Motion Picture Herald (May-Jun 1946)

'/what the picture did for me^ Columbia BANDIT OF SHERWOOD FOREST: Cornel Wilde, Anita Louise — Bring on some more like this. A splendid show reminiscent of the old Doug Fairbanks pictures of years ago. Played Sunday, Monday. — Hobart H. Gates, Garlock Theatre, Custer, S. D. BANDIT OF SHERWOOD FOREST: Cornel Wilde, Anita Louise — Did the best business for me in many months. A cool, rainy Sunday, which is ideal "movie" weather for my town, helped out a lot. Seemed to please young and old alike. Played Sunday, Monday, May 26, 27.— Arthur E. Phifield, Park Theatre, South Berwick, Me. GIRL OF THE LIMBERLOST: Ruth Nelson, Loren Tindall — Give this your best playing time. It will be a big surprise to you. Here is a box office natural. The title does it. You don't need stars. Played Friday, Saturday. May 24, 25. — D'ow B. Summers, Royal Theatre, Unionville, Mo. LIFE WITH BLONDIE: Penny Singleton, Arthur Lake — Played with "My Name Is Julia Ross." Very good double feature. Business above average. Played Monday-Wednesday, April 29-May 1.— Noel D. Leighton, Star Theatre, Limestone, Me. Small town patronage. LIFE WITH BLONDIE: Penny Singleton, Arthur Lake — A grand series for us, and the cash customers love them. Played Sunday, Monday, April 14, 15. — A. J. Simmons, Plaza Theatre, Lamar, Mo. RHYTHM ROUNDUP: Ken Curtis, Cheryl Walker — Doubled this with "Dangerous Partners" to good business. For solid entertainment your weekend patrons will really go for this. We played it as a Western but there is not too much of the west in it, except the songs, which were unbeatable. Played Friday, Saturday, May 24, 25.— Carl M. Hulbert, Gem Theatre, Cornell, Wis. SNAFU: Nanette Parks, Robert Benchley— Pleasantly surprised on this one when we did slightly over average business. Expected it to be a flop. The title was intriguing and it was a fair httle picture. Played Tuesday-Thursday, May 7-9.— Carl M. Hulbert, Gem Theatre, Cornell, Wis. TARS AND SPARS: Alfred Drake, Janet Blair, Marc Piatt— A little outdated but a good musical. Not good enough for top dates. If you play it, don't expect too much at the box office, but it pleases. Played Tuesday, Wednesday, May 21, 22.— Dtow B. Summers, Royal Theatre, Unionville, Mo. THAT TEXAS JAMBOREE: Ken Curtis, JeflP Donnell— All the Columbia musicals are all right for Saturday nights. Real good entertainment. Played Saturday, May 4.— Dow B. Summers, Royal Theatre Unionville, Mo. ' . . . 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. Monogram _ MOON OVER MONTANA: Jimmy Wakley, Lee _ Lasses White— Please, Monogram, put more action in Jimmy's pictures. Played Thursday-Saturday, May 30-June 1.— L. Woody, Jr., Palace Theatre, Golden City, Mo. MUGGS RIDES AGAIN: Leo Gorcey, Huntz HallA good feature for a weekend double. Print in very poor condition. Played Thursday-Saturday, May 1618.— L. Wody, Jr., Palace Theatre, Golden City, Mo. MUGGS RIDES AGAIN: Leo Gorcey, Huntz Hall —Leo Gorcey and the East Side Kids mean good business and satisfied customers. Thanks to Monogram for this swell small town series. Played Saturday June 1.— Arthur E. Phifield, Park Theatre, South Berwick, Me. Metro-Gold wyn-Mayer BEWITCHED: Phyllis Thaxter, Edmund Gwenn-A very good picture. I have men from every state in the union and when they all say, "Let's have more like It, It IS O.K. MGM's recordings and cinematography are always tops. Played Thursday, May 16 to miUtary patronage. — Bob Willis, Hsin Hwa Theatre Taingtae, China. ' HARVEY GIRLS, THE: Judy Garland, John Hodiak— Good picture. Well acted by Judy Garland and Virginia O'Brien, singer. Hodiak pretty good for a newcomer. Audience reaction good but business dropped off slightly on this one. Co-feature "Woman Who Came Back." Music fine in this picture. Played Tuesday -Thursday, May 14-16. — George O. Wiggin, Maplewood Theatre, Maiden, Mass. HER HIGHNESS AND THE BELLBOY: Robert Walker, Hedy Lamarr— Very good picture that did average business. Robert Walker was tops in this film. Played Sunday, Monday, May 19, 20.— Carl M. Hulbert, Gem Theatre, Cornell, Wis. HOODLUM SAINT: William Powell, Esther Williams— An unusual picture that failed to draw as expected. Powell no longer any draw at the box office and he is too old to be playing romantic roles. Played Tuesday-Thursday, May 28-30.— Ritz Amusements, Inc., Park Theatre, North Vernon, Ind. OUR VINES HAVE TENDER GRAPES: Edward G. Robinson, Margaret O'Brien — This is just 100 per cent entertainment wherever it may show. Dtown-toearth story. Record attendance and record appreciation from the audience. In this business these few pictures are the real life savers. Played Friday, May 17.— Jerry L. Thayer, Raymond Theatre, Raymond, N. H. Small town patronage. UP GOES MAISIE: Ann Sothern, George Murphy —Very good comedy picture and enjoyed by "Maisie" fans. Used "Close Call for Boston Blackie" as second feature. Audience reaction fine. Business good both days. Recommend "Up Goes Maisie." Miss Sothern and George Murphy did well in this one. Played Sunday, Monday, May 12, 13.— George O. Wiggin, Maplewood Theatre, Maiden, Mass. VACATION FROM MARRIAGE: Robert Donat, Deborah Kerr — Better than I had expected after reading reports on this. Satisfactory on a double bill. Played Wednesday, Thursday.— Hobart H. Gates, Garlock Theatre, Custer, S. D. WEEKEND AT THE WALDORF: Ginger Rogers, Walter Pidgeon, Lana Turner, Van Johnson— A very nice picture that did about average business. The title was not good for us. It sounds too uppity for our folks. Played Sunday, Monday, May 5, 6.— Carl M. Hulbert, Gem Theatre, Cornell, Wis. WHAT NEXT, CORPORAL HARGROVE?: Robert Walker. Keenan Wynn— Very poor business but perhaps it was because our patrons had seen enough of Robert Walker the week before. However, he was very good in both pictures. Keenan Wynn did a good job in this. Played Sunday, Monday, May 26, 27.— Carl M. Hulbert, Gem Theatre, Cornell, Wis. Paramount BLUE DAHLIA, THE: Alan Ladd, Veronica Lake —If your patrons like rough and tough action pictures, this is it in a typical Alan Ladd story. Only average at the box office. Played Sunday, Monday, May S,' 6.— Ritz Amusements, Inc., Park Theatre, North Vernon, Ind. HOLD THAT BLONDE: Eddie Bracken, Veronica Lake— Not much business on this one. Three days are too much to play pictures of this quality in our house One day would have been plenty. Played TuesdayThursday, May 21-23.— Carl M. Hulbert, Gem Theatre, Cornell, Wis. LOST WEEKEND, THE: Ray MiUand, Jane Wyman— Proved one of my record flops at the box office. Parents kept their children away and stayed away themselves. ^ Aside from wonderful acting, the story left' the audience with a morbid feeling to' take home with them. Played Friday, May 31.— Jerry L. Thayer, Raymond Theatre, Raymond, N. H. Small town patronage. LOST WEEKEND, THE: Ray MiUand, Jane Wyman— Well advertised picture, and one the patrons were waiting for. Milland did an excellent piece of acting atid was well supported by Miss Wyman. Business good both days and the audience reaction favorable. Many repeats on this one. Recommend this to all exhibitors. Co-feature, "Tokyo Rose." Played Sunday, Monday, May 5, 6. — George O. Wiggin, Maplewood Theatre, Maiden, Mass. LOVE LETTERS: Jennifer Jones, Joseph Gotten— A good picture for top dates. It will stand alone and make a fine show that will please. Played Simday, Monday, May 5, 6. — Dow B. Summers, Royal Theatre, Unionville, Mo. MASQUERADE IN MEXICO: Dorothy Lamour, Arturo de Cordova — Didn't think this one was very well done. Miss Lamour O.K. but didn't care for de Cordova. Story quite usual and weak. Played "Prison Ship" as second attraction, which is just a programmer. Business only fair both days. Not recommended for drawing children Saturday matinees. Played Friday, Saturday, May 10, 11.— George O. Wiggin, Maplewood Theatre, Maiden, Mass. NORTHWEST MOUNTED POLICE: Gary Cooper, Madeline Carroll — Played this reissue to good weekend business. Outdoor Technicolor subjects are box office naturals for rural and small town trade. Played Friday, Saturday, May 24, 25.— Roger O. Gackle, Roxy Theatre, Northwood, N. D. PARDON MY PAST: Fred MacMurray, Marguerite Chapman — Excellent comedy which should have played on Sunday. Played Friday, Saturday.— Hobart H. Gates, Garlock Theatre, Custer, S. D. PEOPLE ARE FUNNY: Jack Haley, Helen Walker —The comedy was surely lacking in this. Consequently, the few customers are still wondering what people are funny. Put this on the lower half of a double bill. Played Friday, Saturday.— Hobart H. Gates, Garlock Theatre, Custer, S. D. ROAD TO UTOPIA: Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, Dorothy Lamour— I thought this would do better than it did. We enjoyed above average business. Played Monday, Tuesday, May 27, 28.— Harland Rankin, Plaza Theatre, Tilbury, Ont., Can. VIRGINIAN, THE: Joel McCrea, Brian Donlevy— The reviews may be poor and it may not be as good as the previous versions in black and white, but this Technicolor Western will pack them in, and that is all you care about. Played Saturday-Monday, May 18-20.— Ritz Amusements, Inc., Park Theatre, North Vernon, Ind. YOU CAME ALONG: Robert Cummings, Lizabeth Scott — Not a small town picture. Played Sunday, Monday, May 5, 6.— Ben Brinck, West Point Theatre, West Point, Iowa. PRC ARSON SQUAD: Frank Albertson, Robert Armstrong—Here is something I haven't seen in a long time. This is about "fire bugs," which is new in this town and may be new in yours. Business was only average, but my patrons don't know what arson means. Played Friday, Saturday, May 3, 4.— Nick Raspa, State Theatre, Rivesville, W. Va. Small town patronage. DANGEROUS INTRUDER: Charles Amt, Veda Ann Borg— No cast, therefore no draw. TTiis is a fair picture, with good acting. Played Friday, Saturday, May 10, 11.— Nick Raspa, State Theatre, Rivesville, W. Va. Small town patronage. DANNY BOY: Bu7 Henry, Eva March— Here is a nice little show about a war dog. It could be a little longer, because it cannot stand alone. I know it didn't stand up for me. Business fair. Played Tuesday Wednesday, May 14, 15.— Nick Raspa, State Theatre, Rivesville, W. Va. Small town patronage. ENCHANTED FOREST: Edmund Lowe, Brenda Joyce— Played this to capacity business with just a little promotion m the schools. Don't muff this one for It IS good for many extra dollars above average business. The color is good, the story unusual and in every way a top quality production. Played Satur(Continued on following page) 52 MOTION PICTURE HERALD. JUNE 15, 1946