Motion Picture Herald (May-Jun 1943)

Record Details:

Title:
Motion Picture Herald
Date:
May-Jun 1943
Publisher:
[New York, N.Y. : Quigley Pub. Co.]
Volume:
Motion Picture Herald (May-Jun 1943)
Leaf #:
000240
Language:
English
Subjects:
motion pictures, Motion pictures -- Periodicals
Collection:
Hollywood Studio System
Format:
Periodicals
Contributor:
Library of Congress, MBRS, Moving Image Section
Sponsor:
Library of Congress, Motion Picture, Broadcasting and Recorded Sound Division
Coordinator:
Media History Digital Library
Description:
Founded in 1915 by a Chicago printing company as a regional trade paper for Midwest exhibitors. In 1916, editor Martin Quigley bought out the owners, and over the next 15 years, he grew EXHIBITORS HERALD into one of the most important national, weekly trade papers in the film business. Quigley acquired MOTOGRAPHY in 1917 and MOVING PICTURE WORLD in 1927. In 1930, he acquired MOTION PICTURE NEWS and the new 'consolidated' publication became MOTION PICTURE HERALD. From the pulpit of his editorial page, Quigley preached the need to improve the motion picture industry and improve the quality of the films. He skillfully served as a mediator in disputes -- between distributors and exhibitors, between the film industry and the Catholic Church (Quigley was one of the architects of the Production Code). Quigley claimed that EXHIBITORS HERALD represented the 'independent exhibitor' and sections like 'What the Picture Did for Me?' certainly provided a forum for theater owners. But plenty of exhibitors viewed Quigley as a servant to the studios and large theater chains. In response, publications such as SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW, INDEPENDENT EXHIBITORS FILM BULLETIN, HARRISON'S REPORTS, and BOX OFFICE were either formed or grew significantly in the years following Quigley's brief moment of consolidation in 1930. -- Eric Hoyt, 2014
Date Added:
November 03, 2022
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50 MOTION PICTURE HERALD May 15, 1943 7/WHAT THE » PICTURE DID FOR ME* . . . the original exhibitors' reports department, established October 14, 1916. In it theatremen serve one another with information about the box-office performance of product — providing a service of the exhibitor for the exhibitor. ADDRESS REPORTS: What the Picture Did for Me, Motion Picture Herald, Rockefeller Center, New York, N. Y. Columbia DESPERADOES, THE: Randolph Scott, Glenn Ford, Claire Trevor — Went over in good shape on preferred time. Gave it a good advertising campaign and it did about 15 per cent over average business. —Warren L. Weber, Ritz Theatre, Stafford, Kan. General patronage. ELLERY QUEEN AND THE MURDER RING: Ralph Bellamy, Margaret Lindsay — Very good "B" picture. Lots of action, mixed with comedy. In fact, my patrons liked it better than the feature, "Skylark"; but business is off at least 25 per cent on all shows since the war. Played Tuesday-Thursday, April 27-29.— M. L. London, Gem Theatre, E. Boston, Mass. General patronage. HELLO, ANNAPOLIS: Tom Brown, Jean ParkerJust a program picture, purely American, which should be double billed. Played MondayWednesday. April 26-28.— Harland Rankin, Centre Theatre, Chatham, Ont. NIGHT TO REMEMBER, A: Loretta Young, Brian Aherne— Without much fanfare, "A Night to Remember" amused the greatest percentage of our audience. Although Brian Aherne is quite out of part in his rather light role, the daffiness of the picture drew the patrons' attention away from war. Played Thursday-Saturday, April 2-4. — W. C. Crankshaw, Middleboro Theatre, Middleboro, Mass. Small town patronage. ROARING FRONTIERS: Elliott, Ritter— My first with these stars. Better than average western. — Sammie Jackson, Jackson Theatre, Flomaton, Ala. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer BIG STORE, THE: Marx Brothers— Good slapstick comedy. Played this for a second time, but fell down on it. My policy of repeating big pictures held for ten years, but I'll have to change my policy. It is no good at present. Played Tuesday-Thursday, April 20-22.— M. L. London, Gem Theatre, E. Boston, Mass. General patronage. COURTSHIP OF ANDY HARDY, THE: Mickey Rooney, Fred Stone, Donna Reed — Another Hardy family picture well up to the standard of the others. Thoroughly enjoyed by all. Played Friday, Saturday, April 23, 24— W. H. Pyle, Dreamland Theatre, Rockglen, Sask. EYES IN THE NIGHT: Edward Arnold, Ann Harding — There were potent ingredients mixed in this production, but it didn't jell. The conclusion especially was bad. Unsympathetic parts will be difficult for M-G-M to overcome when they elect to give their starlet, Miss Reed, more important work. Played Wednesday, Thursday, April 28, 29.— A. C. Edwards, Winema Theatre, Scotia, Cal. FINGERS AT THE WINDOW: Lew Ayres— Not much to this one. Played Tuesday, Wednesday, March 30, 31. — Melville Danner, Kozy Theatre, Granite, Okla. Small town patronage. FOR ME AND MY GAL: Judy Garland, George Murphy — Very good — liked by everyone. Did very good business. Had to turn people away at the box office on first night run, and did equally good business on second night. Played Wednesday, Thursday. — Jack L. Edwards, New Theatre, Manila, Ark. GONE WITH THE WIND: Clark Gable, Vivien Leigh, Leslie Howard, Olivia de Havilland — Played this one day, on a Monday, third run. and it did almost ten times normal business. A sure moneymaker.— Warren L. Weber, Ellinwood Theatre, Ellin wood. Kan. General patronage. JOHNNY EAGER: Robert Taylor, Lana Turner, Van Heflin — The adults come for this one — it was very good, but I lost the kid customers on this one. I need a "Viva Villa" to get them both in. Played Sunday, Monday, April 11, 12. — M. L. London, Gem Theatre, E. Boston, Mass. General patronage. KEEPER OF THE FLAME: Spencer Tracy, Katherine Hepburn — In no way comparable to other vehicles by Tracy and Hepburn. Very poor "word of mouth." Our patrons were very disappointed at having to sit through this dragged out picture. Played Sunday-Tuesday, May 2-4. — W. C. Crankshaw, Middleboro Theatre, Middleboro, Mass. Small town patronage. PANAMA HATTIE: Red Skelton, Ann Sothern— Bad — both as to quality of picture and the business it did. Played Wednesday-Friday, March 17-19. — Warren L. Weber, Ellinwood Theatre, Ellinwood, Kan. General patronage. RANDOM HARVEST: Greer Garson, Ronald Colman — Did excellent business. Our audience was interested during the entire picture. Garson and Colman give extra superb performances in this fine production. Although I played it at advanced admissions, the patrons were more than pleased. Will do swell business anywhere. Played Sunday-Tuesday, April 4-6. — D. R. Hoagg, Lincoln Theatre, Sebewaing, Mich. Small town and rural patronage. STAND BY FOR ACTION : Robert Taylor— Did less business than "The Navy Comes Through" from RKO — played a few weeks ago. People are definitely fed up on this type of entertainment. Only average program business. — Warren L. Weber, Ellinwood Theatre, Ellinwood, Kan. General patronage. TISH: Marjorie Main — Good comedy, played midweek. Played Tuesday-Thursday, March 9-11.— Melville Danner, Kozy Theatre, Granite, Okla. WAR AGAINST MRS. HADLEY, THE: Fay Bainter, Edward Arnold — Excellent. — Sammie Jackson, Jackson Theatre, Flomaton, Ala. WHISTLING IN DIXIE: Red Skelton, Ann Rutherford — When it comes to "corn" my patrons like the Weaver Bros., but Skelton can go back in the closet as far as ever doing any business is concerned. Even too corny for the Weaver fans. The kids might like it on a Saturday double biller. — Warren L. Weber, Ritz Theatre, Stafford, Kan. General patronage. WHITE CARGO: Hedy Lamarr— The less I say about this — the better. Everytime I think about it I get mad. This one should be labeled "not fit for human consumption." — Warren L. Weber, Ritz Theatre, Stafford, Kan. General patronage. WHITE CARGO: Hedy Lamarr, Walter Pidgeon— Probably the worst motion picture I have ever run. Leave it on the shelves — the few who come will hate you for it. Played Wednesday, Thursday, March 31, April 1. — Warren L. Weber, Ellinwood Theatre, Ellinwood, Kan. General patronage. Monogram CORPSE VANISHES, THE: Bela Lugosi— Very good chiller for bargain nite. — Sammie Jackson, Jackson Theatre, Flomaton, Ala. SILVER SKATES: Kenny Baker, Patricia Morrison— Skating pictures popular here. Many compliments for "Balita" and her partner. Also Frick and Frack, but Kenny Baker as a movie star has no draw here. Marvelous skating. Played Monday -Wednesday, April 19-21.— C. A. Smith, Regent Theatre, Chapleau, Ont. Small town patronage. Paramount AMONG THE LIVING: Albert Dekker, _ Susan Hayward, Frances Farmer — A fair horror picture — our small town folks aren't as enthusiastic as city people about horror shows. Farm lads hate to go home alone. Played midnight, April 24. — Harland Rankin, Plaza Theatre, Tilbury, Ont. BEYOND THE BLUE HORIZON: Dorothy Lamour — The men folk sure turn out to see Dotty and the women seem to like her, too. The picture is just ordinary but beautiful color and Lamour make it O. K. Played Friday, Saturday, April 30, May 1.— W. R. Pyle, Dreamland Theatre, Rockglen, Sask. GLASS KEY, THE: Alan Ladd, Veronica Lake— This picture is nothing to rave about. A few liked it. Business poor so it must have been the picture that kept them away. Played Monday-Tuesday, April 26-28.— M. Bailey, Strand Theatre, Dryden, Ont. HAPPY GO LUCKY: Dick Powell, Mary Martin — Good musical show in Technicolor. Business was good and all were pleased. Played Wednesday, Thursday, April 28, 29.— E. M. Freiburger, Paramount Theatre, Dewey, Okla. Small town patronage HOLIDAY INN: Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire— Very good musical but not such a super duper as some would have you believe. Played Monday, Tuesday, April 19, 20.— W. R. Pyle, Dreamland Theatre, Rockglen, Sask. MAJOR AND THE MINOR, THE: Ginger Rogers, Ray Milland — A good picture which everyone liked. ■They want to see more of Gingers Rogers' pictures. Played Saturday-Monday, March 20-22.— Melville Danner, Kozy Theatre, Granite, Okla. MRS. WIGGS OF THE CABBAGE PATCH: Fay Bainter — This picture held up fairly well in midweek. Played Tuesday-Thursday, March 16-18.— Melville Danner, Kozy Theatre, Granite, Dkla. PALM BEACH STORY, THE: Claudette Colbert, Joel McCrea — Only average business but all those who saw it enjoyed it immensely. Good comments. Played Monday-Wednesday, April 26-28.— C. A. Smith, Regent Theatre, Chapleau, Ont. Small town patronage. REAP THE WILD WIND: Paulette Goddard, John Wayne — One of the best releases that I have played in this theatre; an exceptionally good story with plenty of action and beautiful color. I can recommend this one in any spot. This is one of the best of Paramount's that I have played — nothing but good comment from my patrons. Played Saturday, April 24. — A. L Dove, Bengough Theatre, Bengough, Sask. REAP THE WILD WIND: Paulette Goddard, Ray Milland — Excellent production that pleased. Road conditions bad, so attendance down. Played Friday, Saturday, April 2, 3.— W. R. Pyle, Dreamland Theatre. Rockglen, Sask. SWEATER GIRL: Eddie Bracken, June Preisser — Nice program picture that brought out the young; people. Played Thursday-Saturday, April 29-May 1. — Harland Rankin, Centre Theatre, Chatham, Ont. THIS GUN FOR HIRE: Alan Ladd— Excellent picture enjoyed by all, although I played it third run and late. My business fell down badly on this because it was seen by everyone before I played it. Played Sunday, May 2. — M. L. London, Gem Theatre, E. Boston, Mass. General patronage. TWILIGHT ON THE TRAIL: William Boyd— Very much below the standard set by others of Cassidy series. Played Friday, Saturday, April 23, 24. — A. C. Edwards, Winema Theatre, Scotia, Cal. Small lumber town patronage. WAKE ISLAND: Brian Donlevy, Robert PrestonPronounced very good by majority of audience. Business above normal. Very thoroughly carried out in detail, but there were instances where interest lagged. Played Sunday, Monday, April 25, 26.— A. C. Edwards, Winema Theatre, Scotia, Cal. WAKE ISLAND: Brian Donlevy — Another boxoffice title and a good production. One of the best war pictures to date. — Melville Danner, Kozy Theatre, Granite, Okla. RKO COME ON DANGER: Tim Holt— These Tim Holt westerns seem to be improving rapidly from time to time. My patrons like them very much, on a class with Roy Rogers. I hope they all continue to have action, plus music and comedy. Played Sunday, Monday, April 25, 26.— M. L. London, Gem Theatre, E, Boston. Mass. General patronage. FANTASIA: Walt Disney Production — This production just like a poison gas attack. If you want to kill your business in a small town, play this one. May be okay for city business. I played this purchased at a high rental, killed a weekend business. One of the remarks passed by some of my best patrons "What is this?". More walkouts than any picture that I have ever shown. The elephants and alligators were the (.Continued on page 52)