Boxoffice barometer (1944)

Page scan 00020 from Boxoffice barometer

Record Details:

Title:
Boxoffice barometer
Date:
1944
Publisher:
Kansas City : Associated Publications
Volume:
Boxoffice barometer (1944-45)
Leaf #:
00020
Language:
English
Collection:
Year Book and Hollywood Studio System
Format:
Periodicals
Contributor:
Media History Digital Library
Sponsor:
Media History Digital Library
Coordinator:
Media History Digital Library
Description:
BOXOFFICE was the leading American exhibitor trade paper of the post-World War II era. But the publication had modest beginnings. In 1920, Ben Shlyen founded the paper, orginally titled THE REEL JOURNAL, in an office located in Kansas City's Film Row district. Like other regional exhibitor publications, THE REEL JOURNAL focused its attention on the local -- in this case, KC and the nearby territories that the city's distribution exchanges served. By the end of the 1920s, however, Shlyen had acquired or founded several more small exhibitor papers serving other US markets. In 1932, their titles all changed to BOXOFFICE, though they continued to be published in regional editions for decades to follow. -- Eric Hoyt, 2015
Date Added:
May 02, 2025
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(These Scored. Ratings of 150% or More) 106 Feotures Make 'Hit' Class Rating 120% or More ยป The 1943-44 season has chalked up a new high mark for business done at the nation's boxoffices. While there were fewer pictures released, more of them did above average than in any previous season. And this makes the third consecutive time that such a record has been achieved. Out of a total output of 336 features, excluding westerns, 258, or 77 per cent, scored above the 100 per cent mark. In the hit category (120 per cent or better), there were 106 pictures. In the previous season, 273 features were released, with 206 scoring above average, giving on over-all rating of 55 per cent. There were 111 hit pictures in 1942-43, but on a ratio basis, this is 1.5 per cent under the record for 1943-44. As in the previous two seasons, only one picture scored above the 200 per cent mark. Two pictures which were played only on a roadshow basis and not generally released were omitted from the calculations. These pictures are "Song of Bernadette" and "Wilson." The latter earned distinction by receiving the first annual BOXOFFICE Award for the Outstanding Motion Picture Achievement in the Season of 1943-44. Of the hits listed in the adjoining columns, M-G-M scored with the largest number, having 21 hit pictures to its credit. 20th Century-Fox is second with 17; RKO is third with 16; Paramount has 12; Warners 11; Columbia and Universal each have 8; United Artists 7; Republic 4; and Monogram 2. On the ratio of hit pictures against each company's total number of releases computed, the story is somewhat different. M-G-M has the top ratio of 61.7 per cent, since their score was 21 hits out of 34 pictures tabulated. 20th Century-Fox takes second place on this calculation with a ratio of 60 per cent based on 17 hits out of 28 releases. Warners' ratio is 57.9, scoring 11 hits out of 19 releases. UA follows with 43.8 per cent for 7 hits out of 16. RKO comes next with 16 hits out of 37 for a ratio of 43.2 per cent. Columbia scores 21 per cent for 8 hits out of 38 releases. Then follows Republic with 16.6 per cent for 4 hits out of 24. Universal gets 16 per cent on 8 hits out of 50. And Monogram scores 8.3 per cent on its 2 hits out of 24 releases. Pet. GOING MY WAY (Para) 204 SINCE YOU WENT AWAY (UA) 172 THOUSANDS CHEER (M-G-M) 166 SWEET ROSIE O'GRADY (20th-rox) 162 LADY IN THE DARK (Para) 161 GUY NAMED JOE, A (M-G-M) ; 159 WHITE GLUTS OF DOVER, THE (M-G-M) 159 COVER GffiL (Col) 157 LET'S FACE IT (Para) 156 THANK YOUR LUCKY STARS (WB) 156 -GUADALCANAL DIARY (20th-Fox) 154 LADY TAKES A CHANCE. A (RKO) 154 CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY (Univ) 152 DESTINATION TOKYO (WB) 152 MIRACLE OF MORGAN'S CREEK (Para) 152 OLD ACQUAINTANCE (WB) 152 IN SOCIETY (Univ) 151 GIRL CRAZY (M-G-M) ISO (These Scored Ratings of 140% or More) ALI BABA AND THE FORTY THBSVES (Univ) 149 GANG'S AU KERE. THE (20th-Fox) 149 MADAME CURIE (M-G-M) 149 MR. SKEFFINGTON (WB) 149 SAHARA (Col) 149 DESERT SONG (WB) 149 FIGHTING SEABEES. THE (Rep) 148 HIS BUTLER'S SISTER (Univ) 148 WATCH ON THE RHINE (WB) 147 IN OLD OKLAHOMA (Rep) 146 PRINCESS O'ROURKE (WB) 146 STORY OF DR. WASSELL, THE (Para) 146 TENDER COMRADE (RKO) 146 HEAVEN CAN WAIT (ZOth-Fox) 145 WHERE ARE YOUR CHILDREN? (Mono) 145 UP IN ARMS (RKO) 144 WHAT A WOMAN! (Col) 144 CLAUDIA (20lh-Fox) 143 DRAGON SEED (M-G-M) 143 HIGHER AND HIGHER (RKO) 143 SEE HERE, PRIVATE HARGROVE (M-G-M) 143 WOMEN IN BONDAGE (Mono) 143 LASSIE COME HOME (M-G-M) 142 NO TME FOR LOVE (Para) 141 STANDING ROOM ONLY (Para) ;i41 SALUTE TO THE MARINES (M-G-M) 140 (These Scored Ratings of 130% or More) GUNG HOI (Univ) 139 FLESH AND FANTASY (Univ) 138 FALLEN SPARROW. THE (RKO) 137 12 BoxorncE barometer