Boxoffice (Oct-Dec 1939)

I'h.Q ^xklbltot 4^€L5 Columbia Blondie Meets the Boss We had a cute contest on this picture and did some nice business. The series is quite popular here. Wed., Thurs. Weather: Fair. Admission: 30-15. Rural patronage. Population: 1,800. Capacity: 500. — Harland Rankin, Plaza Theatre, Tilbury, Ont. First National Daughters Courageous Another excellent picture, well played, but the story was, not too well liked by some. Drew extra business for us. Admission: 30-10. Small town patronage. Population: 600. Capacity: 450. — Horn & Morgan, Inc., Star Theatre, Hay Springs, Neb. Kid From Kokomo A real clever picture from all angles. Everyone satisfied. Plenty of laughs. Sun., Mon., Tues. Weather: Good. Admission: 25-10. Rural patronage. Population: 1,000. Capacity: 300. — W. H. Hibbert, Hi-Way Theatre, Sheridan, Ore. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Miracles for Sale Here was a dandy comedy-mystery that was full of clever situations and lines. Beats lots of the super-supers for real entertainment. Leo the Lion should have made it a little longer and given it the publicity it merited. Business fair. Wednesday. Weather: Good. Admission: 30-10. General patronage. Population: 1,300. Capacity: 375. — Elise Morgan, Melodian Theatre, Cheney, Wash. Thunder Afloat A wow as, far as I am concerned. I may be prejudiced because I personally like Wallace Beery, but the audience seemed to like it as much as I did, so I guess I'm vindicated. Audience reaction: All favorable. Boxoffice: House record for the season so far. Admission: 40-10. Cosmopolitan patronage. Population: 700. Capacity: 263. — E. A. Stein, Out-Wickenburg-Wdy Theatre, Wickenburg, Ariz. Paramount Beau Geste Technically one of the best pictures delivered by Paramount this year. Wellman's direction very good and the acting of the stars very good. It's a little grim though as to story. Audience reaction: No special reaction and no walkouts or criticism. Boxoffice: About average Thurs., Fri. business. Admission: 40-10. Cosmopolitan patronage. Population: 700. Capacity: 263.— E. A. Stein, Out-Wickenburg-Way Theatre, Wickenburg, Ariz. Magnificent Fraud Tamiroff's acting highlighted this one. Good story idea and good acting, but another case of building up to a climax that didn't go off. A good ending on this one would have made it a knockout. This was primarily an action picture and anything short of a sock ending turned out to be disappointing. Audience reaction: Went home without saying much. Boxoffice: Below average. Thurs., Fri. Population: 700. Capacity: 263. — E. A. Stein, OutWickenburg-Way Theatre, Wickenburg, Ariz. An open forum for exhibitor comment. Please address communications and requests for report blanks to THE EXHIBITOR HAS HIS SAY, Boxoffice, 4804 E. 9th St., Kansas City, Mo. Never Say Die Rotten — not even fair. I did not buy 193940 product. Fri., Sat. Weather: Hot. Admission: 25-10. Small town patronage. Population: 1,400. Capacity: 300.— Lester Meyer, Strand Theatre, Chillicothe, Tex. Our Leading Citizen Perhaps not quite so good as "Arkansas Traveler'' but a step in the right direction. I still think Burns is another bet similar to Rogers,. If they will give him the right story material and the right direction, he can easily be tops at boxoffice. Audience reaction: All favorable. Boxoffice: Only slightly above average for Sunday and Monday. Admission: 40-10. Cosmopolitan patronage. Population: 700. Capacity: 263. — E. A. Stein, Out-Wickenburg-Way Theatre, Wickenburg, Ariz. Star Maker, The A very fine film. Did fairly good business. No doubt the best picture of the year for the kids. First picture Paramount has made this year. Fri., Sat. Admission: 15-10. General patronage. Population: 150,000. Capacity: 600. — Charles Prakas, Rivoli Theatre, Bridgeport, Conn. RKO Radio Bachelor Mother Plenty O. K. You may have to work a little and "sell" this, one, but you can put a money-back guarantee on it. Tues., Wed., Thurs. Weather: O. K. Admission: 20-10. Small town patronage. Population: 1,200. Capacity 224. — F. M. Baker, Best Theatre, Handley, Tex. Five Came ^Back Grim in spots, but very well done. Cast very good as well as direction and scripting. Title not very conducive to boxoffice bonanza. Better title might have made this a real hit. Audience reaction: They shuddered a little, but seemed to like it. Boxoffice: Above average. Saturday. Admission: 40-10. Cosmopolitan patronage. Population: 700. Capacity: 263. — E. A. Stein, Out-Wickenburg-Way Theatre, Wickenburg, Ariz. 20th Century-Fox Chicken 'Wagon Family Nice attendance, but nothing at all — only foolishness throughout picture. Fox surely doesn't expect to use any expensive settings for Jane Withers. No backing at all as far as scenery and costume is concerned. Mon., Tues. Weather: Clear, cold. Admission: 2510. Town patronage. Population: 13,000. Capacity: 500. — J. M. Plasiterer, Strand Theatre, Steelton, Pa. Here I Am a Stranger Here is another one of those pictures, which while basically good material, fails in the last few minutes of the telling. Eighty minutes ore spent in leading up to a cli max and then the climax fails to develop in the last two minutes. Supporting cast outshines the star who apparently needs more flying hours and some hard work. Notwithstanding above failing, picture still adds up to fair entertainment. Audience reaction: Comments said better than they expected. Boxoffice: Below average Sun., Mon. Admission: 40-10. Cosmopolitan patronage. Population: 700. Capacity: 263. — E. A. Stein, Out-Wickenburg-Way Theatre, Wickenburg, Ariz. Hollywood Cavalcade Undoubtedly as fine a piece of celluloid as ever came out of Hollywood. Cast, direction, story and photography all swell. Old-time comedy sequence rolled them in the aisles. Believe trailer did us some harm, though it started out "Hollywood, Glamour City of the World, etc." I'm afraid the public is fed up with the glamour angle and is interested in only what the place produces,. At least that was our audience reaction. Give this both barrels in exploitation. Boxoffice: Slightly below average. Thurs., Fri. Admission: 40-10. Cosmopolitan patronage. Population: 700. Capacity: 263. — E. A. Stein, Out-Wickenburg-Way Theatre, Wickenburg, Ariz. Rains Came, The The picture was fair, but didn't draw any business on account of rain all day Sunday and Monday. "The Rains Came" sure matched the weather. Admission: 15-10. General patronage. Population: 150,000. Capacity: 600. — Charles, Prakas, Rivoli Theatre, Bridgeport, Conn. Young Mr. Lincoln Starring Henry Fonda. The rest of the cast was good, too, but Fonda will go down in, cinematic history as the greatest portrayer of Lincoln we hove ever seen. He was grand and deserves serious consideration for the Academy Award. Sun., Mon. Weather: Fair. Admission: 30-10. Small town patronage. Population: 600. Capacity: 450. Horn & Morgan, Inc., Star Theatre, Hay Springs, Neb. Warner Bros. Hell's Kitchen A little too grim. The "Dead End" Kids could have supplied more comedy. Fri., Sat. Weather: Cold. Admission: 25-10. Rural patronage. Population: 600. Capacity: 200. — W. H. Robertson, Joyo Theatre, Coleridge, Neb. Men Are Such Fools One of the best comedies, and with a perfect cast. Had to play this one pretty old, but it pulled in a capacity crowd. Don't pass this one up if you haven't played it. Tuesday. Weather: Cool. Admission: 15-10. General patronage. Population: 7,500. Capacity: 600. — L. J. Boudreau, Grant Theatre, Eveleth, Minn. Naughty But Nice Please, Mr. Warner, bring Ann Sheridan down to earth and give her good ports not requiring her to be an "oomph" girl. She has plenty without all the fol-de-rol. Wed., Thurs. Weather: Fair. Admission: 30-10. Small town patronage. Population: 600. Capacity: 450. — Horn & Morgan, Inc., Star Theatre, Hay Springs, Neb. BOXOFFICE November 18, 1939 27