Boxoffice (Oct-Dec 1939)

"The ^xhtlfltot 4^a5 4^16 Sai^ Columbia Blondie Brings Up Baby There is no better picture for children. Blondie is also funny to all. These pictures go good on any date. The weather was bad for the picture though. Sun., Mon. Weather: Rain. Admission: 25-10. Small town patronage. Population: 1,000. Capacity: 200. — Ted Wilson, Rex Theatre, Carlisle, Ark. Blondie Takes a Vacation Equally as good as any of this series and that means a little better than average at boxoffice. Fri., Sat. Weather: Fair. Admission: 30-10. Small town patronage. ' Population: 600. Capacity: 300. — Horn 6i Morgan, Inc., Star Theatre, Hay Springs, Neb. Golden Boy Swell picture which failed at the boxoffice. Was victim of big grosser just preceding it caused by local interest. Sun., Mon. Weather: Fair. Admission. 30-10. Small town patronage. Population: 600. Capacity: 300.— Horn & Morgan, Inc., Star Theatre, Hay Springs, Neb. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington One of the really great pictures that comes along once every so often. Inspiring and suspenseful at the same time. Satisfied everyone and I mean satisfied! However, not as much humor as the usual Capra picture and business nothing very extraordinary. Mon., Tues., Wed. Weather: Rain, cold. Admission: 40-30. General patronage. Population: 3,500. Capacity: 562. — Tom McCaskey, Williamsburg Theatre, Williamsburg, Va. First National Angels Wash Their Faces Very good program picture. Dead End Kids are good for a little increase at our boxoffice and Ann Sheridan had the type of role in which she is always good. Let's just forget she is an oomph girl. Wed., Thurs. Admission: 30-10. Small town patronage. Population: 600. Capacity: 300. — Horn & Morgan, Inc., Star Theatre, Hay Springs, Neb. Daughters Courageous As bright and shiny a piece of entertainment as you'll find anywhere. And you can believe every bit of it too. Study your pressbook and give this the works. Audience reaction: Everyone liked it. Boxoffice: Above average. Sun., Mon. Cosmopolitan patroriage. Population: 700. Capacity: 263. — E. A. Stein, Out-Wickenburg-Way Theatre, Wickenburg, Ariz. Each Dawn I Die Too heavy, especially for Sunday. Well played by fine cast. Let's forget these heavy depressing stories, for a while. Our people want lighter stuff. Admission: 30-10. Small town patronage. Population: 600. Capacity: 300. — Horn & Morgan, Inc., Star Theatre, Hay Springs, Neb. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer At the Circus With this the Marxes hash their same old stuff that always has and always will delight their particular fans. To other people it will mean little. It will hardly win them any new friends. Kenny Baker, thrown in as a defunct circus, owner, does neither the picture nor himself any good. Business ambled along the lightweight territory. Thurs., Fri. Weather: Clear. Admission: 40-30. General patronage. Population: 3,500. Capacity: 562. — Tom McCaskey, Williamsburg Theatre, Williamsburg, Va. Broadway Serenade Our patrons don't go for Jeanette MacDonald. Picture is draggy and too long. Sunday. Weather: Warm. Admission: 20-10. Population: 85,000. Capacity: 400. — Alyce Cornell, Galewood Theatre, Grand Rapids, Mich. Fast and Furious This one did better than average, although it fell slightly short of the series on which it thrived. This mixture of mystery and comedy seems to please all classes, but it has to move fast and furious to keep funny. Thursday. Weather: Warm. Admission: 4030. General patronage. Population: 3,500. Capacity: 562. — Tom McCaskey, Williamsburg Theatre, Williamsburg, Va. Ice Follies of 1939 Joan Crawford has no draw. Fair picture. No business. Sunday. Weather: Warm. Admission: 20-10. Population: 85,000. Capacity: Boxoffice Magazine, Dear Sirs: Yes, the radio season is on again right where it hits socko — the boxoffice. Exhibitors blamed the war news and food buying for boxoffice shrinkage, but what about now? It is still there and will continue with these movie radio productions on the air. I have never heard any of them; but of them from potential patrons. The summer business has been satisfactory throughout, but now the Sundays, Mondays and Thursdays have dwindled pathetically. At no time have I had giveaways to change the status, and being the only theatre in town (not a lake or resort town), I know what is killing my winter business. Film companies are picturing a bright outlook ahead, but they themselves are making it black. Economic conditions should improve, that’s true, but why shouldn’t its own industry try to help. Everyone knows there is a crying need for it. Last spring there were favorable indications that this problem would be taken care of. Has the industry decided this is no problem? Aren’t there plenty of capable dramatic students who need the money and opportunity without paying out thousands of dollars a performance to movie stars, directors and movie companies? Much of this is for the prestige and star names and not dramatic value. The public is awakening to this injustice. (Signed) A Minnesota Exhibitor. 400. — Alyce Cornell, Galewood Theatre, Grand Rapids, Mich. It's a Wonderful World Disappointing to many. Farfetched. Did not draw the regular business. Sun., Mon., Tues. Weather: Warm. Admission: 25-10. Rural patronage. Population: 1,000. Capacity: 300. — W. H. Hibbert, Hi-Way Theatre, Sheridan, Ore. Lady of the Tropics Don't miss this picture. A beautiful love story and very well produced. Hedy Lamarr plays much better in this one than in some of her others and Robert Taylor is also tops. Very sad ending. Fri., Sat. Weather: Clear. Admission. 25-10. Town patronage. Population: 1,400. Capacity: 300. — J. M. Plasterer, Strand Theatre, Steelton, Pa. On Borrowed Time To those who have no way of telling how much the film cut out the story this, one is OK if they like 'em sad. But the percentage of folk who enjoy contemplating death is too small to do much business. Sun,., Mon. Weather: OK. Admission: 20-10. Small town patronage. Population: 1,200. Capacity: 224. — F. M. Baker, Best Theatre, Handley, Tex. Remember? In spite of poor reviews we played this two days and the audience loved it. Very many stopped holding their sides and said it was the funniest ending they had ever seen in a picture. Word-of-mouth helped greatly on this. Did above average business. Thurs., Fri. Weather: Fair. Admission: 40-30. General patronage. Population: 3,500. Capacity: 562. — Tom McCaskey, Williamsburg Theatre, Williamsburg, Va. These Glamour Girls Good picture with swell cast which just held its own at the boxoffice. Was disappointed in its draw. Wed., Thurs. Admission 30-10. Small town patronage. Population: 600. Capacity: 300. — Horn & Morgan, Inc., Star Theatre, Hay Springs, Neb. Paramount Honeymoon in Bali Good average picture that is 100 per cent talker. The women called it cute and the men said nothing. Did less than average business, I feel, because the paper depicted a love story. About the same type picture as "Cafe Society'' and about the same quality. Sun., Mon. Weather: Good. Admission: 30-10. Rural patronage. Population: 1,000. Capacity: 350. — S. L. George, Mountain Home Theatre, Mountain Home, Ida Lady's From Kentucky, The Good programmer. Wednesday. Weather: Fair. Admission: 20-10. Population: 85,000. Capacity: 400. — Alyce Cornell, Galewood Theatre, Grand Rapids, Mich. What a Life Good picture for the young folks and pleased them. The older people didn't seem to care too much for it, but it is good program material. Fri., Sat. Weather: Good. Admission: 30-10. Rural patronage. Population: 1,000. Capacity: 350. — S. L. George, Mountain Home Theatre, Mountain Home, Ida. 122 BOXOFnCE : : December 9, 1939