Motion Picture Herald (Nov-Dec 1948)

'/what the u picture did for me" Columbia BLACK ARROW: Louis Hay ward, Janet Blair— Although lots of action, it didn't appeal to our patrons. Business wasn't up to par. — Harland Rankin, Plaza Theatre, Tilbury, Ont., Canada. BULLDOG DRUMMOND STRIKES BACK: Ronald Randell, Gloria Henry — Good action picture. Program was fair. I played it with an Autry as double bill to good business. — Harland Rankin, Plaza Theatre, Tilbury, Ont., Canada. THE GUNFIGHTERS: Randolph Scott, Barbara Britton — This was an excellent picture of its type. Could have drawn better, but we still came out on the right side of the ledger so cannot complain too much. Story was good and the Zane Grey name helps. Should please in action houses. Played Saturday, Oct. 9.— Fred J. Hutchings, Community Theatre, Leader, Sask., Canada. SON OF RUSTY: Ted Donaldson, Stephen Dunne — Having seen Rusty in person, and had him put on several acts for us while visiting Columbia studios, we enjoy these pictures very much, as well as our patrons. — Harland Rankin, Beau Theatre, Belle River, Ontario. Eagle-Lion THE MAGIC BOW: Phyllis Calvert, Stewart Granger — This only drew a fair crowd as our patrons shy away from anything approaching the classical in music. Those who like that type of music thought this tops. Well produced and acted. A good attraction for good music lovers. Played Monday, Oct. 11. — Fred J. Hutchings, Community Theatre, Leader, Sask., Canada. Paramount BLUE SKIES: Bing Crosby. Fred Astaire— This is old, but as this district has never played Paramount for over three years we took a chance on this and got badly stung. Except for the two stars there is nothing spectacular about this production. The same corny story and only fair acting. Played Saturday, Oct. 16. — Fred J. Hutchings, Community Theatre, Leader, Sask., Canada. I WALK ALONE: Burt Lancaster, Lizbeth Scott —This is an excellent picture. It is a grand story, full of action and suspense, and the crowd loved it. But Lancaster is a big drawing card in this college town. It is good for any spot. Played WednesdayFriday, Oct. 13-15.— Ken Gorham, Town Tall Theatre, Middlebury, Vt. RKO Radio FIGHTING FATHER DUNNE: Pat O'Brien, Myrna Dell — An excellent picture. The kind we need more of. Very good business and many favorable comments. Played Sunday, Monday, Oct. 17, 18. — ana. comments, .riayed Sunday, Monaay, uct. Dick Smith, Albany Theatre, Albany, Indi FORT APACHE: John Wayne, Henry Fonda, Shirley Temple — A good historical picture on the order of "Unconquered" and "Tap Roots." For some reason these historical pictures fail to draw in this community and attendance was below average on all of them. Played Tuesday-Thursday, Oct. 19-21.— Dick Smith, Albany Theatre, Albany, Indiana. Republic GAY RANCHERO: Roy Rogers, Tito Guizar— Roy recently got in bad by showing his resentment to children when visiting 20 miles from us. Some theatres even changed their bookings. However, we showed it, and I did notice there wasn't as big a following as usual. However, I will say business was above average.— Harland Rankin, Beau Theatre, Belle River, Ontario. TWILIGHT ON THE RIO GRANDE: Gene Autry', Sterling Holloway — Autry is still popular with us. Business was good, although I feel some of his reissues have hurt him. — Harland Rankin, Plaza Theatre, Tilbury, Ont., Canada. Twentieth Century Fox DEEP WATERS: Dana Andrews, Jean Peters— Not . . . the original exhibitors' reports department, established October 14, 1916. In it theatremen serve one another with information about the box office performance of product — providing a service of the exhibitor for the exhibitor. ADDRESS REPORTS: What the Picture Did for Me, Motion Picture Herald, Rockefeller Center, New York 20. FINDS FUN AND PROFIT IN THE DEPARTMENT The Motion Picture Herald is the best trade paper of this vast business and is positively indispensable to all who are a part of show business. I want to tell you also that I enjoy reading the exhibitors' department, "What the Picture Did for Me", both for fun and for profit. I might also add that I am proud to have been a contributor thereto. You have earned the respect and goodwill of showmen everywhere and I do not think it is an elaboration to say that the Motion Picture Herald is one of the great achievements of the motion picture industry. — RUDOLPH J. COV1, Herminie, Pa. a costly picture, but a down-to-earth story very well acted and entertaining. It would not break any house records in a college town, but those who saw it were very pleased. Played Sunday -Tuesday, Oct. 24-26. — Ken Gorham, Town Hall Theatre, Middlebury, Vt. FURY AT FURNACE CREEK: Victor Mature, Coleen Gray — This is tops. Some patrons remarked it was the best they had ever seen. It played on the weekend which I think was the proper time as it has 100 per cent action. It's good. Played ThursdaySaturday, Oct. 21-23.— Ken Gorham, Town Hall Theatre, Middlebury, Vt. FURY AT FURNACE CREEK: Victor Mature, Coleen Gray — Victor Mature doesn't mean peanuts to us. They can't be lured in by this "hunk of man." We never have had business from this star. — Harland Rankin, Beau Theatre, Belle River, Ontario. GENTLEMAN'S AGREEMENT: Gregory Peck, Dorothy McGuire — Racial pictures don't take with us. I don't think they are generally popular. Business was poor. — Harland Rankin, Plaza Theatre, Tilbury, Ont., Canada. SITTING PRETTY: Maureen O'Hara, Clifton Webb — Here's a swell show for all the family in any situation. Play it and get a lot of favorable comment. Above average business. Played Friday, Saturday, Oct. 8, 9— W. R. Pyle, Dreamland Theatre, Rockglen, Sask., Canada. SITTING PRETTY: Robert Young, Maureen O'Hara, Clifton Webb — This is top entertainment and it does you good to hear your patrons' laughter and all the good comments make you proud you are an exhibitor. Played Wednesday, Thursday, Sept. 22, 23. —Mrs. Cleo M. Shingler, Buena Vista Theatre, Buena Vista, Ga. THE TENDER YEARS: Joe E. Brown, Noreen Nash — I thought this would stand alone one day, but the box office was a flop. One comment: "Right cute." Played Sunday, Sept. 19.— Mrs. Cleo M. Shingler, Buena Vista Theatre, Buena Vista, Ga. Universal ALL MY SONS: Edward G. Robinson, Burt Lancaster— Excellent picture. Very strong story and acting by Robinson and Lancaster. It should do business anytime anywhere, in spite of the fact that business is not up to 1947 receipts by a long shot. Played Sunday-Tuesday. Oct. 17-19. — Ken Gorham, Town Hall Theatre, Middlebury, Vt. SOMETHING IN THE WIND: Deanna Durbm, John Lund — We certainly took a beating on this feature. It is one of our lowest grossers of the year. Played to a practically empty house. The few who did come seemed fairly well satisfied. Durbin is a dead duck as far as we are concerned. Played Friday, Oct. 15. — Fred J. Hutchings, Community Theatre, Leader, Sask., Canada. UP IN CENTRAL PARK: Deanna Durbin, Dick Haymes — Every time I book a Deanna Durbin picture I expect or hope for a good crowd, but they just do not go for Deanna as they did years ago, no matter what story they give or what supporting cast she has. It seems a shame. Played Sunday-Tuesday, October 3-5. — Ken Gorham, Town Hall Theatre, Middlebury, Vt. Universal International ARE YOU WITH IT: Donald O'Connor, Olga San Juan — Good musical comedy that brought them in. Liked by all. Double billed with "Buckaroo from Powder River." Above average attendance both nights. Flayed Friday, Saturday, Oct. 15, 16. — Dick Smith, Albany Theatre, Albany, Indiana. Warner Brothers THE TWO MRS. CARROLLS: Humphrey Bogart, Barbara Stanwyck— This drew the best of any Bogart picture we have played. Perhaps the added attraction of Stanwyck helped to draw the extra patrons. This is a good drama with Bogart playing a slightly different role. Well worth playing. Played Friday, Oct. 8. — Fred J. Hutchings, Community Theatre, Leader, Sask., Canada. THE TWO MRS. CARROLLS: Humphrey Bogart, Barbara Stanwyck — In Canada we have pictures classified as adult entertainment, these we have to play, and this happened to be one of them. As soon as the sign goes out we have had it. — Harland Rankin, Beau Theatre, Belle River, Ontario. VOICE OF THE TURTLE: Ronald Reagan, Eleanor Parkei — We didn't expect to do so well, as we starved in one of our other houses. But this situation enjoyed fair one-week business. — Harland Rankin, Plaza Theatre, Tilbury, Ont., Canada. Orto Theatres Purchases Two Milwaukee Houses Orto Theatres Corp., Harvey B. Newins, president, has taken title to two de luxe first run neighborhood houses in Milwaukee, the Oriental, 2,260 seats, and the Tower, 1,560. Together with the theatres, the adjoining commercial property was purchased, the management of which has been placed by Orto with the First Wisconsin Trust Co. The St. Cloud Amusement Corp., of which Mr. Newins is also president, will manage the two theatres. Gilbert Nathanson, of Minneapolis, together with Clifton E. Smith, head of the St. Cloud Booking Department, will book for both theatres. Kaufman Plans Comedy Joe Kaufman, associate producer for Roy Del Ruth Productions, is negotiating a deal to co-star the Ritz Brothers and Abbott and Costello in a comedy to be called "The Hatfields and the McCoys," to be based on the famous Kentucky feud. MOTION PICTURE HERALD, NOVEMBER 6, 1948 33