Boxoffice barometer (1954)

Nationwide Poll Names Screen’s Who’s Who * Exhibitors, Press and Public Film Groups Make Selections POPULARITY OL ML A mencan .5 avoriteS of 1953 COOPER is still super and Bing is still the thing, according to the 1953 results of BOXOFFICE BAROMETER'S 17th annual AllAmerican Screen Favorites poll, which place Gary Cooper and Bing Crosby in first and second positions respectively. Cooper maintains the Number One spot he gained in the 1952 poll, while Bing rises from fourth position in last year's poll to second place for 1953, a place he had held steadily for the years 1944, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1950 and 1951, when he headed the male contingent. For two years, 1948 and 1949, Crosby was in the Number One spot, heading the combined list of winners. THE WINNERS: 1. Gary Cooper 2. Bing Crosby 3. Ava Gardner 4. Susan Hayward 5. Marilyn Monroe G. John Wayne 7. Jane Wyman 8. Esther Williams 9. June Allyson 10. Montgomery Clift 11. Doris Day 12. Clark Gable though he still remained among the ranks of the top 12 male stars during that time. As has been done the past two years, the poll this year was again broken down to show the way exhibitors voted as compared with the results of the general poll. While the latter represents the over-all picture of a cross-section of public opinion, the exhibitor tabulation presents an interesting sidelight, sometimes showing widely diversified results from that of the general poll. This is natural, inasmuch as theatre managers usually base the popularity of stars on how they click at the cash window. The lanky Cooper, who seized the reins from June Allyson in the 1952 poll, had averaged sixth and seventh positions on the list of winners for several years, except for 1944 and 1948 when he rose to third position in both those years. Ava Gardner makes the combined list this year for the first time, grabbing third place honors and heading the list of top 12 female stars, making her the All-American favorite actress for 1953. She took a terrific jump from tenth place among the top 12 female stars last year. In 1951 she was number eleven on the same list, a rise from her drop in 1950, after having held second place runners-up honors in 1949. Ava has become increasingly popular since her starring role in "The Snows of Kilimanjaro,'' and she also is starred in the popular "Mogambo." Susan Hayward drops from third place last year to fourth this year, still considerably up from ninth place in 1951. She shared starring honors with Ava Gardner in "The Snows of Kilimanjaro'' and gave a fine performance in "The President's Lady." Marilyn Monroe, the blonde gentlemen prefer, moves up from eleventh position last year to fifth this year. This little lady is doing very well since her initial appearance on the favorites' list last year, which elevated her immediately among the top 12. That's quite a climb for a comparative newcomer. John Wayne of "Quiet Man" fame, moves up from tenth position last year to sixth place in the current results. In 1951 he held 12th place on the combined list. The previous year he was number nine among the top 12 male stars and held 12th place in that same category in 1949. Jane Wyman's drop from second to seventh place still leaves her in the top ranks. She gives a sterling performance in “So Big" which should keep her on the favorites' list next season. Esther Williams retains eighth place, which she held last year, although she placed fourth in 1951. June Allyson, who was the Number One star for both 1950 and 1951, dropped from fifth place last year to ninth this year. She held second place honors in 1949. Montgomery Clift climbs to tenth place, while Doris Day drops to eleventh position from that of number six in 1952 and number eight in 1951. Clark Gable, long a Screen Poll favorite, gets back into the top 12 after an absence from the combined list for the past two years, al The exhibitors are in agreement with Gary Cooper's selection as top man, but place Bing Crosby in sixth position as compared with the number two spot he holds on the general poll. Susan Hayward takes second place in the exhibitor count, having moved up from fourth position last year and twelfth in 1951. John Wayne ties with Esther Williams for third place. Doris Day is number four, with the Dean Martin-Jerry Lewis comedy team coming in fifth. Jane Wyman holds seventh position on both the exhibitor and general polls and was seventh also on last year's exhibitor poll. Alan Ladd is the number eight choice; Marilyn Monroe ninth; Ava Gardner is tenth as compared with third place on the general poll, June Allyson is eleventh and James Stewart is twelfth. The All-American Screen Favorites Poll is conducted by sending out ballots listing eligible stars to the following for their vote selections: 1. Motion picture editors of newspapers and magazines. 2. Theatres — circuits and independents in both large cities and small towns. 3. The working press comprising domestic, foreign and radio correspondents. 4. Radio and TV commentators. 5. National Screen Council members, who each month select the film most suitable for family entertainment to be given the BOXOFFICE Blue Ribbon Award. The Council is composed of motion picture editors, radio film commentators and representatives of better films councils, women's clubs, civic and educational organizations. BOXOFFICE 19