Motion Picture Herald (Nov-Dec 1943)

Record Details:

Title:
Motion Picture Herald
Date:
Nov-Dec 1943
Publisher:
[New York, N.Y. : Quigley Pub. Co.]
Volume:
Motion Picture Herald (Nov-Dec 1943)
Leaf #:
000356
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:
August 29, 2022
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56 MOTION PICTU RE HERALD November 27, 1943 // WHAT THE PICTURE DID FOR ME Columbia DESTROYER: Edward G. Robinson, Marguerite Chapman — In spite of no names and a war picture to boot, it did business and the people liked it.— F. R. Crist, Crist Theatre, Loveland, Ohio. ENEMY AGENTS MEET ELLERY QUEEN: Margaret Lindsay, William Gargan — This series is quite popular. Business satisfactory. Played Sunday, Nov. 7. — Harlan Rankin, Plaza Theatre, Tilbury, Ont., Canada. FIRST COMES COURAGE: Brian Aherne, Merle Oberon— This reminds you of "Moon Is Down" and "Commandos Strike at Dawn" in a very mild way. Very little action and, of course, a war story. Played to below average business. Played Wednesday, Thursday, Nov. 3, 4.— G. H. Maxon, Strand Theatre, Jewell, la. Rural and small town patronage. FOOTLIGHT GLAMOUR: Arthur Lake, Penny Singleton — Not the best in this series, but everyone enjoyed it. Our customers think this series is tops. Played Wednesday. Thursday, Nov. 3, 4.— Ritz Amusements, Inc., Park Theatre, North Vernon, Ind. MY KINGDOM FOR A COOK: Charles Coburn, Marguerite Chapman— This was intended to cash in on Coburn's performance in "The More the Merrier," but the English brand of humor and entirely too much of it will disappoint all but very easily satisfied customers. Played Wednesday, Nov. 10.— G. H. Maxon, Strand Theatre, Jewell, la. Rural and small town patronage. MY SISTER EILEEN: Rosalind Russell, Brian Aherne — Disappointed in th is one. Played it very late; fell down badly on Saturday night. Some comedy but not enough to put it over. Played Oct. 30. — A. L. Dove, Bengough Theatre, Sask., Canada. Rural and small town patronage. RIDERS OF THE NORTHWEST MOUNTED: Russell Hayden, Bob Wills — Picture drew extra well in spite of the fact that people here usually shy away from "Mounties." The picture was well directed and had a good plot. Played Saturday, Sept. 10.— Wilson T. Cottrell, Carolina Theatre, Oxford, N. C. SAHARA: Humphrey Bogart, Bruce Bennett — A grand show. Lots of thrills and a novelty in that it has an all-male cast. All who saw it were well stisfied. This feature is full of entertainment from start to finish. Columbia is doing a pretty good job of its "A" pictures. — Bruce K. Young. Ritz Theatre, Dyersburg, Tenn. General and soldier patronage. WHAT'S BUZZIN', COUSIN?: Ann Miller, John Hubbard— Rochester is the best box office name in this feature. Believe we would have done O.K. on it if it hadn't rained all Sunday. Picture has lots of music, fun, singing; plus a few gangsters and a hillbilly number. Played Sunday, Monday, Nov. 7, 8. — A. H. Kaufman, Fountain Theatre, Terre Haute, Ind. Family patronage. WHAT'S BUZZIN', COUSIN?: Ann Miller, John Hubbard — Popular appeal to younger folks. Had bad weather; could have done better. Musicals don't do sellout business here. Played Wednesday, Thursday, Nov. 10, 11.— Harlan Rankin, Plaza Theatre, Tilbury, Ont., Canada. Metro-Gold wyn-Mayer ABOVE SUSPICION: Joan Crawford, Fred MacMurray— If MGM would just forget Joan Crawford, I think the public would be glad to. — F. H. Crist, Crist Theatre, Loveland, Ohio. DR. GILLESPIE'S NEW ASSISTANT: Lionel Barrymore, Van Johnson — Every business establishment in town was closed for the bond drive. Business was average, but should have been better. Picture was O.K. Played Thursday, Sept. 9.— Wilson T. Cottrell, Carolina Theatre, Oxford, N. C. DU BARRY WAS A LADY: Red Skelton, Lucille Ball — In my estimation, this is Red's best. Played Thursday, Friday, Nov. 11, 12.— Willard Moore, Lido Theatre, Providence, Ky. DU BARRY WAS A LADY: Red Skelton, Lucille Ball — Excellent Technicolor comedy. The name and costumes probably kept some away, but it is very good entertainment, both in comedy and musical num . . . 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 20. N. Y. bers. Played Tuesday, Wednesday, Oct. 19, 20.— Paul O'Neil, Grand Theatre, Wallace, Idaho. Nursing and professional patronage. DU BARRY WAS A LADY: Red Skelton. Lucille Ball — This one is silly. Nothing to it, but it was a relief from war pictures; no kicks. Beautiful color, pretty girls, but my people don't go for costume pictures. Business below average. Played Thursday, Friday, Nov. 11, 12.— Frank D. Fowler, Princess Theatre, M'ocksville, N. C. Rural patronage. HUMAN COMEDY, THE: Mickey Rooney, Frank Morgan — Stars are O.K., but picture is a bit disappointing to the general public. Played Monday-Wednesday, Oct. 25-27.— Willard Moore, Lido Thetre, Providence, Ky. I DOOD IT: Red Skelton. Eleanor Powell— The biggest grosser from this company this year, with the exception of "Random Harvest." Skelton excellent, but some of Eleanor Powell's dancing seems to have been clipped from her previous pictures. Played Saturday-Monday, Nov. 6-8. — Ritz Amusements, Inc., Park Theatre, North Vernon, Ind. Small town patronage. PILOT NO. S: Franchot Tone, Marsha Hunt— Good on a double bill only. I played it with "Silver Spurs" and had good attendance. Played Saturday, Sunday, Oct. 30, 31. — Mrs. Gertrude Proulx, Au Gres Theatre, Au Gres, Mich. Rural and small town patronage. PILOT NO. 5: Franchot Tone, Marsha HuntSingle featured and was well liked. Had enough action for our usual Friday-Saturday audiences. But gross was nothing unusal. Played Oct. 1, 2. — Arnold Schneeberger, Ritz Theatre, Tipton, Ind. PRESENTING LILY MARS: Judy Garland, Van Heflin — P!ayed in the middle of the week and was a relief to the audiences after all the war films lately. They seemed to like it real well and it grossed slightly above average. But it wasn't up to the usual Garland style. Played Tuesday-Thursday. Sept. 28-30.— Arnold Schneeberger, Ritz Theatre, Tipton, Ind. SALUTE TO THE MARINES: Wallace Beery, Fay Bainter— Here is a good picture. A war picture, but done to a turn and in a big way. The color and locale are perfect, with excellent direction of the battle scenes. Played Sunday -Tuesday, Nov. 7-9. — Mayme P. M'usselman, Princess Theatre, Lincoln, Kan. Small town patronage. SWING SHIFT MAISIE: Ann Sothern, James Craig — The box office said it was good, and so did the patrons. — F. R. Crist, Crist Theatre, Loveland, Ohio. SWING SHIFT MAISIE: Ann Sothern, James Craig — Not a big picture, but very entertaining. Played Thursday, Friday. Oct. 28, 29.— Mrs. G. Nelson Foxworthy, Princess Theatre, Flemingsburg, Ky. TENNESSEE JOHNSON : Van Heflin. Ruth Russey — Nothing and plenty of it, so far as business was concerned. Many walkouts. Played Saturday, Sept. 10.— Wilson T. Cottrell, Carolina Theatre, Oxford, N. C. YOUNGEST PROFESSION, THE: Virginia Weidler. Edward Arnold and Guests — Satisfactory midweek offering. The brief appearance of the guest stars offers more in advance promotion than the picture delivers. Well produced. Played Wednesday, Thursday, Oct. 20, 21.— G. H. Maxon, Strand Theatre, Jewell, la. Rural and small town patronage. Monday, Nov. 8.— Frank D. Fowler, Princess Theatre, M'ocksville, N. C. Rural patronage. FIVE GRAVES TO CAIRO: Franchot Tone, Anne Baxter — Eric Von Stroheim really did himself proud in this. I was afraid some of my cowboys might shoot a hole in my screen, but guess they left their guns at home since they can't get ammunition any more. Played Thursday, Friday, Nov. 4, 5. — M. L. DuBose, Majestic Theatre, Cotulla, Tex. Small town patronage. FLIGHT FOR FREEDOM: Rosalind Russell, Fred MacMurray — While business was poor, the cash customers liked this picture. It was well acted and well made. Played Wednesday, Thursday, Nov. 3, 4. — A. C. Edwards, Winema Theatre, Scotia, Cal. Small lumber town patronage. HENRY ALDRICH GETS GLAMOUR: Jimmy Lydon. Charlie Smith — This one went over for us and proved the best of the series we have shown to date. There were several sequences that brought the house down. Played Friday, Saturday, Nov. 5, 6. — A. C Edwards, Winema Theatre, Scotia, Cal. Small lumber town patronage. NIGHT PLANE FROM CHUNGKING: Robert Preston, Ellen Drew — Doubled this with "Henry Aidrich Gets Glamour" to good weekend business. Good action programmer. Played Friday, Saturday, Nov. 5, 6.— A. C. Edwards, Winema Theatre, Scotia, Cal. Small lumber town patronage. SO PROUDLY WE HAIL: Claudette Colbert, Paulette Goddard — Very good. War pictures may be on the wane, but we will settle for business like this any Sunday. Thanks to Paramount and the grand cast for such a splendid job of production and acting. Played Sunday, Monday, Nov. 7, 8. — A. C Edwards, Winema Theatre, Scotia, Cal. Small lumber town patronage. SO PROUDLY WE HAIL: Claudette Colbert, Paulette Goddard— Very fine picture which played to little more than average business. Being a good story about nurses, the women came and the men stayed away. Played Wednesday, Thursday, Nov. 3, 4. — E. M. Freiburger, Paramount Theatre, Dewey, Okla. Small town patronage. SOULS AT SEA: George Raft, Gary Cooper— A reissue that did not click. Too rough for the female trade, and that is about all we have left. — F. R. Crist, Crist Theatre, Loveland, Ohio. SUBMARINE ALERT: Richard Arlen, Wendy Barrie — Good little action picture which slipped by on Pal Night. Played Tuesday, Nov. 2.— E. M. Freiburger, Paramount Theatre, Dewey, Okla. Small town patronage. Republic Paramount AERIAL GUNNER: Chester Morris, Richard Arlen —Nice picture. Played it only one day to nice business. Give it your best one-day playdate. Paramount doesn't make a better program picture. Played DEATH VALLEY MANHUNT: Bill Elliott, Gabby Hayes — Good Western picture which pleased on Friday-Saturday. More action than usual. Played Nov. 5, 6. — E. M'. Freiburger, Paramount Theatre, Dewey, Okla. Small town patronage. MAN FROM MUSIC MOUNTAIN: Roy Rogers— This Roy Rogers was very good as was the one before it. Roy is getting better all the time. Some of our fans like him better than Gene Autry. Bob Nolan also received a lot of applause. Good attendance. Played Saturday. Sunday, Nov. 6. 7. — Mrs. Gertrude Proulx. Au Gres Theatre, Au Gres, Mich. Rural and small town patronage. NOBODY'S DARLING: Mary Lee. Gladys George —One of the better made pictures from this company and with a young star who is growing in popularity, A swell little musical. Played Thursday. Friday, Nov. 11, 12.— Ritz Amusements, Inc., Park Theatre, North Vernon, Ind. Small town patronage. {Continued on opposite page)