Spice mania!

Britain's chart-topping Spice Girls hit the silver screens in Calgary yesterday -- much to the delight of fans and retailers alike.

"We had a lot of advance phone calls and people booking birthday parties for the movie," said Brad Ladouceur, distribution supervisor for Cineplex Odeon Cinemas.

Spice World -- the movie starring the all-girl group -- opened at cinemas across the city.

The so-called "Fab Five" gave fans what they want, but gave retailers what they really, really want -- more sales.

"The movie is going to be entertaining, and that's going to help keep them a phenomenon," said Ann Zee, manager of the music department at A&B Sound in the northeast.

Zee said the popularity of the Spice Girls has been "astounding," noting any paraphernalia with their name on it was a big seller over Christmas.

"Spice Girls merchandise had to be replaced every two days," she said.

Sales are still high, said Zee, but she expects them to take off again with the movie out.

The spice was right for Sol Candel, too. The owner of the Movie Poster Shop, 3600 21 St. N.E., said Spice Girls posters have been red hot.

Even hairdressers are getting in on the act.

"I cut my seven-year-old cousin's hair and put it in a bob because she wanted to look like one of the Spice Girls," said Martha Albanito, an apprentice hairdresser at Kolor Twist Hair Co.