
popular around the Melbourne suburbs, the
idea being put over by Hoyts Theatres, Ltd.
Program consists of a feature film and six
old-time silent slapstick comedies, each with
a gag soundtrack added. Succe.ss will probably
lead to the same type of shows being
tried
in other centers.
Films have recently been made of the
much-publicized Braund treatment of cancer,
and these are proving an attraction
wherever shown. The whole business continues
to be front page news, ,and the Cinesound
special, "Can Braund Cure Cancer?"
when first screened at a Sydney theatrette,
had to be repeated three times to enable all
those who turned up to see it.
His Majesty's Theatre, Perth, which for
some long time past has been a secondrelease
cinema under the Fuller banner, has
now been taken over by a company headed
by J. Moss, of the Mayfair Theatrette, and
after being redecorated it will open with
vaudeville and musical comedies.
In the Sydney central police court recently,
Stanley Hammond was charged with having
falsely obtained the sum of 1,000 pounds
($4,800 at pan from Victor August Edmonds,
of Melbourne. Evidence disclosed that Hammond
assured Edmonds that he had an offer
for the engagement of screen comedians
Laurel and Ha,rdy in Australia. Case remains
part heard.
Wolfe Cohen, vice-president of Warner
Bros. Pictures International Corp., who last
visited Australia about three years ago, is
expected in Sydney early in April. Cohen
intends to spend about four weeks touring
the commonwealth, visiting the company's
branches. He will then go on to New Zealand.
Film star Jane Barrett, here from Britain
for "The Blue Lagoon," and husband Hans
Helwig have both been inmates of Sydney
hospitals. Miss Barrett suffered from infected
insect bites, and Helwig had a nasty
time with meningitis. Both are now once
again back in circulation.
A 16mm film of the British royal wedding
has been secured by the education department
of Western Australia, and this will be
shown to all school children throughout the
state. But as it will be some time before
this film arrives from England, the department
has arranged that, where a film of the
wedding is being screening at a theatre matinee,
sanction will be given to the attendance
of the school children during school
hours.
We regret to record the death of Charles
Chuter, who until quite recently was Queensland
films commissioner. Indeed, only a
month ago the film industry feted him. Funeral
was large and impressive, many cabinet
members attending. Chuter leaves a wife
and family.
Dan Duryea to Salt Lake
For 'Black Bart' Opening
SALT LAKE CITY— Dan Duryea, star of
"Black Bart," will make a personal appearance
on the stage of the Utah Theatre here
in connection with opening of the picture.
His visit is being arranged, however, by a
local department store, which is bringing
him here for store appearances during the
city's spring fashion show.
Duryea will arrive here Monday and meet
the press that day at a special luncheon.
After that, he will make appearances at the
store and the following day will appear at
the store again and make an appearance on
the stage of the Utah. Wednesday the star
and his company will tour the city.
Approve West Point Permit
WEST POINT, CALIF.—Approval has been
granted by the office of the housing expediter
in Washington for construction of a 300-seat
prefabricated theatre here, according to Wes
Taylor, manager of the San Andreas Theatre.
He said construction would start at once.
'Northside' Does Well
In First Seattle Week
SEATTLE—Opening one day after its
world premiere in Chicago, "Call Noithside
777" started drawing at the Fifth Avenue and
racked up a solid 134 in its first week. Sterling's
moveover house, the Roosevelt, and the
neighborhood UptowTi, tried something different
by playing "Shoe-Shine" day and date
and did average business.
(Average Is 100)
Blue Mouse—Tycoon (RKO). Dick Tracy Meats
Gruesome (RKO), 2nd d. t. wk 85
Filth Avenue—Call Northside 777 (20th-Fox),
The Lone Wolf in London (Col) 134
Liberty—To the Ends oi the Earth (Col)
Blondie's Anniversary (Col), 2nd v^k 145
Music Box—Treasure oi Sierra Madre (WB),
4th d t wk 90
Music Hall— Cass Timberlane (MGM), 4th wk IbO
Paramount—The Mark of Zorro (20th-Fox),
Drums Along the Mohawk (20h-Fox), reissues... 70
Orpheum—T-Men (EL); Pacific Adventure (Col).... 85
Palomar—Out oi the Blue (EL);
The Trespasser (Rep) 75
Roosevelt and Uptown—Shoe-Shine (Lopert) 100
Griffith Circuit Lights Up
Theatre in Kermit, N. M.
KERMIT, N. M.—The Kermit Theatre,
newest unit in the Griffith circuit, opened
here February 17 with the showing of "Tycoon."
Opening of the theatre culminated
long efforts of the Chamber of Commerce
to bring a theatre to town. Kenneth Blackledge
of Lubbock, Tex., district manager for
Griffith Theatres, was here for the premiere
showing. The house is being managed by
Tom Moorehead. It is built of masonry, has
acoustical plaster in the auditorium, a tile
lounge and rest rooms, and smoking and cry
rooms, and has completely new equipment.
Children's Shows Expand
ALBUQUERQUE, N. M.—Success of the
first PTA-sponsored show at the downtown
Kimo and Sunshine theatres led George
Tucker, city manager here for the Interstate
circuit, to expand the Children's Film
Library offerings to two neighborhood
houses. The pictures are now being shown
at the Yucca and Lobo as well as the downtown
places.
Exchanges Raise Pay
SALT LAKE CITY—Exchange employes
in Salt Lake City offices have been given
new contracts providing for 15 per cent
wage increases, effective March 1. Bert
Fisher, formerly head shipper for Paramount,
resigned as vice-president of the
back office workers. He was replaced by
Ed Vranizan of National Screen.
Buys Hall in Deary. Ida.
DEARY, IDAHO—The old Legion hall
here has been purchased by Walter S. Campbell
of Genesee and is being refitted for the
showing of motion pictures. Campbell
operates houses in Genesee, Lapwai, Asotin,
Peck and Emida.
Books Films for Guam
SAN FRANCISCO — Ed Rowden of the
Rowden Theatre Service has closed a deal
to supply Brown-Pacific-Maxon in Guam with
a complete show each week for their four
theatres in Guam.
BOXOFFICE
:
6, 1948