Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1947)

5 2*6rfUt<n *i¥<z4, Say ABOUT PICTURES One star after a picture report denotes an exhibitor who has only started contributing to the department, two stars designate a contributor who has been sending in reports from six months to a year, and three stars are for those of veteran standing, from one to many years. When a contributor attains the threestar standing, he may expect a token of our appreciation. Everybody welcome ASTOR Long Shot, The (Astor) Reissue — Marsha Hunt, Gordon Jones. I will only repeat what I've said before — a lot of this Astor product does better for me than current product from major film companies. This is a programmer but not too bad. Played Tues., Wed. Weather: Cold. — Terry Axley, New Theatre, England, Ark. Rural and small town patronage. * * COLUMBIA Alias Mr. Twilight (Col) — Michael Duane, Trudy Marshall, Lloyd Corrigan. Enjoyed by my Sunday patrons. — James C. Balkcom, Gray Theatre, Gray, Ga. Small town pa * * ★ tronage. Bandit of Sherwood Forest, The (Col) — Cornel Wilde, Anita Louise, Jill Esmond. Good action, nice story, favorable comments. It pleased the customers and that is what counts. Played Sun., Mon., Tues.— D. W. Trisko, Star Theatre, Stanley, N. D. Rural patronage. * Jungle Raiders (Col) — Serial. Kane Richmond, Eddie Quillan, Janet Shaw. This is one of the best serials we've played in a long time. Kane Richmond makes a convincing hero and deserves better roles in first class pictures. And Eddie Quillan furnished plenty of laughs. However, we wonder when Charles King is going to take a vacation. He's been in practically every western and serial for the past 17 years. Played Fri., Sat. Weather: Fair and cold. — Dinkle & Lemaster, Ken Theatre, Raceland, Ky. Rural and small town patronage. My Name Is Julia Ross (Col) — Nina Foch, Dame May Whitty, George Macready. The only bright spot in this picture is George Macready, still remembered for his role in “Gilda." This is strictly double bill material. Played to below average business Wed., Thurs. Weather: Sub-zero. — Carl E. Pehlman, Rio Theatre, Edinburg, 111. Rural and small town patronage. Perilous Holiday (Col) — Pat O'Brien, Ruth Warrick, Alan Hale. This was an excellent picture from Columbia's medium bracket. Pat O'Brien fell down a couple of months ago in "Crack-Up" (RKO), which must have been too deep for my type of patron, so this doubled with the usual Fri., Sat. western brought me a pleasant surprise. Weather: Clear and warm. — Rahl & Hanson, California Theatre, Kerman, Calif. Small town patronage. Renegades (Col) — Evelyn Keyes, Willard Parker, Larry Parks. Here's a great western any small situation should do well on. The color and scenery are fine. Edgar Buchanan played the part of a ruthless old Bible-reading scoundrel to perfection. The story is fine. The stars aren't too well known but who cares when it's a western, in color, and the trailer is chock-full of action and appeal? The only complaint I had was that Ben Dembrow should have reformed and got the girl. Don't pass it up. Any company but Columbia would have asked twice the price for one like this and I couldn't have come out on it. As it is, I made up for "Kiss and Tell." Played Sun., Mon. Weather: Perfect. — R. C. Walker, Rialto Theatre, Fruita, Colo. Rural patronage. * * * Sing While You Dance (Col)— Ellen Drew, Robert Stanton, Andrew Tombes. Pictures like this are an insult to people's intelligence. We double billed it and played it one night only, which was one night too many. Played Tuesday. Weather: Rain. — Marcella Smith, Vinton Theatre, McArthur, Ohio. Small town patron METRO-GOLDWYN -MAYER Boys' Ranch (MGM) — Jackie "Butch" Jenkins, Skippy Homeier, Dorothy Patrick. A splendid picture for any place. The patrons here like down-to-earth ones like this. Comments were favorable. Played Wed., Thurs. Weather: Fair. — E. B. Wacaster, Ozark Theatre, Ozark, Ark. Rural and small town patronage. * * * Cockeyed Miracle (MGM) — Frank Morgan, Keenan Wynn, Audrey Totter. Well done comedy that pleased 100 per cent to average business. Weather: Snow. Played Sunday. — W. F. Shelton, Louisburg Theatre, Louisburg, N. C. Rural and small town patronage. * * Courage of Lassie (MGM) — Elizabeth Taylor, Frank Morgan, Tom Drake. This is one of the better grossers in small situations. We find that family type pictures like this are the best fare we can give them. We would prefer more of this type, even if they come in black and white, instead of the constant run of murder mysteries. Played Sun., Mon. Weather: Cloudy and cool. — Rahl & Hanson, California Theatre, Kerman, Calif. Green Years, The (MGM) — Charles Coburn, Beverly Tyler, Tom Drake. A good picture but my customers do not turn out for these dramatic pictures. — Leroy C. Smith, Ren-Roy Theatre, Greenup, Ky. Rural and small town patronage. * * Green Years, The (MGM) — Charles Coburn, Beverly Tyler, Tom Drake. A swell show — nothing but praise from my patrons. Played Sun. Mon., Tues. Weather: Not too good. — Bill Leonard, Leonard Theatre, Cedarvale, Kas. Small town and rural patronage. * * * Hidden Eye, The (MGM) — Edward Arnold, Frances Rafferty, Ray Collins. Far below what you expect from MGM. It got by but had to scratch to do it. Played Wed., Thurs. Weather: Fair. — Bill Leonard, Leonard Theatre, Cedarvale, Kas. Small town and rural patronage. * * * Son of Lassie (MGM) — Peter Lawford, Don We Get Some Bouquets From a New Contributor “I consider ‘The Exhibitor Has His Say’ one of the best features of BOXOFFICE and follow it every week. With few exceptions I discover that I get similar results on the pictures played by my fellow exhibitors in small town situations. According to the distributor’s advice, each picture he has is a sensation, so it goes without saying that these exhibitor reports are much more valuable to us small operators who cannot get to tradeshowings and have learned not to take the distributor’s word for everything.”— Jim Hanson, California Theatre, Kerman, Calif. Exhibitor Changes Mind On Carson as Cowboy “My apologies to Warner Bros, and Jack Carson. I laughed loudly when I read that Warners were starring Jack in a super-western as Wild Bill Hickok. After seeing Jack’s portrayal of a tough cowboy in the reissue, ‘Destry Rides Again,’ I’ve changed my mind.” — Ralph Raspa, State Theatre, Rivesville, W. Va. aid Crisp, June Lockhart. In spite of its age, I did a good business on this picture. It seems that a really good picture in color will always do business. Played Sun., Mon. Weather: Good. — E. M. Freiburger, Paramount Theatre, Dewey, Okla. Small town patronage. Undercurrent (MGM) — Katharine Hepburn, Robert Taylor, Robert Mitchum. The mighty Leo certainly wasted his star, Mr. Taylor, on this vehicle and the people didn't hesitate telling us about it. They couldn't feature him as a villain in his first role since the war and it didn't seem to taste so good to them. Business was off at least 20 per cent below average. Played Sun., Mon. Weather Cold. — Burris and Henley Smith, Imperial Theatre, Pocahontas, Ark. Rural patronage. MONOGRAM Dangerous Money (Mono) — Sidney Toler, Gloria Warren, Victor Sen Young. The first Charlie Chan picture we've played and it was enjoyed by all. — James C. Balkcom, Gray Theatre, Gray, Ga. Small town patronage. * * * Junior Prom (Mono) — Freddie Stewart, June Preisser, Judy Clark. A good little feature from a good company for small towns. The first of a new series and I hope the Teen-agers build business up for me, as the Bowery Boys have done. Played Thurs., Fri. Weather: Cold. — Arthur E. Phifield, Park Theatre, South Berwick, Me. Small town patronage. Riding the California Trail (Mono) — Gilbert Roland, Teala Loring, Frank Yaconelli. Monogram may make worse, but I doubt it. Played to below average business. — Wilder S, Funk, Star Theatre, St. Stephens, S. C. Small town and rural patronage. * Riding the California Trail (Mono) — Gilbert Roland, Teala Loring. I wouldn't class this as a western even though ones like this are sold as same. My crowd doesn't go for them at all. Played Thurs., Fri., Sat. Weather: Good. — Terry Axley, New Theatre, England, Ark. Rural and small town patronage. PARAMOUNT Ladies' Man (Para) — Eddie Bracken, Cass Daley, Spike Jones and his City Slickers. Without doubt the funniest and most entertaining musical comedy released in the past 12 months. Quite a bit of repeat business. Wish now that we had backed this iip more since the customers were certainly satisfied. Weather: Fair. Played Thurs., Fri. — W. F. Shelton, Louisburg Theatre, Louisburg, N. C. Rural and small town patronage. O.S.S. (Para) — Alan Ladd, Geraldine Fitzgerald, Patric Knowles. Ladd always draws well here and he had a fine vehicle in this one. Business was average. Played Fri.) Sat. Weather: Good. D. W. Trisko, Star Theatre, Stanley, N. D. Rural patronage. Plainsman, The (Para) — Reissue. Gqry Cooper, Jean Arthur, James Ellison. Here's cf fine repeat you can't afford to miss for your weekend boxoffice which was about par witj) (Continued on page 40) 38 BOXOFFICE : : April 5, 1947