Daily News (Los Angeles, CA) articles from December 2002

Daily News (Los Angeles, CA) archives from December 2002

Entrepreneurs in Southern California Try their Luck with Home-Based Businesses.
December 1, 2002... Byline: Barbara Correa Dec. 1--Stay-at-home moms, laid-off workers and retirees with an entrepreneurial streak have found opportunity in today's weak economy. They're starting their own businesses -- at home. From a scented rubber mat...

Tours of California's San Andreas Fault Bring Geology Alive.
December 2, 2002... Byline: Eric Noland Dec. 2--PALM SPRINGS, Calif.--Now this was a true desert mystery. In a parched landscape due east of Palm Springs, the ground all about us was strewn with reddish rocks. But if you looked into the gullies of the Indio...

Palm Springs, Calif., Inn Reflects the Tastes of Its Hollywood Ownership.
December 2, 2002... Byline: Eric Noland Dec. 2--PALM SPRINGS, Calif.--Fountains gurgle in the weathered-brick courtyards. Bougainvillea spreads thickly across red-tile roofs. Flowers erupt from terra cotta pots at poolside. Mature citrus trees, laden with...

James Bond, Harry Potter Films Lead Pack as Movie Receipts Make History.
December 2, 2002... Byline: Greg Hernandez Dec. 2--The widespread popularity of the latest Harry Potter and James Bond movies at the nation's megaplexes helped push the film industry to a new single-year box office record over the five-day Thanksgiving...

Los Angeles Activists Oppose Plan to Use Golf Course Land for Senior Housing.
December 2, 2002... Byline: Harrison Sheppard Dec. 2--As the San Fernando Valley and the region face a sharp housing crunch for senior citizens, Studio City activists and city officials argue the shortage doesn't justify taking a property dubbed the "crown...

Thousand Oaks, Calif.-Based Amgen Clears Waiting List for Arthritis Drug.
December 3, 2002... Byline: Evan Pondel Dec. 3--THOUSAND OAKS, Calif.--Amgen Inc. has replenished the dwindling supply levels of its rheumatoid arthritis drug Enbrel, the company said Monday, enabling about 40,000 more patients to access the product. ...

Vigil to Save Oak from Los Angeles-Area Development Growing Stranger.
December 3, 2002... Byline: Heather MacDonald Dec. 3--Day 31 of the vigil to save a 400-year-old oak tree turned into a circus Monday, as squealing fans of a popular disc jockey joined several dozen protesters ready for a showdown that did not come. As a...

Los Angeles Leases Hydrogen-Fuel-Cell Car from Honda.
December 3, 2002... Byline: Mariel Garza Dec. 3--Mayor James Hahn accepted the keys to a shiny new Honda on Monday -- the nation's first no-emissions, hydrogen-fuel-cell car that the city will lease as part of a two-year agreement. The city will pay $500...

Los Angeles-Area Health Workers to Get Smallpox Shots.
December 3, 2002... Dec. 3--Los Angeles County plans to vaccinate up to 20,000 public health workers and hospital emergency employees against smallpox as the first step in preparing for potential bioterrorist attacks, officials announced Monday. They...

Calabasas, Calif., Sues over Planning Panel's Approval of 3,050-Home Project.
December 3, 2002... Byline: Grace Lee Dec. 3--VENTURA, Calif.--The city of Calabasas and a Los Angeles couple, claiming a violation of state open-meeting law, filed a lawsuit Monday seeking to overturn the Ventura County Planning Commission's approval of the...

Tarzana, Calif.-Based Unilab's Deal with Quest Diagnostics May Change.
December 3, 2002... Byline: Evan Pondel Dec. 3--TARZANA, Calif.--Unilab Corp. and Quest Diagnostics Inc. said on Monday they may amend their merger agreement, a move that could reduce the transaction's overall value by $60 million. Quest Diagnostics, the...

Tech Toys Are among Favorites This Year, Industry Experts Say.
December 3, 2002... Byline: Brent Hopkins Dec. 3--At a loss as to what to get the kids for the holidays? Unsure what's cool this year? It's hard to keep track of the trendiest gadgets, but here are some ideas that'll make the youngsters think you're "the...

Divorce Likely to Carve Up Chef Wolfgang Puck's Food Empire.
December 3, 2002... Byline: Barbara Correa Dec. 3--Celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck could lose a key ingredient in his recipe for business success -- his wife and business partner of 20 years, Barbara Lazaroff, has filed for divorce. Lazaroff, who has played...

Los Angeles Considers Lawsuit Challenging Ventura County Development.
December 4, 2002... Byline: Mariel Garza Dec. 4--As the Los Angeles City Council prepares to vote later this month on whether to file suit challenging the Ahmanson Ranch development, some are warning that the city would be fighting the same court battle it...

DVD's, DVD Players Prove Hot Item This Holiday Season.
December 4, 2002... Byline: Greg Hernandez Dec. 4--Two of the hottest gifts this holiday season are proving to be newly affordable DVD players and DVD versions of such recent hits as "Spider-Man," "Star Wars: Episode II -- Attack of the Clones" and "Ice Age,"...

Los Angeles Officials Consider Tax Hikes to Avert Budget Problems.
December 4, 2002... Dec. 4--With Gov. Gray Davis warning Tuesday of "serious" money woes looming for California, Los Angeles city and county officials stepped up talk of needing tax hikes to avert a crisis in local government. Los Angeles County supervisors...

Toxic Substance Found in Some Wells in Simi Valley, Calif.
December 4, 2002... Byline: Lisa Mascaro Dec. 4--A toxic chemical has been found at 18 more wells across a wide area of Simi Valley, but state investigators said Tuesday that they cannot link the presence of perchlorate to Rocketdyne's nearby Santa Susana...

Malibu, Calif.-Based Toy Company Buys St. Louis-Based Business.
December 4, 2002... Byline: Brent Hopkins Dec. 4--MALIBU, Calif.--Jakks Pacific got some new toys to play with Tuesday as it announced the purchase of Trendmasters Inc. Toy experts and Wall Street analysts alike praised the deal, whose terms were not...

Los Angeles Transit Agency Narrows Down Options for Bus Way.
December 5, 2002... Byline: Lisa Mascaro Dec. 5--The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has narrowed the choices for a north-south high-capacity bus way through the San Fernando Valley from 13 to five, following a series of public meetings with local...

TV Ads, Music Video Shoots Register Sour Production Note in Los Angeles.
December 5, 2002... Byline: Greg Hernandez Dec. 5--Local filming of feature films and television shows dipped only slightly in November from the previous month but production days for music videos and commercials dropped to their lowest point all year,...

Woodland Hills, Calif., Medical Firm Syncor International's Merger Is on Track.
December 5, 2002... Byline: Evan Pondel Dec. 5--WOODLAND HILLS, Calif.--Syncor International Corp. and Cardinal Health Inc. will proceed with their planned merger at a reduced price, even though Syncor pleaded guilty to violating a law that forbids acts of...

Earthquake Fault Sinks Plans for Learning Center in Downtown Los Angeles.
December 5, 2002... Byline: Helen Gao Dec. 5--After Los Angeles Unified spent 14 years and $166 million, schools Superintendent Roy Romer announced Wednesday that he is ending his crusade to complete the troubled Belmont Learning Center as planned because of...

California's Economy Will Be Stuck in Slow Lane into 2003, Forecast Says.
December 5, 2002... Byline: Barbara Correa Dec. 5--A downturn in export trade and continuing stagnation in employment and personal income will keep a lid on California's economic recovery well into 2003, according to a University of California, Los Angeles,...

Los Angeles-Area Company Uses Raw Know-How to Make Sushi into Big Business.
December 5, 2002... Byline: Brent Hopkins Dec. 5--Borrowing to the limit on a credit card, Mary DeMartinis and Laura Ellis turned an odd idea -- mass-produced sushi -- into a $20-million-a-year business. And that's before they cut a deal in recent weeks...

Developer Lobbying Hard for 5,800-Home Development in Los Angeles Area.
December 6, 2002... Byline: Heather MacDonald Dec. 6--SANTA CLARITA, Calif.--The firm seeking to build a 5,800-home development in the Newhall Pass paid a lobbyist $9,163 from July to September to urge Los Angeles city officials to approve the project,...

Home Costs Are Too Much for Most California Residents, Trade Group Says.
December 6, 2002... Byline: Gregory J. Wilcox Dec. 6--Housing affordability fell across most of California, including the Los Angeles area, during October as prices continued to climb, a trade group said Thursday. The number of households able to afford a...

Los Angeles Parents, Students Have 'Lost Hope' in Learning Center Project.
December 6, 2002... Byline: Beth Barrett Dec. 6--Wounded deeply by yet another broken promise by Los Angeles Unified, many students and downtown neighborhood residents said Thursday that they are more disillusioned than angry by the likelihood that the...

Three Movie Studios Vie for Second Place in Box Office Competition behind Sony.
December 6, 2002... Byline: Greg Hernandez Dec. 6--With a dream movie season highlighted by a staggering $405.7 million domestic gross for "Spider-Man," Sony Pictures Entertainment is already the year's undisputed box office champ. But with less than a...

Los Angeles-Area Restaurants Rally for Holiday Season.
December 6, 2002... Byline: Brent Hopkins Dec. 6--Last year's holidays weren't so happy for many in the restaurant business, but this year they're ready to party. The fourth quarter can be a crucial one for restaurants, as they rely on corporate parties...

Lack of Action on Los Angeles' Business Taxes Draws Fire.
December 9, 2002... Byline: Mariel Garza Dec. 9--Efforts to cut the city's high business taxes and simplify the cumbersome system have stalled indefinitely despite promises made in the summer by Mayor James Hahn and other officials to start implementing...

Fannie Mae Forms Venture to Boost Muslim Homeownership in California.
December 9, 2002... Byline: Gregory J. Wilcox Dec. 9--PASADENA, Calif.--Mortgage buyer Fannie Mae is forging a $10 million relationship with an Islamic financial institution to open up Southern California's housing market to more American Muslims, officials...

Daily News, Los Angeles, Real Estate Column.
December 9, 2002... Byline: Gregory J. Wilcox Dec. 9--LACK OF SPACE MAKES FOR TIGHT VALLEY INDUSTRIAL MARKET: It takes just one word to sum up the San Fernando Valley area's industrial real estate market during the third quarter: tight. Credit a lack of...

Retailers Weather Lean Sales During Second Week of Holiday Shopping.
December 9, 2002... Byline: Brent Hopkins Dec. 9--The second week of the holiday season proved to be chilly for most retailers, though local malls reported Monday that traffic remained brisk. After a strong weekend following Thanksgiving, retailers found...

Rush 'Hour' Jam Along Ventura Freeway in California Now Tops 420 Minutes.
December 9, 2002... Byline: Lisa Mascaro Dec. 9--Congestion along the Ventura Freeway has grown worse since 1995 in the East San Fernando Valley, with rush "hour" now lasting at least seven hours a day in both directions, a state study shows. And,...

Burbank, Calif., Airport Would See Little Immediate Effect from United Filing.
December 9, 2002... Byline: Nicholas Grudin Dec. 9--BURBANK, Calif.--United Airlines' expected bankruptcy filing -- that could come as soon as today -- would have no immediate impact on the carrier's service at Burbank Airport, officials said. More than...

WellPoint Health Networks to Buy California-Based Dental Organization.
December 9, 2002

Consumers Still Out Shopping for New Cars Seem Confident They Can Snag Deals.
December 10, 2002... Byline: Barbara Correa Dec. 10--Despite months of relentless zero-percent financing, a zero down payment, and 90-day grace period promotions, many Southern Californians are still on the prowl for new cars and the best deals. But they...

Los Angeles' Mayor to Tout Area's Economic Efforts.
December 10, 2002... Byline: Mariel Garza Dec. 10--Mayor James Hahn will offer San Fernando Valley business leaders an upbeat assessment of the state of the Valley and all of Los Angeles, calling it a "new and reinvigorated" city whose leaders have heard --...

California Attorney General Files Moves to Block Gravel Mine.
December 10, 2002... Byline: Heather MacDonald Dec. 10--SANTA CLARITA, Calif.--Attorney General Bill Lockyer has agreed to participate in the federal court battle over a massive sand-and-gravel mine in Canyon Country at the request of city and county...

Maker of Security Gates to Build Plant in Palmdale, Calif.
December 10, 2002... Byline: Jim Skeen Dec. 10--PALMDALE, Calif.--A Valencia company that manufactures security gates for U.S. embassies and other customers plans to build an $8 million production plant in Palmdale and employ as many as 150 people, officials...

Bus Changes Are Only the Start for Los Angeles-Area Transit Authority.
December 10, 2002... Byline: Lisa Mascaro Dec. 10--Bus Line 94 cuts short some evening runs to Olive View Medical Center even though visitors still need to get there. Line 166 needs more service from the North Hollywood Metro Station. Line 156 is standing...

United Airlines' Bankruptcy Won't Affect Travel at Los Angeles-Area Airports.
December 10, 2002... Byline: Barbara Correa Dec. 10--United Airlines' bankruptcy will have no immediate effect on passengers at Burbank or Los Angeles International airports, the parent company, UAL Corp., said Monday. United is LAX's largest carrier, with...

UBS Warburg Downgrades Three Video-Game Firms as Preholiday Optimism Fades.
December 10, 2002... Byline: Evan Pondel Dec. 10--Video-game stocks declined Monday after UBS Warburg downgraded several companies, claiming a tough retail environment as the primary culprit. UBS analyst Mike Wallace downgraded his ratings for THQ Inc.,...

Glacier Water Services' Product Flunks Purity Tests.
December 10, 2002... Byline: Lisa Mascaro Dec. 10--Water sold in vending machines near supermarkets by the largest seller in California fails to meet state standards one-third of the time and falls short of claims of being 97 percent contaminant-free, says a...

Blue Cross of California Introduces Plan Targeting Small Businesses.
December 11, 2002... Byline: Evan Pondel Dec. 11--THOUSAND OAKS, Calif.--Blue Cross of California introduced a new insurance plan Tuesday that targets small businesses -- a population already ailing from the soaring cost of health care. The new product,...

Los Angeles to Get Another Tax Hike.
December 11, 2002... Byline: Harrison Sheppard Dec. 11--Los Angeles officials have found yet another way to bring money into the cash-strapped treasury by charging drivers more to get their cars back after they've been towed by the city. The City Council...

Overflow Crowd Delays Vote on 3,050-Home Development in Ventura County, Calif.
December 11, 2002... Byline: Grace Lee Dec. 11--VENTURA, Calif.--Overflow crowds packed the hearing room Tuesday where Ventura County supervisors weighed the fate of the 3,050-home Ahmanson Ranch development. No vote was taken on the first phase of the...

Developer Buys Northridge, Calif., Market Place.
December 11, 2002... Dec. 11--NORTHRIDGE, Calif.--An Irvine real estate company has bought the Northridge Market Place for $8 million and will give the 92,000-square-foot facility an upscale image. CIP Real Estate plans to spend $2 million on the makeover and...

North Hills, Calif.-Based Toy Manufacturer All Dolled Up for Christmas.
December 11, 2002... Byline: Brent Hopkins Dec. 11--NORTH HILLS, Calif.--They stand 10.5 inches tall, sport fashions that would make J. Lo blush and they're worth a billion dollars. Bratz, styled as an edgy alternative to Barbie, have shaken up the...

Los Angeles Police Consider Hiring Contractor to Help Answer Calls.
December 11, 2002

California State Senator Proposes Nickel Alcohol Tax for Health Care Costs.
December 12, 2002... Byline: Troy Anderson Dec. 12--State Sen. Gloria Romero plans to announce today a "Five-For-Life" legislative proposal to levy a 5-cent tax per alcoholic drink to save California's beleaguered trauma centers and emergency rooms. "In...

Los Angeles City Council Vow to Fight 3,050-Home Development.
December 12, 2002... Byline: Mariel Garza Dec. 12--The Los Angeles City Council agreed unanimously Wednesday to file a lawsuit challenging the 3,050-home Ahmanson Ranch development if the Ventura County Board of Supervisors approves a supplemental...

Spanish Subtitles Offer Choice for Los Angeles-Area Moviegoers.
December 12, 2002... Byline: Greg Hernandez Dec. 12--VAN NUYS, Calif.--When the new Jennifer Lopez romantic comedy "Maid in Manhattan" opens at the Mann Theatre Plant 16 on Friday, moviegoers in this heavily Latino populated area will have the option of seeing...

Los Angeles School Plan Provides Threat to Shopping Center Expansion.
December 12, 2002... Byline: Helen Gao Dec. 12--NORTH HOLLYWOOD, Calif.--Los Angeles Unified's plan to build a middle school inside Valley Plaza has angered some residents and forced the city to scale back its redevelopment plan for the dated shopping center....

Ski Equipment Company K2 Inc. Makes Pitch for Sporting Goods Maker Rawlings.
December 12, 2002... Byline: Brent Hopkins Dec. 12--Ski equipment maker K2 Inc. announced Wednesday a bid for Rawlings Sporting Goods Co. Inc., the storied company behind professional baseballs, hockey pucks and college-team equipment. Neither side would...

Los Angeles City Council Backs Plans for Mixed-Use Developments.
December 12, 2002

Trial Is Next Stop for Burbank, Calif., Airport Parking.
December 13, 2002... Byline: Susan Abram Dec. 13--BURBANK, Calif.--More than 2,000 additional private parking spaces will be available to Burbank Airport travelers beginning next week, just as developers and the Burbank Airport Authority prepare to take the...

Biotech Giant Amgen Offers Upbeat Forecast for 2003.
December 13, 2002... Byline: Gregory J. Wilcox Dec. 13--THOUSAND OAKS, Calif.--Amgen Inc., the world's biggest biotechnology company, issued a cheery financial forecast for 2003, predicting strong sales and about a 24 percent growth in earnings per share. ...

State Budget Woes May Delay Funding for Los Angeles Transportation Projects.
December 13, 2002... Byline: Lisa Mascaro Dec. 13--The state's budget shortfall threatens to derail funding for the San Fernando Valley's 101-405 freeway improvements, I-5 car-pool lanes and other projects across Los Angeles County, officials said Thursday....

Model of Downtown Glendale, Calif., Development Is Ready for Public Review.
December 13, 2002

Reseda, Calif., Artist Takes to Window Dressing for Holidays.
December 13, 2002

Tarzana, Calif.-Area Residents Will Get Relief Soon from Freeway Noise.
December 16, 2002... Byline: Lisa Mascaro Dec. 16--TARZANA, Calif.--After more than a decade of broken promises, residents along the Ventura Freeway will finally have a soundwall to shield their homes from the roar of passing traffic. Construction crews...

Developer Gets More Time to Start Work on Lancaster, Calif., Home Project.
December 16, 2002

Kohl's Names New Department-Store Sites in California's San Fernando Valley.
December 17, 2002... Byline: Brent Hopkins Dec. 17--Kohl's Department Stores officials announced Monday that they will bring 4,200 jobs to the region and open 28 new stores in Southern California, including five in and near the San Fernando Valley. The...

Southern California Patrons Converge on U.S. Postal Service.
December 17, 2002... Byline: Lisa Mascaro Dec. 17--VAN NUYS, Calif.--More staffers on duty, supervisors directing lobby traffic and, at one station, even a refreshment table helped usher U.S. Postal Service patrons through the long lines Monday, the busiest...

Los Angeles Retailers Bracing for Last-Minute Holiday Rush.
December 17, 2002... Byline: Brent Hopkins Dec. 17--With thin numbers so far, retailers need a strong sales week before they can celebrate a happy Christmas holiday. After an initial flourish the weekend after Thanksgiving, the retail world has cooled...

Woodland Hills, Calif.-Based Blood Products Firm HemaCare Resolves Lawsuit.
December 17, 2002

DVD Sales Eclipse Rentals, Industry Experts Say.
December 18, 2002... Byline: Greg Hernandez Dec. 18--When the DVD version of "Spider-Man" arrived in stores in late October, the movie quickly zoomed to the top of the video sales charts. But the most popular DVD rental that same week was "The Sum of All...

Home Prices Soar, Sales Stay Hot in California's San Fernando Valley.
December 18, 2002... Byline: Gregory J. Wilcox Dec. 18--The median price of single-family homes sold in the San Fernando Valley in November hit a record $331,100 -- $68,100 or 26 percent higher than a year ago, local Realtors reported Tuesday. Sales in...

Retool of Panorama City, Calif., Mall Makes Holidays Bright for Retailers.
December 18, 2002... Byline: Brent Hopkins Dec. 18--PANORAMA CITY, Calif.--The Panorama Mall has long been the underdog. Only this year the underdog has some teeth. Fifty-one years after it opened and more than two decades since its previous renovation,...

Los Angeles County, Calif., Board Tables Sales-Tax Proposal.
December 18, 2002... Byline: Troy Anderson Dec. 18--Questioning the wisdom of Sheriff Lee Baca's request to place a half-cent sales tax measure on the March 2004 ballot, Los Angeles County supervisors voted Tuesday to postpone the matter until March 18. ...

Los Angeles City Council Delays Business-Fee Hikes.
December 19, 2002... Byline: James Nash Dec. 19--The Los Angeles City Council backed off Wednesday from a controversial proposal to raise some fees on businesses by factors of 10 or more, agreeing instead to study the fees for another three months. Gun...

Once-Premium Carole Little Fashion Line Is Set for T.J. Maxx.
December 19, 2002... Byline: Brent Hopkins Dec. 19--VAN NUYS, Calif.--Once-upscale Carole Little products will live again in the bargain aisle, as brand manager The Cherokee Group announced Wednesday that it has acquired the trademarks of CL Fashions. ...

Los Angeles-Based Santa Claus Productions Sets Yuletide Scene for Films, TV.
December 19, 2002... Byline: Greg Hernandez Dec. 19--NORTH HOLLYWOOD, Calif.--In last week's Christmas-theme episode of NBC's "Frasier," guest star Dean Cain appeared as a hunky shopping-mall Santa seated on a gilded throne. The golden throne and other...

Film Studios Are in Full Court Press to Promote Academy-Award Hopefuls.
December 19, 2002... Byline: Greg Hernandez Dec. 19--Diane Lane, whom many initially considered a long shot for a best-actress Oscar nomination for "Unfaithful," was prominently featured on the covers of The Hollywood Reporter and Daily Variety in recent weeks...

Developers Make Final Plea for 3,050-Home Project in Ventura County, Calif.
December 19, 2002... Byline: Grace Lee Dec. 19--VENTURA, Calif.--Developers of the 3,050-home Ahmanson Ranch project, in a last opportunity Tuesday to sway Ventura County supervisors, derided opponents' use of "overnight experts and out-of-state lawyers that...

Housing Industry Accounts for 13 Percent of California's Economy, Study Finds.
December 19, 2002... Byline: Gregory J. Wilcox Dec. 19--The housing industry is the largest contributor to California's economy, generating $257 billion annually and creating 821,000 jobs, concludes a study released Wednesday. That equals about 13 percent...

Disney in Talks to Acquire Creator of Muppets, Sources Say.
December 20, 2002... Byline: Brent Hopkins Dec. 20--BURBANK, Calif.--The Walt Disney Co. is reportedly in talks to acquire Muppets creator Jim Henson Co. Inc., a move that would put Kermit the Frog under the control of Mickey Mouse. Sources close to the...

Ventura County, Calif., Officials Endorse 3,050-Home Development's First Phase.
December 20, 2002... Byline: Grace Lee Dec. 20--VENTURA, Calif.--Ignoring pleas for more study and threats of lawsuits, Ventura County supervisors delivered a crucial victory Thursday to developers of the proposed 3,050-home Ahmanson Ranch project, endorsing...

Sideshow Toy of Westlake Village, Calif., Unveils 'Lord of the Rings' Products.
December 20, 2002... Byline: Greg Hernandez Dec. 20--WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif.--With "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers" already taking the nation's megaplexes by storm, Sideshow Toy's newest line of collectibles based on the movie franchise may benefit...

Newest 'Lord of the Rings' Film Rings Up Superlative First Day at Box Office.
December 20, 2002... Byline: Greg Hernandez Dec. 20--"The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers" recorded the biggest single-day December gross and the second-highest Wednesday opening ever, ringing up an astounding $27.5 million in its box office bow, according...

Ernst & Young Predicts Gloomy 2003 for Retailers.
December 20, 2002

Daily News, Los Angeles, Real Estate Column.
December 22, 2002... Byline: Gregory J. Wilcox Dec. 22--Last week J. Robert Fountain, author of a report quantifying the housing sector's impact on the state's economy, lamented the fact that local government officials seem to focus more on infrastructure...

Second 'Lord of the Rings' Film Breaks December Box Office Records.
December 23, 2002... Byline: Greg Hernandez Dec. 23--"The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers" achieved the biggest December opening by any movie in film industry history as it grossed an astounding $101.5 million in its first five days of release, according to...