Motion Picture Herald (Jul-Aug 1944)

(Continued from page 39) Saturday, July 28, 29— Arnold Schneeberger, Ritz Theatre, Tipton, lnd. Farmer and small town patronage. LADIES OF WASHINGTON: Ronald Graham, Trudy Marshall— Double billed this with a Western for a nice show. Not too long, and good drawing power. Did better than average. "Ladies of Washington" is a good picture. Played Friday, Saturday, August 11, 12.— Leroy Strandberg, Roxy Theatre, Hinckley, Minn. Rural and small town patronage. RAINS CAME, THE: Myrna Loy, Tyrone Power— This reissue went over well, used on top half of double bill. This is the third of the reissue series sold by 20thFox, and so far they have done better than hoped for. Played Friday, Saturday, August 4, 5.— Al C. Edwards, Winema Theatre, Scotia, Cal. Small luinber town patronage. ROGER TOUHY, GANGSTER: Preston Foster, Victor McLaglen— A good "B" budget film. Well received by our action fans. The name cast gave it pulling power, plus a nice ad campaign by 20tn-l-ox, whicli helped. Played with revival feature, MGM's "Whistling in Dixie" on Saturday, and did O.K. Played Friday, Saturday, August 4, 5.— Arnold Schneeberger, Ritz Theatre, Tipton ; lnd. Farmer and small town patronage. United Artists IT HAPPENED TOMORROW: Dick Powell, Linda Darnell— Another fairy tale that Hollywood seemed to think should please. No comments for or against this from our patrons, but to us it was nothing extra. Played Friday. Saturday, July 28, 29.— Burris and J. Henry Smith, Imperial Theatre, Pocahontas, Ark. Rural patronage. JACK LONDON: Michael O'Shea, Susan Hay wardThere was plenty of action in this feature, and it drew average business. No complaints. Played Wednesday, Thursday, August 2, 3.— A. C. Edwards, Winema Theatre, Scotia, Cal. Small lumber town patronage. UP IN MABEL'S ROOM: Dennis O'Keefe, Gail Patrick— Despite civilian critical disdain, this proved to be tops with the men, getting many laughs and proving itself to be a grand audience picture. Don't see it alone. Played Friday. Saturday, June 18, 19.— Lt. Herbert S. Nusbaum, Naval Air Station, Navy 117, FFO, New York. Naval personnel. Universal CHIP OFF THE OLD BLOCK: Donald O'Connor, Peggy Ryan — A very good picture and it drew average business, which is the first time for an O'Connor picture. Played Sunday, Monday, August 6, 7. — Leroy Strandberg, Roxy Theatre, Hinckley, Minn. Rural and small town patronage. COBRA WOMAN: Maria Montez, Jon Hall— A beautiful Technicolor feature that did good average business, though short. This type of picture is a pretty sure draw for small towns. The monkey almost develops into a star role. Played Friday and Saturday, August 11, 12. — Leonard J. Leise, Rand Theatre, Randolph, Neb. Rural and small town patronage. CRAZY HOUSE: O'lsen and Johnson — Business above average. No sellout but did O.K. Played Wednesday, Thursday, August 2, 3.— Harland Rankin, Plaza Theatre, Tilbury, Ont. IMPOSTER, THE: Jean Gabin, Allyn Joslyn— A war picture but not gruesome. This was the poorest draw yet shown. Business way below average. Definitely an undesirable feature. Played Wednesday, Thursday, August 9, 10. — Leonard J. Leise, Rand Theatre, Randolph, Neb. Rural and small town patronage. LADIES COURAGEOUS: Loretta Young, Geraldine Fitzgerald — There is no excuse for making this kind of picture. Did not even make expenses. No entertainment value at all, and no draw. Played Sunday -Tuesday, August 13-15. — Leroy Strandberg, Roxy Theatre, Hinckley, Minn. Rural and small town patronage. • OKLAHOMA RAIDERS: Tex Ritter, Fuzzy Knight— This was used on the second half of a double bill and went over well with the Western fans. The cowboy ballads in these Westerns are superior to any we have ever used. Flayed Friday, Saturday, August 4, 5. — A. C. Edwards, Winema Theatre, Scotia, Cal. Small lumber town patronage. SCARLET CLAW, THE: Basil Rathbone, Nigel Bruce — This Sherlock Holmes series has been extremely good and the men like them very much. This one is right up to a standard aided by a wonderful performance by Nigel Bruce. There is a real challenge to the audience to guess the murderer. Played Sunday, Monday, June 20, 21. — Lt. Herbert S. Nusbaum, Naval Air Station, Navy 117, FPO, New York. Naval personnel. SWINGTIME JOHNNY: Andrews Sisters, Harriet Hil liard — Very good picture. Double billed on weekend. Played Friday, Saturday, August 4, 5. — Harland Rankin, Plaza Theatre, Tilbury, Ont. SHORT PRODUCT PLAYING BROADWAY * Week of August 21 ASTOR Monumental Utah MGM Sports Quiz MGM Feature: Kismet MGM CRITERION From Spruce to Bomber Universal Lili Marlene Universal Feature: In Society Universal GLOBE Song of the Rain Warner Bros. Porky the Pig Warner Bros. Feature: Canterville Ghost MGM GOTHAM Duck Soup to Nuts Viiaphone Ozzie Nelson Vitaphone Battle Stations OWI Feature: Dead End Film Classics HOLLYWOOD Russian Rhapsody Vitaphone Our Frontier in Italy Vitaphone Memo for Joe RKO-VvtAC Feature: Mr. Skeffington Warner Bros. RIALTO The Yoke's on Me Columbia Memo for Joe RKO-WAC Feature: Cry of the Werewolf. . Columbia RIVOLI Your Pet Problem Paramount Feature: Story of Dr. Wassell. . . Paramount STRAND Colorado Trout Vitaphone Brother Brat Vitaphone Feature: Janie Warner Bros. Vitaphone Wa rner Bros. PASSAGE TO MARSEILLE: Humphrey Bogart, Michele Morgan — Another war picture that din't take, though a good drama. The proverb, "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink," is certainly applicable to war entertainment. The patrons have been overfed. Played Sunday, Monday, August 6, 7.— Leonard J. Leise, Rand Theatre, Randolph, Neb. Rural and small town patronage. PASSAGE TO MARSEILLE: Humphrey Bogart, Michele Morgan— Did very well. Humphrey Bogart is very popular here. Played Monday, Tuesday, July 31, August 1.— Harland Rankin, Plaza Theatre, Tilbury, Ont. SHINE ON, HARVEST MOON: Ann Sheridan, Dennis Morgan— It's O.K. Wish I had more like this. Caused plenty of comment. The old songs, and swell cast made it tops with our patrons. Many wondered why it wasn't all in Technicolor instead of just the "Ziegfeld Follies" finale. Give it the best you've got and you won't be disappointed. Played Sunday, Monday, August 6, 7.— Arnold Schneeberger, Ritz Theatre, Tipton, lnd. Farmer and small town patronage. Short Features Columbia COMMUNITY SING: Community Sing— These would be an outstanding shorts series if they used songs the audience is familiar with. — Ben Brinck, West Point Theatre, West Point, la. GIDDY YAPPING: Phantasies Cartoons— Very poor.— H. Goldson, Plaza Theatre, Chicago, 111. Paramount MARRY GO ROUND: Popeye the Sailor — People seerried to like this short. — Harland Rankin, Plaza Theatre, Tilbury, Ont. Twentieth CenturyFox CHAMPION OF JUSTICE, THE: Terry toons— Fair.— H. Goldson, Plaza Theatre, Chicago, 111. Universal JUNGLE JIVE: Swing Symphonies— Too much Negro interpretation of "jive." Can't say much for it. — Leonard J. Leise, Rand Theatre, Randolph, Neb. MELODY GARDEN: Name-Band Musicals— A fine presentation of an orchestra, but a good two-reel comedy would have been more desirable. — Leonard J. Leise, Rand Theatre, Randolph, Neb. Vitaphone Varieties — Kids and -Harland Rankin, Plaza Theatre, BEAR'S TALE, THE: Blue Ribbon Merrie MelodiesVery good. — Harland Rankin, Plaza Theatre, Tilbury, Ont. BEHIND THE BIG TOP: Technicolor Specials— A dandy two-reel short. Give us more like this. — Ben Brinck, West Point Theatre, West Point, la. BEHIND THE BIG TOP: Technicolor Specials— Really good, if you have matinee business. — Harland Rankin, Plaza Theatre, Tilbury, Ont. JUNGLE PERILS: grownups like this one.Tilbury, Ont. MY FAVORITE DUCK: Looney Tunes— Good, and well received. — Harland Rankin, Plaza Theatre, Tilbury, Ont. RUSSIAN RHAPSODY: Merrie Melodies— Not verj funny. — H. Goldson, Plaza Theatre, Chicago, 111. SO YOU WANT TO GIVE UP SMOKING: Hollywood Novelty — Very good. Play it by all means. — Harland Rankin, Plaza Theatre, Tilbury, Ont. SWEENEY STEPS OUT: Hollywood Novelty— This was really good. — Harland Rankin, Plaza Theatre, Tilbury, Ont. SWOONER CROONER, THE: Merrie Melodies Car toons — Warner shorts are generally good. — Harland Ran kin, Plaza Theatre, Tilbury, Ont. TO DUCK OR NOT TO DUCK: Looney Tunes— Wei received during our hot spell. — Harland Rankin, Plazi Theatre, Tilbury, Ont. TOM, TURK & DAFFY: Merrie Melodies Cartoons.One of the poorest cartoons yet shown. Nothing on thi ball whatsoever. — Leonard J. Leise, Rand Theatre, Ran dolph Neb. Abandon Cooperative Unit Of Ohio Independents The Theatre Owners Cooperative Exchanges o Ohio, incorporated in Columbus last month fo: the purpose of forming exhibitor controlled am operated exchanges in Ohio, has ceased to functioi before getting started. More than $30,000 subscribe! by independent theatre owners of northern am southern Ohio, which was the quota designatei as required to acquire the 31 Goldwyn reissue and arrange for distribution, has been refunded It is reported that the subscription was raised b; some 150 theatre owners, representing close to 801 theatres. Reasons for the "refunding, as stated to the share holders by Troy H. Feibel of Columbus, temporar secretary of the unit, were unfeasibility of dis tribution and the high cost of setting up exchangi centers, difficulty of getting product other than tb Goldwyns and general lack of exhibitor enthusiasm Distribution arrangements in northern Ohio hai been made with Max M. Jacobs of Imperia Pictures. But no similar arrangements, it is said were possible in southern Ohio. To have establishei an exchange would have necessitated further assess ment of the shareholders, who were not in favo of this plan. The directors, Milton A. Mooney o Cleveland, Maury White of Cincinnati and Lei Yassenoff of Columbus, met last week and votd to abandon the entire project and return to thi stockholders all the money subscribed. The fat of the 31 Goldwyn reissues in this territory is : matter of conjecture. '01 Af WMC Warns No Manpower Relief for Some Time The War Manpower Commission Monday re iterated its warning that industries not classified a essential, located in critical help-shortage cities cannot expect any relief for some time. The warn ing came from Chicago, as regional directors d the WMC ended a three-day executive session a the Stevens Hotel. Paul V. McNutt, WMC director, stated tha "the crisis of victory has affected production .0 the material of ultimate decision ; heavy artillery heavy trucks, heavy munitions, heavy tanks." La bor and the community must draw together in eoi operative efforts he said, to mobilize manpower fo the greatest possible production. The application of the rule was felt by 'San Gorelick, local RKO exchange manager, when th1 WMC office in Chicago informed him that he coult not hire a salesman before his predecessor wa discharged. Mr. Gorelick was seeking to make i change, but due to an office problem wanted t< keep both men for a time. 42 MOTION PICTURE HERALD, AUGUST 26, 19+