Boxoffice (Jul-Sep 1947)

mzH EXHIBITOR HAS HIS SAY ABOUT PICTURES Just as the Barometer page shows first run reports on current pictures, this department is devoted for the most part to reports on subsequent runs, made try exhibitors themselves. A one-star contributor is new, two stars mean the exhibitor has been writing in for six months or longer, and a three-star contributor is a regular of one year or more, who receives a token of our appreciation. All exhibitors welcome. COLUMBIA Corpse Came C.O.D.. The (Col) — George Brent, Joan Blondell, Adele Jergens. An average murder yarn that pleased the mystery fans. The only trouble is, there just aren't enough mystery fans and too many mystery pictures. Played Sunday. Weather: ' Hot. — W. F. Shelton, Louisburg Theatre, Louisburg, N. C. Rural and small town patronage * * * Dancing in Manhattan (Col) — Jeff Donnell, Fred Brady. This is a fair show for the weekend trade. Played Fri., Sat. Weather; Warm. — Ralph Raspa, State Theatre, Rivesville, W. Va. Small town oatronage. * * * Jolson Story, The (Col) — Larry Parks, Evelyn Keyes, William Demarest. This held up for three days, one more than given the customary change, but "Jolson Story" business was not done here, possibly because of the late playdate, hot weather, and college recess. Played Sun., Mon., Tues. Weather: Hot. — Gray Barker, Pictureland Theatre, Glenville, W. Va. Rural, college and small town patronage. * * * Millie's Daughter (Col) — Gladys George, Gay Nelson," Paul Campbell. This might have done all right on a double feature except that I picked the wrong picture as a second feature— "So Dark the Night." I had a few people the first night and fewer the second night. The story isn't too bad but for a higher bracket picture this is lacking in star value and is definitely overrated. Played Thurs., Fri. Weather: Hot and humid. — Carl E. Pehlman, Rio Theatre, Edinburg, 111. Rural and small town patronage. * * Return of Rusty, The (Col) — ^Ted Donaldson, John Litel, Barabara Wooddell. Played this on a double bill with satisfactory results. I recommend this for all occasions. Played Fri., Sat. — James C. Balkcom jr.. Gray Theatre, Gray, Ga. Small town patronage. * * * EAGLE LION Accomplice (EL) — -Richard Arlen, Veda Ann Borg, Tom Dugan. This is a good program. Double with "Song of Old Wyoming" to make a well balanced program. Played Saturday. Weather; Clear and hot. — J. E. Rougeau, Club Theatre, Seven Sisters Falls, Man. Small town and rural patronage. * * Bedelia (EL) — Margaret Lockwood, Ian Hunter, Barry K. Barnes. Despite high grosses claimed in other small towns, we lost money. It has the customary pace of J. Arthur's offerings, and we wisely did not take advantage of exploitable values and then suffer angry glares from patrons. I am glad I declined to buy "The Adventuress," next Anglo-film in the series, until I had seen this one. After the show I withdrew to the little office until the few patrons filed out. Played Wed., Thurs. — Gray Barker, Pictureland Theatre, Glenville, W. Va. Rural, college and small town patronage. * * * Enchanted Forest, The (EL) — Edmund Lowe, Brenda Joyce, Harry Davenport. This is an oldie worth playing any place, any time. The outdoor background naturally appeals to small town audiences, and the color makes it more of an attraction. Everyone enjoyed Harry Davenport in his well acted role and they enjoyed the animal "actors." The Cinecolor is very good — better than usual — and a few of the scenes look almost like Technicolor. I had a good print except for a couple of splices which came apart, caused by someone who has not yet learned that Cinecolor film has emulsion on both sides and must be scraped on both sides to make it stick. Played Thurs., Fri. Weather; Hot and humid. — Carl E. Pehlman, Rio Theatre, Edinburg, 111. Rural and small town patronage. * * Heartaches (EL) — Sheila Ryan, Edward Norris, Chill Wills. This is a nice B picture that pleased my Sunday patrons. — James C. Balkcom jr.. Gray Theatre, Gray, Ga. Small town patronage. * * * It's a Joke, Son (EL) — Kenny Delmar, Una Merkel, June Lockhart. I hate to say this about a new company's feature. The attendance was small, sound extremely low, and my patrons didn't catch on to all the jokes. It should do well in the southern towns. Played Fri., Sat. Weather: Hot. — Ralph Raspa, State Theatre, Rivesville, W. Va. Rural patronage. * * * Song of Old Wyoming (EL) — Eddie Dean, Sarah Padden, A1 La Rue. This is a good western. They like Eddie Dean here and the picture also had a good story to it. Doubled with "Accomplice" to make a good show. Played Saturday. Weather: Clear and hot. — J. E. Rougeau, Club Theatre, Seven Sisters Falls, Man. Small town and rural patronage. * * METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER Boom Town (MGM) — Reissue. Clark Gable, Spencer Tracy, Claudette Colbert. This is still good and will do more business than some of the first runs we are getting nowadays. Play it. Played Mon., Tues. Weather: Hot. — W. F. Shelton, Louisburg Theatre, Louisburg, N. C. Rural and small town patronage. * * * Easy to Wed (MGM) — Van Johnson, Esther Williams, Lucille Ball. This is a very good comedy — book this and enjoy two good days at the boxoffice. Doubled with "Dangerous Partners," which is a good murder mystery — not too much acting. If you play these late, better double. Played Tues., Wed., Thurs. — C. M. Garrett, Yandell Theatre, El Paso, Tex. Family patronage. * Gallant Bess (MGM) — Marshall Thompson, George Tobias, Clem Bevans. This is a thrill from start to finish. A wonderful show and it fits any. age. The color is beautiful and the story is great. Played Sun., Mon., Is Guided by Opinions Being Expressed Here pROM ’way up north in Spiritwood, Sask., comes a friendly letter of appreciation (which includes both BOXOFFICE and contributors to these pages) from F. L. Murray, manager of the Strand Theatre there: “Dear Fellow Exhibitors,” he writes, “I have been reading the opinions of different exhibitors in these columns for a long time but this is my first attempt at writing. It appears to me some exhibitors write merely to criticize, others to praise. Few, I believe, write realizing the benefits and guidance they can and do offer to other exhibitors. If exhibitors write stating how they and their patrons liked the picture, that is all that is required. I have been guided by these opinions with fine results in most cases. “I thank the exhibitors who do write and wish more would do the same. I also thank BOXOFFICE for a great motion picture magazine.” And we thank you for taking the time to let us know we are pleasing you. Nothing like a little appreciation to keep the old morale up to par. He Has More Trouble Getting Good Prints CIGARETTE GIRL (Col) —Leslie Brooks, Jimmy Lloyd, Ludwig Donath. Here was a new low in print condition. My operator counted 176 splices in real two and 173 in reel three. Reels one and four were not quite so bad — perhaps only 100 to 125 splices each. I think this was a pretty fair little show but I was too ashamed to stay in and watch it. Played Fri., Sat. — Paul Ricketts, Charm Theatre, Holyrood, Kas. * * Tues. Weather: Hot. — Bill Leonard, Leonard Theatre, Cedarvale, Kas. Small town and rural patronage. * * * Harvey Girls, The (MGM) — Judy Garland, John Hodiak, Ray Bolger. This is a fair musical — not tops, but has good drawing power and good entertainment. Exhibitors can play this with confidence in any situation. — Fred L. Murray, Strand Theatre, Spiritwood, Sask. Small town and rural patronage. * Holiday in Mexico (MGM) — Walter Pidgeon, Jose Iturbi, Ilona Massey. There is a very good story in this musical which pleased everyone. The music lovers got their share of enjoyment without boring those who prefer drama. Played Saturday. Weather: Rain. — J. E. Rougeau, Club Theatre, Seven Sisters Falls, Man. Small town and rural patronage. * * Little Mr. Jim (MGM) — Jackie "Butch" Jenkins, James Craig, Frances Gifford. This is a tear-jerker that received favorable comment. "Butch" is tops. Played Mon., Tues. — James C. Balkcom jr., Gray Theatre, Gray, Ga. Small town patronage. * * * Love Laughs at Andy Hardy (MGM) — Mickey Rooney, Lewis Stone, Sara Haden. A very good family type of picture with quite a few laughs. Business was below average, probably due to the intense heat and the opening of the Illinois State Fair 18 miles from me. Played Sun. Mon. Weather: Hot. — Carl E. Pehlman, Rio Theatre, Edinburg, 111. Rural and small town patronage. * * I Mighty McGurk, The (MGM) — Wallace Beery, Dean Stockwell, Aline MacMahon. I didn't get to see this one" but the customers made no comment either way. We made comment, though, when we looked at the boxoffice report. No businss. Beery must be slipping. Played Sunday. Weather: Fair and mild. — W. F. Shelton, Louisburg Theatre, Louisburg, N. C. Rural and small town patron * * * age. Sea of Grass, The (MGM)— Spencer Tracy, Katharine Hepburn, Robert Walker. Our patrons liked this picture, even after unfavorable word-of-mouth, but we didn't kill 'em with it. It drew just fair and I believe we broke even with Leo. You don't lose any friends showing good pictures and this is a good one. Try to buy it right — then maybe it will pay off. Played Tues., Wed., Thurs. Weather: Hot. — Mayme P. Musselman, Roach Theatre, Lincoln, Kas. Small town patronage. * * * Show-Off, The (MGM) — Red Skelton, Marilyn Maxwell, Marjorie Main. This is a pretty good comedy for those that enjoy Red Skelton. He is generally well liked here. Played Wednesday. Weather: Clear and warm. — J. E. Rougeau, Club Theatre, Seven Sisters Falls, Man. Small town and rural patronage. * * * Till the Clouds Roll By (MGM)— Robert Walker, Judy Garland, Lucille Bremer. This picture is no good for the small town— lots of walkouts on it. Why doesn't Metro make shorter pictures? — B. J. Green, Marion Theatre, Marion, La. Small town patronage. * Undercurrent (MGM) — Katharine Hepburn, Robert Taylor, Robert Mitchum. This is good drama but a little too long. However, it had a good climax. Katharine Hepburn is no draw here. Business was average. Played Wed., Thurs. Weather: Good. — E. M. Frei BOXOFnCE BookinGuide :: Sept. 13, 1947