Motion Picture Herald (Mar-Apr 1945)

'/what the picture hid for . . . the original exhibitors' reports department, established October 14, 1914. In It iheatremen 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. Columbia BEAUTIFUL BUT BROKE: Joan Davis, John Hubiard— A little old but it is a crackerjack for a double bill. : the whole house does not rock with laughter, there is Dmething wrong. Played Wednesday, Thursday, March [ 8. — M. \V. Hughes, Colonial Theatre, Astoria, 111. Small jwn patronage. CYCLONE PRAIRIE RANGERS: Charles Starett, Bub "aylor — Good old Charles Starett, he always has a nice oliowing. Picture very good. — Harland Rankin, Plaza Dieatre, Tilbury, Canada. HEY ROOKIE: Ann Miller, Joe Besser— A little old but . little better than our new ones. Played on a double bill ind everyone seemed pleased. Her dancing alone in this s worth the price of admission. Played Wednesday, fhursday, March 14, 15. — M. W. Hughes, Colonial Theatre, Astoria, 111. Small town patronage. KANSAS CITY KITTY: Joan Davis, Bob Crosby— Nice ittle picture but not up to Davis' performances in past. Would double nicely with almost anything. Normal business. Played Wednesday, March 28. — Johnnie Hynes, Community Theatre, Conde, S D. ONE MYSTERIOUS NIGHT: Chester Morris, Janis Carter — A good little picture, and it drew well, but why don't they give Janis Carter better parts? Flayed Tuesday, March 27.— Marcella Smith, Vinton Theatre, McArrthur, O. Small town patronage. TOGETHER AGAIN: Charles Boyer, Irene Dunn— This picture didn't click. Don't know why. — Harland Rankin, Plaza Theatre, Tilbury, Canada. TOGETHER AGAIN: Charles Boyer, Irene DunnCharles Boyer was never liked here until this picture was played. This is without doubt the best picture Columbia has put out for years and everybody went out raving. Irene Dunn was swell and the young couple are really in the groove. Good for any date anywhere. Business fair. —Will J. Henry, Milan Theatre, Milan, Ind. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer AMERICAN ROMANCE: Brian Donlevy, Ann Richards— This is a very good picture and in natural colors. It will do some extra business and will please. Played Friday, Saturday, March 23, 24. — M. W. Hughes, Colonial Theatre, Astoria, 111. Small town patronage. BATHING BEAUTY: Red Skelron, Esther WilliamsGood midweek business and beautiful in color. This film deserves Sunday playing time, which I didn't give it. Give it a good spot and you won't be sorry. Played Wednesday, Thursday, March 14, 15. — W. J. Fleischer, New Franklin Theatre, Franklin, Minn. JACKASS MAIL: Wallace Beery, Marjorie Main— Here is an oldie that I picked up for average Tuesday, Wednesday business. The film was in good shape. It should do well in towns where Westerns and Beery are liked. — Ralph Raspa, State Theatre, Rivesville, W. Va. LOST IN A HAREM: Bud Abbott, Lou Costello— I'd say below zero — did not do average business, and in the first bracket, too. Metro spent enough money, too, for a tip-top picture. Played Friday, Saturday, March 30, 31. — M. W. Hughes, Colonial Theatre, Astoria, 111. Small town patronage. MAISIE GOES TO RENO: Ann Sothern, John Hodiak —This is the kind that my patrons like. Good entertainment. Played Sunday, Monday, March 4, 5. — May H. Turner, Royal Theatre, Iowa Park, Tex. Small town and rural patronage. SEE HERE, PRIVATE HARGROVE: Robert Walker, Donna Reed — Very good. People want comedies. They know about the war. Played Saturday, Sunday, March 3, 4. — M. J. Swanson, Roxy Theatre, Aslo, Minn. Small town patronage. SEVENTH CROSS, THE: Spencer Tracy, Signe Hasso —Rather disappointing. Drew well, but people were let lown. I think they expected more action. Too draggy. Played Sunday, March 25.— Marcella Smith, Vinton Theatre, McArthur, O. Small town patronage. Monogram MR. MUGGS STEPS OUT: Leo Gorcey, Huntz HallAverage business on this picture. Those who saw it liked it but it had no drawing stars. Played Saturday, March 31.— James L. Johnson, Pavo Theatre, Pavo, Ga. ALASKA: Kent Taylor, Margaret Lindsay— Fair. The action all took place in the one saloon and the acting was terrible. It could have been a nice show if they put AN INTRODUCTION TO FELLOW EXHIBITORS Harland Rankin, proprietor of the Plaza theatre in Tilbury, Ontario, and long a contributor to the What the Picture Did for Me Department, recently visited the United States on a two-month vacation. Returning home, he made these observations in a letter to the Herald: "I find that here in Canada our likes are somewhat different at times from those of our American friends. We have yet to develop the very popular pepcorn-eating habit in our theatres that has proved so profitable in the United States; our people don't spend as much money on shows as they do in the States, and they are harder to get out to pictures — after they reach certain ages in particular. "However, I do feel that the few minutes I spend in reporting pictures from my viewpoint have been worthwhile. Because of it, I was greeted warmly by my fellow exhibitors while in the United States. Your country is great — it produces showmen in every walk of life, and I feel that theatres are still giving better value per dollar than anything yet." a little more money in some outdoor scenery as the title seems to indicate. Played Friday, Feb. 23. — Burris and Henley Smith, Imperial Theatre, Pocahontas, Ark. Rural patronage. Paramount DANGEROUS PASSAGE: Robert Lowery, Phyllis Brooks — Just another filler, thin on story, a little action and nothing more to recommend it except that it filled a booking. Now with good weather, we know that in this situation we seemed to have passed the peak. It had to come some time, and it seem definitely to be here. — A. E. Hancock, Columbia Theatre, Columbia City, Ind. FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS: Gary Cooper, Ingrid Bergman — This is a big drawing card and a good picture. You will do a lot of extra business at regular prices. Played Sunday-Tuesday, March 18-20. — M. W. Hughes, Colonial Theatre, Astoria, 111. Small town patronage. GREAT MOMENT: Joel McCrea, Betty Field— Rotten — didn't even make expenses. Played Sunday, Monday, March 18, 19.— May H. Turner, Royal Theatre, Iowa Park, Tex. Small town and rural patronage. GREAT MOMENT: Joel McCrea, Betty Field— A great flop. One of the worst pictures we have shown our public. The beginning and ending was quite confusing and I can't say much for the middle. Played Wednesday, March 21.— Marcella Smith, Vinton Theatre, McArthur, O. Small town patronage. HAIL THE CONQUERING HERO': Eddie Bracken, Ella Raines — It's a good Bracken picture; however, business just fair. A good story with plenty of laughs. Played Sunday -Tuesday, March 11-13. — W. J. Fleischer, New Franklin Theatre, Franklin, Minn. I LOVE A SOLDIER: Paulette Goddard, Sonny Tufts — A dandy picture that did nice first-of-the-week business, each night doing within a few cents of the others. — Harland Rankin, Plaza Theatre, Tilbury, Canada. TAKE IT BIG: Jack Haley, Harriet Hilliard— Just a program musical. We double billed it to fair business. — Harland Rankin, Plaza Theatre, Tilbury, Canada. TILL WE MEET AGAIN: Ray Milland, Barbara Britten— This picture failed to do any business for us. The theme is just simply worn out. The war is now in its decisive stage and the public has very little interest in what once was Nazi occupied France. Played Wednesday, Thursday, March 21, 22.— A. C. Edwards, Winema Theatre, Scotia, Cal. Small lumber town patronage. PRC MINSTREL MAN: Benny Fields, Gladys GeorgeHere is another good show that went to waste because of the snow storm that swept over West Virginia. Our grosses were terrible, would have been better to shut down. The show was great and loved by all. The young girl featured in this show has plenty of talent; reminds one of Betty Hutton. Played Tuesday, Wednesday. — Ralph Raspa, State Theatre, Rivesville, W. Va. RKO ACTION IN ARABIA: George Sanders, Virginia Bruce — This picture wasn't as bad as most of the reviews indicated. Business was way off. Flayed Saturday, Sunday.—Ralph Raspa, State Theatre, Rivesville, W. Va. BRIDE BY MISTAKE: Laraine Day, Alan MarshallBooked by mistake as far as we were concerned. Didn't do business.— Harland Rankin, Plaza Theatre, Tilbury, Canada. FALCON OUT WEST: Tom Conway, Barbara Hale— A very good detective story. These "Falcon" series are getting better as they go along. Film didn't get in the first night and business was only half the second night due to the deep snow. Played Friday, Saturday. — Ralph Raspa, State Theatre, Rivesville, W. Va. GILDERSLEEVE'S GHOST: Harold Peary, Marion Martin — A hilarious comedy that did better than average at the box office. The negro brought out more laughs than the rest. This has two ghosts, a gorilla and an invisible woman. Play it. Played Friday, Saturday. — Ralph Raspa, State Theatre, Rivesville, W. Va. MARINE RAIDERS: Pat O'Brien, Ruth Hussey— The trailer brought them in. Did good business for a war picture and competed against "Going My Way," too. Has the usual characteristics of a "good" war picture. A little love (be sure to exploit this if you want any women patronage during your showing), a couple of laughs, and plenty of fighting. Played Sunday, Monday, Jan. 14, 15.— Ralph Raspa, State Theatre, Rivesville, W. Va. MASTER RACE: George Coulouris, Stanley Ridgers — A flop. No star power. People are tired of propaganda pictures. Played Wednesday, Thursday, March 21, 22. — E. M. Freiburger, Paramount Theatre, Dewey, Okla. Small town patronage. NIGHT OF ADVENTURE : Tom Conway, Audrey Long — Here is a very good picture, but it is very hard to sell to your public. Played Friday, Saturday, Jan. 19, 20. — Ralph Raspa, State Theatre, Rivesville, W. Va. SEVEN DAYS ASHORE: Wally Brown, Alan CarneyNice little musical comedy. Wally Brown and Alan Carney are nutty as ever and I can't understand why RKO1 doesn't put them in bigger pictures. I see that RKO used several of their "Pin-Up" girls in this film. More companies should follow 20th Century -Fox's method of introducing lovelies and making it pay for both them and the exhibitors. Played Sunday, Monday. — Ralph Raspa, State Thetare, Rivesville, W. Va. STEP LIVELY: Frank Sinatra. Gloria DeHaven— Here is a grand musical comedy. In fact, one of the best to (Continued on following page) MOTION PICTURE HERALD, APRIL 14, 1945 37