Motion Picture Herald (Jul-Aug 1943)

Record Details:

Title:
Motion Picture Herald
Date:
Jul-Aug 1943
Publisher:
[New York, N.Y. : Quigley Pub. Co.]
Volume:
Motion Picture Herald (Jul-Aug 1943)
Leaf #:
00054
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 17, 2022
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46 MOTION PICTURE HERALD July3,l943 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 exhibor for the exhibitor. ADDRESS REPORTS: What the Picture Did for Me, Motion Picture Herald, Rockefeller Center. New York, N. Y. Columbia CITY WITHOUT MEN: Linda Darnell, Doris Dudley— Double billed this with 'Ghost Rider" and darned glad I did as it saved the day. Story is nothing to write home about but everyone seemed to like it. Had I known in time what this one was about, I would have played it two days. Played Saturday, June 19. —Claude R. Gray, Gilmont Theatre, Mt. Gilead, N. C Small town patronage. DESPERADOES, THE: Randolph Scott, Glenn Ford — A nice picture from Columbia. Columbia and Universal are coming through very nicely this season. Played Friday, Saturday, June 4, 5. — F. R. Crist, Crist Theatre, Loveland, Ohio. Small town and rural patronage. LUCKY LEGS: Jinx Falkenburg, Kay Harris— Nice picture that did fair. — Harland Rankin, Plaza Theatre, Tilbury, Ontario. MURDER IN TIMES SQUARE: Edmund Lowe, Marguerite Chapman — Played this on a dual bill to much satisfaction. People seemed to enjoy it. — Harland Rankin, Centre Theatre, Chatham, Ontario. MORE THE MERRIER, THE: Jean Arthur, Joel McCrea — For a motion picture that will make you forget your troubles and those of the customers, "The More the Merrier" is certainly the one. It was liked by all who saw it, especially since Dyersburg, Tenn., is typical of Washington, D. C, on the housing situation. Played Sunday, Monday, June 13, 14. — Bruce K. Young, Ritz Theatre, Dyersburg, Tenn. NIGHT TO REMEMBER, A: Loretta Young, Brian Aherne — Really was disappointed in it. I had expected some good clean comedy with chills to match. In reality it was about the silliest thing I've seen yet. Why do they waste the talents of two such grand people? I'll take Bugs Bunny. Played Wednesday, Thursday, June 2, 3.— Wilson T. Cottrell, Carolina Theatre, Oxford, N. C. Monogram DAWN ON THE GREAT DIVIDE: Buck Jones, Rex Bell — Very fair mediocre Western. — Harland Rankin, Centre Theatre, Chatham, Ontario. GHOST RIDER: Johnny Mack Brown— Many Westerns much better than this can be shown. If you don't have to play it, save money by not showing it. Brown is no more a cowboy star than Hatton and he has the lead in this. Brown is no draw in this one. Played Saturday, June 19. — Claude R. Gray, Gilmont Theatre, Mt. Gilead, N. C. Small town patronage. Metro-Gold wyn-Mayer APACHE TRAIL: Lloyd Nolan, Donna Reed— Preview on this was very good, but picture was not so good. Got by O. K. on Bank Night. Played Tuesday, Wednesday, May 25, 26.— Otto W. Chapek, New Annex Theatre, Anamoose, N. D. Rural and small town patronage. CABIN IN THE SKY: "Rochester," Ethel Waters —A fantasy, and as always with these, there is a split decision on it. Fortunately there were more that liked than didn't and it has some laughs and Ethel Waters, with her nice voice and sunny smile.— A. E. Hancock, Columbia Theatre, Columbia City, Ind. CABIN IN THE SKY: "Rochester" and Ethel Waters — Regardless of the knocks this picture got, it grossed better than average — a little relief from war pictures. Played Sunday, Monday. June 6, 7. — F. R Crist, Crist Theatre, Loveland, Ohio. Small town and rural patronage. FOR ME AND MY GAL: Judy Garland, George Murphy — A dandy musical. Did nice business. Will please any audience. Played Sunday, Monday, Tune 6, 7.— Charles A. Brooks, Ritz Theatre, Marshfield, Mo. Small town and rural patronage. PANAMA HATTIE: Ann Sothern, Red SkeltonNot well received here. Several kicks and no praise. Nothing lost if you don't play it. Skelton was no contribution to this effort. — L. V. Bergtold, Westby Theatre, Westby, Wis. SEVEN SWEETHEARTS: Van Heflin, Kathryn Grayson-Swell entertainment for an audience such as mine with comedy and music. More musical numbers would have made this a knockout. The dancing scenes were excellent and had the audience tapping their toes — and that's hay, brother. Can recommend this one. Played Friday, June 11.— A. L. Dove, Bengough Theatre, Bengough, Saswatchewan, Canada. Small town and rural patronage. SHIP AHOY: Eleanor Powell, Red Skelton, Bert Lahr — Very good picture throughout and well received. These stars are well liked by the inmates and beside this picture is a standout. Clean, wholesome and very funny. Played Saturday, Sunday, June 5, 6.— A. W. Bates, Librarian, Prison Auditorium, Florida State Prison, Raiford, Fla. SLIGHTLY DANGEROUS: Lana Turner, Robert Young— Very good picture. Pleased those who saw it in spite of the hot weather — one that the company forgot to put the Army in. Played Sunday, Monday, June 13, 14.— F. R. Crist, Crist Theatre, Loveland, Ohio. Small town and rural patronage. STAND BY FOR ACTION: Charles Laughton. Robert Taylor — A swell show for my town. This one pleased. Plenty of action, good story and good directing. Business above average. Played Sunday, Monday, June 13, 14.— Charles A. Brooks, Ritz Theatre, Marshfield, Mo. Small town and rural patronage. WAR AGAINST MRS. HAD LEY, THE: Fay Bainter, Edward Arnold — We received a very bad print on this one. Some liked it and some didn't. I think Jean Rogers is a natural. Van Johnson also is good and very likeable as a new star. We had good attendance. Played it double with "Song of Texas." Played Saturday, Sunday, June 19, 20.— Mrs. H. A. Proulx, Au Gres Theatre, Au Gres, Mich. Small town and rural patronage. WAR AGAINST MRS. HADLEY, THE: Fay Bainter, Edward Arnold — No_ business, even though it was supposed to be something of a show without war. The title scared them away even though the feature was so old that everyone should have known better. — A. E. Eliasen, Koronis Theatre, Paynesville, Minn. Rural and small town patronage. WHISTLING IN DIXIE: Red Skelton, Ann Rutherford— If your folks like Red then this will get the job done. I like him, but many people say "I like him on the radio but not on the screen." But they say that about Bob Hope, too. Played Sunday, Monday, Tune 6, 7.— M. L. DuBose, Majestic Theatre, Cotulla, Tex. Paramount AVENGERS, THE: Ralph Richardson, Deborah Kerr — Had we known this was another British film would have passed it by. It is very good but we only managed to get back our film rental. Played Thursday, Friday, June 10, 11.— M. L. DuBose, Majestic Theatre, Cotulla, Tex. AVENGERS, THE: Ralph Richardson, Deborah Kerr — Good war picture on the invasion of Norway, which failed at the box office. — C. A. Smith, Regent Theatre, Chapleau, Ontario, Canada. Small town patronage. FOREST RANGERS: Fred MacMurray, Paulette Goddard— This picture was well liked. Had good acting, plenty of laughs and very good color. Had many good comments on this. Played Saturday, Sunday, May 22, 23.— Otto V. Chapek, New Annex Theatre, Anamoose, N. D. Rural and small town patronage. HENRY ALDRICH, EDITOR: Jimmy Lydon, Charlie Smith — We can always depend on making a few dollars when we run these Aldrich shows midweek. Without giveaways or games of any sort we don't usually do much on Wednesday and Thursday. This is as good as any of the previous pictures in this group.— L. V. Bergtold, Westby Theatre, Westby, Wis. HENRY AND DIZZY: Jimmie Lydon, Charlie Smith — This film was very well patronized and went over very well with entire audience. Played Friday, Saturday, June 11, 12. — A. C. Edwards, Winema Theatre, Scotia, Calif. Small lumber town patronage. MAJOR AND THE MINOR, THE: Ginger Rogers, Ray Milland — This is the most popular all-around show we have run for many months. Delightful comedy. Just what we need in these times. My pick for the year's best entertainment. Business was above average and with plenty of opposition. Don't pass this happy entertainment. — L. V. Bergtold, Westby Theatre, Westby, Wis. MAJOR AND THE MINOR, THE: Ginger Rogers, Ray Milland — This was a good picture and well liked. Had lots of laughs and was all around good entertainment. Played Saturday, Sunday, May 29, 30. — Otto W. Chapek, New Annex Theatre, Anamoose, N. D. Rural and small town patronage. MY HEART BELONGS TO DADDY: Richard Carlson, Martha O'Driscoll — Story here is very weak, have played dozens of pictures in last year almost like it. My crowd did not take this very well. Played Wednesday, June 16. — Claude R. Gray, Gilmont Theatre, Mt. Gilead, N. C Small town patronage. PRIORITIES ON PARADE: Ann Miller, Jerry Colonna — Double billed with "Kukan," interesting travelogue on China. Business way below average. "Priorities" seemed to please those who came in. Real spring weather will hit any program. Theatre the forgotten spot. Played Thursday-Saturday, May 13-15.— C. A. Smith, Regent Theatre, Chapleau, Ontario, Canada. Small town patronage. ROAD TO MOROCCO: Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, Dorothy Lamour — Not these stars' best, but gave general satisfaction and got lots of laughs. Flayed Saturday, Sunday, June 12, 13. — Otto W. Chapek, New Annex Theatre, Anamoose, N. D. Rural and small town patronage. STAR SPANGLED RHYTHM: Betty Hutton, Eddie Bracken — Played this one late. Heard it was so good I did not want to miss it. It did good business. There is just as much entertainment in a little Universal picture called "Follow the Band." Played Friday, Saturday, June 18, 19.— F. R. Crist, Crist Theatre, Loveland, O. Small town and rural patronage. STREET OF CHANCE: Burgess Meredith, Claire Trevor — The few that came out thought this was O.K., and I liked it myself. Played Tuesday, Wednesday, May 18, 19.— Otto W. Chapek, New Annex Theatre, Anamoose, N. D. Rural and small town patronage. TOMBSTONE: Richard Dix, Frances Gifford— One of the best program Westerns we have played for a long, long time. Far above the average in this class. — L. V. Bergtold, Westby Theatre, Westby, Wis. TRUE TO THE ARMY: Judy Canova, Allan Jones, Ann Miller — Used this on second half of double bill. Audience reaction only fair. Played Friday, Saturday, Tune 11, 12.— A. C. Edwards, Winema Theatre, Scotia, Calif. Small lumber town patronage. Producers Releasing Corp. BABY FACE MORGAN: Mary Carlisle, Richard Cromwell — Mediocre picture. Gangster pictures aren't made so often now, and if they can't make one better than this thing, I suggest that they stop altogeher. Played Saturday. June 12.— Wilson T. Cottrell, Carolina Theatre, Oxford, N. C. LONE RIDER IN WILD HORSE RUSTLERS: Bob Livingston, Al St. John — A poor attempt at an action Western. Played Friday, Saturday, June 18, 19.— R. E. Salisbury, Opera House Theatre, Presque Isle, Me. General patronage. Republic BLOCKED TRAIL, THE: Three Mesquiteers— Not up to the average for the series. Business was good, but scores of our customers commented later on what a sorry show we had. Republic can do much better (Continued on opposite page)