Motion Picture Herald (Jan-Feb 1945)

{Continued from page 59) is plenty of action with a competent cast that holds audience interest all the way. Business was exceedingly good. Played Friday, Saturday, Jan. 26-27.— A. E. Andrews, Emporium Theatre, Emporiiun, Pa. General patronage. WINGED VICTORY Edmond O'Brien, Jeanne Grain— The most remarkable picture we have played in a long time. It is indeed true to Army life. Our patrons loved it. Every mother in town who had lost a ■son in aviation was here to see it and they were so proud. Packed house. Played Thursday-Sunday, Feb. 4-7. — Ken Gorham. Town Hall Theatre, Middlebury, Vt. General patronage. WINGED VICTORY: Edmond O'Brien, Jeanne Grain — One of the best GI celluloid stories to come down the line. The authenticity of the film with its GI stars made for splendid entertainment. Business got off to a rather slow start but picked up by leaps and bounds. With the stage show opening downtown a few days after my playdates, the pubHcity was good enough. Saturday's business was strictly SRO the whole day long. Played Friday, Saturday, Feb. 2 3.— Sid J. Dickler, Belmar Theatre, Pittsburgh, Pa. Neighborhood patronage. United Artists ABROAD WITH TWO YANKS: William Bendix, Dennis O'Keefe — It is a good comedy about soldiers but business was just average. No complaints from those who came. Played Wednesday, Thursday, Jan. 31-Feb. 1. — E. M. Freiburger, Paramount Theatre, Dewey, Okla. Small town patronage. JOHNNY COME LATELY: James Cagney, Grace George — We played this picture three days and did good business considering the weather conditions. Played Thursday-Saturday, Feb. 1-3. — Harland Rankin, Plaza Theatre, Tilbury, Ont., Can. MYSTERY MAN:' William Boyd, Andy Oyde— Here comes Hopalong Cassidy shooting every one but the director, who should have been shot first and saved this waste of film. Played Friday, Saturday, Jan. 26-27. — Robert E. Floeter, Burton Theatre, Flint, Mich. City and suburban patronage. SENSATIONS OF 1945: Dennis O'Keefe, Eleanor Powell — This is a fairly good musical show which did average business. Played Sunday, Monday, Jan. 28-29. — E. M. Freiburger, Paramount Theatre, Dewey, Okla. Small town patronage. SINCE YOU WENT AWAY: Oaudette Colbert, Shirley Temple, Monty Woolley, Joseph Gotten — This oversized feature is excellent. I was skeptical about a picture as long as this. I was afraid that it could not hold the audience interest, but it did. Once in a while a picture comes along that has perfect casting, direction and story. This film had all that.— A. E. Hancock, Columbia Theatre, Columbia City, Ind. SINCE -YOU WE^NT AWAY: Claudette Colbert, Shirley Temple, Monty Woolley, Joseph Gotten — We played this picture five days and turned 200 away a day. I could have played it three more days. I expect to bring it back for a return engagement as soon as dates are available. Don't fail to play it. Your audience will eat it up. Played Monday -Friday, Jan. 29-Feb. 2.— Morris Littman, Sylvan Theatre, Rutherfordton, N. C. Small town patronage. SINCE YOy WENT AWAY: Oaudette Colbert. Shirley Temple, Monty Woolley, Joseph Gotten — First picture to play five days here. Topped all records of recent years. Dozens of people came twice to see it. Even thought they wept, they loved it. Played Friday -Tuesday, Jan. 19-23.— N. W. Huston, Liberty Theatre, Columbus, Kan. General patronage. STAGE DOOR CANTEEN: Stage and Screen Stars— A very good picture but business was not as good as expected. I guess there was too much snow. Played Monday-Wednesday, Jan. 29-31. — Harland Rankin, Flaza Theatre, Tilbury, Ont., Can. Universal ALLERGIC TO LOVE: Martha O'DriscoU, Noah Beery, Jr. — A very good program comedy. Used with "Swing in the Saddle" from Columbia. The combination made pleasing entertainment and gave complete satisfaction for one evening. We did extra business. Played Tuesday, Feb. 6. — A. E. Andrews, Emporium Theatre, Emporium, Pa. General patronage. BOWERY TO BROADWAY: Contract Players— Somehow this one failed to click. The story was very ethereal with not much head or tail to it. TTie stage acts were the only redeeming part of the show. All in all it was more of a miss than a hit. Played Sunday, Monday, Feb. 4-5.— Leonard J. Leise, Rand Theatre, Randolph, Neb. Rural and small town patronage. CLIMAX, THE: Susanna Foster, Boris Karloff— One of Karloff 's most disappointing pictures we have ever shown on our screen. Susanna Foster's beautiful "pipes" definitely wasted on such stuff as this not-so-good picture. We will say that the Technicolor is the one redeeming feature aside from Miss Foster's voice. Business was poor even on Bank Night. At its best it is a double bill picture and about that I am a bit doubtful. Played Wednesday. Thursday, Feb. 7-8.— Sid J. Dickler, Belmar Theatre, Pittsburgh, Pa. Neighborhood patronage. IN SOCIETY: Abbott and Costello— Compares favorably with former offerings from this combination, doing usual good business on a Sunday with a washout on Monday. One feature from them about every six months is about all my public will stand.— Played Sunday, Monday, Jan. 21-22. — A. E. Andrews, Emporium Theatre, • Emporium, Pa. General patronage. MOONUGHT AND CACTUS: Andrews Sisters, Leo Carillo — All I can say after playing this one is that the Andrews Sisters should stay on the radio. Maybe the cut in raw stock will be a blessing if it precludes wasting of film on such as this. Universal must figure that their names are all that is needed. They certainly are greatly in error. — A. E. Hancock, Columbia Theatre, Columbia City, Ind. MUMMY'S GHOST, THE: John Carradine, Lon Chancy — Used on the top billing on a double feature with "Ever Since Venus" from Columbia. There was nothing much to excite anyone about either feature, although no complaints were registered and business was just above normal. Played Tuesday, Jan. 30. — A. E. Andrews, Emporium Theatre, Emporium, Pa. General patronage. Warner Bros. DOUGHGIRLS, THE: Ann Sheridan, Alexis Smith— No extra business on this but it was a good show and well liked. It is one of the best comedies of the year and it is one big wisecrack from start to finish. Eve Arden stole the show as she usually does. I bet you any exhibitor will enjoy it because it is so far ahead of the usual routine picture. Played Sunday, Monday, Jan. 21-22. — Henley and Burns Smith, Imperial Theatre, Pocahontas, Ark. Rural patronage. JANIE: Joyce Reynolds, Robert Hutton — A pleasing comedy with lots of chuclcles and laughs. It held the interest all the way and registered very well considering the cold, disagreeable weather. Miss Reynolds came through with distinction. Flayed Sunday, Monday, Jan. 28-29. — ^A. E. Andrews, Emporium Theatre, Emporium, Pa. General patronage. MANPOWER: Edward G. Robinson, George Raft— These reissues have proved far better for us than some of the new pictures. This is about the fifth reissue we have played from Warner Bros, and they have all worked out swell. Hope they will reissue others at the same price because they have all proved profitable for us and that's what we are in business for. Played Friday, Feb. 2. — Henley and Burns Smith, Imperial Theatre, Pocahontas, Ark. Rural patronage. Short Features RKO Radio GIRLS. GIRLS, GIRLS: Leon Errol— Good two-reel comedy. — E. M. Freiburger, Paramount Theatre, Dewey, Okla. Twentieth CenturyFox CARMEN'S VERANDA: Terrytoons— Entertaining and good cartoon — Harland Rankin, Plaza Theatre, Tilbury, Ont., Can. INSIDE CHINA TODAY: March of Time— Routine March of Time. — E. M. Freiburger, Paramount Theatre, Dewey, Okla. SNOWLAND SENTINELS: Movietone AdventuresSeemed to satisfy. — Harland Rankin, Plaza Theatre, Tilbury, Ont., Can. Universal FROM SPRUCE TO BOMBER: Variety Views— This was a surprisingly good little short with good comments. — Leonard J. Leise, Rand Theatre, Randolph, Neb. PIED PIPER OF BASIN STREET: Swing Symphonies— Clever cartoon in Technicolor.— E. M. Freiburger, Paramount Theatre, Dewey, Okla. Vitaphone BIRDS AND BEASTS WERE THERE: Sports Parade— Good sport reel in Technicolor. — E. M. Freiburger, Paramount Theatre, Dewey, Okla. BUCKAROO BUGS: "Bugs Bunny" Specials— An average short that got by all right. — Leonard J. Leise, Rand Theatre, Randolph, Neb. GOLDILOCKS AND THE JIVIN' BEARS: Merrie Melodies Cartoons — Just fair. There was not much enthusiasm for this one. — Leonard J. Leise, Rand Theatre, Randolph, Neb. I WON'T PLAY: Featurettes— Good two-reeler about a soldier who refused to play the piano for his buddies and why. — E. M. Freiburger, Paramount Theatre, Dewey, Okla. ODOR-ABLE KITTY: Merrie Melodies CartoonsGood color cartoon.— E. M. Freiburger, Paramount Theatre, Dewey, Okla. OKLAHOMA OUTLAWS: Santa Fe Trail Westerns— Our patrons seemed to like this short. — Harland Rankin, Plaza Theatre, Tilbury, Ont., Can. SONNY DURHAM'S ORCHESTRA: Melody Master Bands — Entertaining musical reel. — E. M. Freiburger, Paramount Theatre, Dewey, Okla. Returns to Pittsfield House Horace Descelles, recently honorably discharged from the Army, has returned to the Strand theatre, Pittsfield, Mass., as manager. Standard Film Nomenclature Defined in New Brochure The new American war standard nomenclature | for films used in studios and laboratories, prepared ' by Captain L. T. Goldsmith, D. E. Hyndman, W. F. Kelley and Wesley C. Miller, is available in . brochure form by the American Standards Associ | ation, New York. I The new standard, developed by the American | Standards Association war committee on photog i raphy and cinematography, in cooperation with i the armed forces, the War Production Board, the I Society of Motion Picture Engineers, the Research | Council of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts : and Sciences and the industry represents the initial ; results of a unified effort to prepare a standard reference source for film terminology. The new standard alsa includes a chart which shows for the first time the mechanics of the com j monly used methods of production from the shooting of the original sound and picture negatives to | the making of the final release print for theatre or | field showing. ^ Freck New Chairman of j Portland Review Board J. O. Freck has been elected chairman and Mrs. | Helen Lamond vice-chairman of the Portland, j Ore., Municipal Board of Review for the year, j under the board's new policy of electing a chair( man each year. i The board condemned seven pictures and or-i dered eliminations in three last year, said Mrs. 1 Josephine Forney, executive viewer, in her annual j report. Viewers passed on 1,001 pictures in the^ same period. j In one case a theatre was required to submit' its advertising for approval, since the title of a film was' objectionable, although the film itself was not. The new system by which special view-i ers pay their way into shows when complaints, are being investigated has obtained better results, as the theatre is not advised of the presence of the viewer in the audience. This has resulted inj a marked decrease in violations. j Music Corporation Has j Profit-Sharing Plan ! As soon as Treasury Department approval is ob-| tained — and it is expected within 60 days — the Music Corporation of America will put into effect a , profit-sharing trust plan. i The purpose of the plan, according to Jules C. Stein, president, in Holly_wood, is "to meet changJ ing conditions of operation in our business, to con-l solidate and expedite efficiency in our operation,' and above all to broaden and make available to all of us the benefits of our combined efforts." ■ ' Under the provisions of the plan, a sum equivalent to 15 per cent of the company's payroll will b^ invested and administered as a trust fund, its accrual to be paid to employees reaching the age oi 55 who have been with the company six years, i Employees with six years' service will get the benefits of 20 per cent of the fund, those with sevn en years' service 40 per cent, the percentage inj creasing thereafter so that employees with It years' service or more will receive the benefits oi 100 per cent of the fund. Death benefits are provided. , Book Advertising Tieup j For "Roughly Speaking" Under arrangements completed by WarneJ Bros, with Simon and Schuster, publishers o; Louise Randall Pierson's novel, "Roughly Speak' ing," a new nationwide 'advertising campaign i: being launched by the publishers coincidentallj with the showing of the film. First of the newspaper ad series appeared recentlv in the New York Tim-es, timed with th« premiere of the picture at the Broadway Hollyi wood theatre. The ad was headlined "How ; Fine Movie Was Born". Other key city newspapers will carry simila: ads timed with local openings. In addition to thi newspaper campaign, the promotional schedull includes magazine advertising, window and bool counter displays, and other exploitation activity. 62 MOTION PICTURE HERALD, FEBRUARY 24, 194