Motion Picture Herald (May-Jun 1946)

{Continued from preceding page) May 29, 30.— A. C. Edwards, Winema Theatre, Scotia, Cal. Small lumber town patronage. WHAT NEXT, CORPORAL HARGROVE? Robert Walker, Keenan Wynn — I was in uniform when Hargrove first hit, so don't know how this one compares; but it is a good picture with comedy typical to Army life, and did good midweek business. Ex-soldiers go for this kind of war story. Played Wednesday, Thursay. May 14, 15.— Charles L. Jones, Elma Theatre, Elma, Iowa. Small town and rural patronage. YOLANDA AND THE THIEF: Fred Astaire, Lucille Bremer— Leo certainly didn't add to his reputation by producing this. I gave this picture my best playing time because of the Technicolor and Fred Astaire, but it was a complete flop. Just barely made expenses on this and, fellows, when you barely get by on your Sunday and Monday playing time, your whole week is ruined. Played Sunday, Monday, May 12, 13.— H. D. Arrington, Dutch Mill Theatre, Holland, Texas. Small town and rural patronage. Monogram ARE THESE OUR PARENTS?: Helen Vinson, Lyle Talbot — Doubled with "Sonora Stagecoach." Broke house records, but don't know why. Not such a hot show, but had no walkouts. Played Friday, Saturday, May 24, 25.— Curtis Willard, State Line Theatre, State Line, Miss. DILUNGER: Elisha Cook, Jr., Lawrence Tierney — This gangster film did very good business and is good action entertainment. Played Thursday, Friday. —William G. Clark, Alamo Theatre, Pine Bluff, Ark. JOE PALOOKA, CHAMP: Joe Kirkwood, Elyse Knox— Did some exploitation on this, including letting our colored balcony patrons know Joe Louis was in it and this grand little picture came through at the box office. Picture pleased all, and much favorable comment. It is pictures like this that let you live in the show business. Played late show Saturday, June 1. — W. F. Shelton, Louisburg Theatre, Louisburg, N. C. OH WHAT A NIGHT: Edmund Lowe, Marjorie Eambeau — Starts out pretty well, but drags toward the end. Doubled with "Don't Fence Me In" to excellent business. Just a fair picture; not for single billing. Played Friday, Saturday, May 31, June 1.— Curtis Willard, State Line Tlieatre, State Line, Miss. Paramount BLUE DAHLIA, THE: Alan Ladd, Veronica Lake — Tops. Give it your best time. Ladd brings them in here. Played Monday, Tuesday, June 27, 28.— A. D. Brooks, Jr., Cherry Theatre, Havelock, N. C. FOLLOW THAT WOMAN: William Gargan, Nancy Kelly — Used on weekend double bill to very poor business. Played Friday, Saturday, May 31, June 1. — A. C. Edwards, Winema Theatre, Scotia, Cal. Small lumber town patronage. HOLD THAT BLONDE: Eddie Bracken, Veronica Lake — Swell! A scream from start to finish, and who likes to laugh more than people? Played one night only with a stage event and it was appreciated by a nice crowd. It is a nice feeling to see your people leaving the theatre smiling. Veronica is quite a girl I Played Thursday, May 30.— M. E. (Jack) Hammond, Hart Theatre, Ferndale, Cal. INCENDIARY BLONDE: Betty Hutton, Arturo de Cordova — Ejcceptionally fine entertainment in Technicolor which was enjoyed by both young and old. . Never a dull moment all through the length of this feature. The circus and rodeo numbers were especially entertaining. Must congratulate Paramount on this splendid release. It is quite a change to be able to write a good report on product. Why don't the companies release more pictures of this caliber, instead of wasting a lot of money on small productions that no one wants to see. They certainly must know these things. Ten good pictures like this release are worth 25 mediocre ones. Play this. Played Saturday, May 18. — A. L. Dove, Bengough Theatre, Bengough, Sask., Can. Small town and rural patronage. LOST WEEKEND, THE: Ray Milland, Jane Wyman — This one hit the jackpot. One of the best Paramount has made in two years. Played Monday, Tuesday, May 6, 7. — A. D. Brooks, Jr., Cherry Theatre, Havelock, N. C LOST WEEKEND: Ray Milland, Jane Wyman— Wonderftil picture. Milland is the whole show. First class acting. Extra bit of advertising paid off on this one. Business 50 per cent above normal. Well liked. No one offended. Played Wednesday, Thursday, May 8, 9. — Charles L. Jones, Elma Theatre, Elma, Iowa. Small town and rural patronage. PEOPLE ARE FUNNY: Jack Haley, Helen Walker — Too silly and not even half-way good slapstick comedy. Many walkouts and, brother, when you show a poor picture the patrons shout it from the roof tops. Trade it for some good show like "Union Pacific" or "Forest Rangers." Played Thursday, Friday, May 30, 31.— H. D. Arrington. Dutch Mill Theatre, Holland, Texas. Small town and rural patronage. STORK CLUB, THE: Betty Hutton, Barry Fitz gerald— Betty's getting better all the time. Business above average and 100 per cent well pleased with this one. Comedy and music tops. Played Sunday, Monday, June 2, 3. — Charles L. Jones, Elma Theatre, Elma, Iowa. Small town and rural patronage. VIRGINIAN, THE: Joel McCrea, Brian Donlevy— Another exceptionally good release from Paramount. This is an outdoor Western in Technicolor. It is beautifully photographed. A good action drama of the Western prairie. Entertaining to both rural and city people alike. Was lucky to get this early, and proud to play it. A good bet in any spot. Played Tuesday, June 4. — A. L. Dove, Bengough Theatre, Bengough, Sask., Can. Small town and rural patronage. WELL GROOMED BRIDE, THE: Ray Milland, Olivia DeHavilland — Well made and entertaining comedy that took a tumble at the box office. Pleased the few who came. Played Monday, Tuesday, May 27, 28. — W. F. Shelton, Louisburg Theatre, Louisburg, N. C. PRC CARAVAN TRAIL, THE: Eddie Dean, Al LaRu^ This is the first Cinecolor Western I have played from PRC and I immediately found out that I made a mistake by playing it on a Saturday. That boy. Dean, has a wonderful baritone voice and has plenty of talent. The Cinecolor was pretty good. From now on these Eddie Dean Westerns in Cinecolor will play during the week. PRC started the ball rolling when they started this series and I think all Western companies will very soon follow suit. Played Saturday, May 25. — H. D. Arrington, Dutch Mill Theatre, Holland, Texas. Small town and rural patronage. GREAT MIKE, THE: Robert Henry, Stuart Erwin — A good midweek stand which needs support. Played Wednesday, Thursday, May 29, 30. — George McMillan, Hollywood Theatre, McVille, N. D. HOW DO YOU DO?: Bert Gordon, Harry Von Zell — Boy, if I have ever seen corn on the cob, this is it. The jokes are poor, but my patrons went for them and if they liked it, anyone will like it. The music was good, but there wasn't enough of it. Business average. Played Sunday. Monday, May 26, 27.— Nick Raspa, State Theatre, Rives ville, W. Va. Small town patronage. I'M FROM ARKANSAS: Slim Summerville El Brendel — This is a good picture with hillbilly music. Business above average. I hope PRC makes some more like this. Played Friday, Saturday, May 31, June 1. — L. Brazil, Jr., New Theatre, Bearden, Ark. MAN OF COURAGE: Barton MacLane, Charlotte Wynters — Not so good. Did not click on our Sunday midnight. I guess they needed their rest more. Played June 9. — Harland Rankin, Plaza Theatre, Tilbury, Ont., Can. NORTHWEST TRAIL: Bob Steele, John Litel— D'on't overlook this picture. It is very good. It is in color and I believe with a little extra exploiting it will give you worthwhile returns. Don't be afraid to sell it, because it is above average. Business good. Played Friday, Saturday, June 7, 8.— Harland Rankin, Plaza Theatre, Tilbury, Ont., Can. PHANTOM OF 42ND STREET, THE: Dave O'Brien, Kay Aldridge — A very good mystery and good acting. Good for first half of double bill. Play it. Business average. Played Friday, Saturday, May 24, 25.— Nick Raspa, State Theatre, Rivesville, W. Va. Small town patronage. STAGECOACH OUTLAWS: Buster Crabbe, Al St. John — A very good Western with Al St. John bringing the people and the laughs. I don't see why PRC doesn't star St. John instead of Buster Crabbe, because he is the one who brings them in. Business average. Played Friday, Saturday May 3, 4. — Nick Raspa. State Theatre, Rivesville, W. Va. Small town patronage. RKO Radro BELLS OF ST. MARY'S, THE: Ingrid Bergman. Bing Crosby — Miss Bergman and Crosby are at their best. Held up for the entire run. Terms a little high, but worth it. Played MondayWednesday, June 3-5. — A. D. Brooks, Jr., Cherry Theatre, Havelock, N. C. CORNERED: Dick Powell, Micheline Cheirel— Not such a bad show but Dick Powell has no drawing power here. Played Tiiesday, Wednesday, June 4, 5.— K. Walshaw, Broadview Theatre, Broadview, Sask., Can. Small town patronage. CORNERED: Dick Powell, Micheline Cheirel— Fair picture which failed to draw average business. Picture lacked star power as Powell had no support. Played Wednesday, Thursday, June 5, 6. — E. M. Freiburger. Paramount Theatre, Dewey, Okla. Small town patronage. DEADLINE AT DAWN: Paul Lukas, Susan Hayward — Very good "B" picture in an "A" bracket. Business not too bad. Played Wednesday, May 29. — A. D. Brooks, Jr., Cherry Theatre, Havelock, N. C. DICK TRACY: Morgan Conway, Anne JeffreysPlayed on double bill with Western. Business not bad. Unusual children's gross. Played Saturday, June 1.— A. D. Brooks, Jr., Cherry Theatre, Havelock, N. C DICK TRACY: Morgan Conway, Anne Jeffreys— This is too short, but very good mystery story. Don't single-bill this because it won't stand alone. Business off. Played Tuesday, Wednesday, May 21, 22.— Nick Raspa, State Theatre, Rivesville, W. Va. Small town patronage. GIRL RUSH: Frances Langford, Alan Carney, Wally Brown — Tliis musical comedy of the West is good entertainment.—William G. Clark, Alamo Theatre, Pine Bluff, Ark. MADEMOISELLE FIFI: Simone Simon, Kurt Kreuger — This class picture of France during FrancoPrussian War is good and unusual type of show. We doubled this with "Our Vines Have Tender Grapes," and both were well received. — William G. Clark, AJamo Theatre, Pine Bluff, Ark. MARINE RAIDERS'! Pat O'Brien, Ruth Hussey— Very good action picture which played Thursday and Friday to good business. — William G. Clark, Alamo Theatre, Pine Bluff, Ark. RIVERBOAT RHYTHM: Leon Errol, Glenn Vernon —Good little musical show which pleased average business. Played Tuesday, May 28. — E. M. Freiburger, Paramount Theatre, Dewey, Okla. SEVEN MILES TO ALCATRAZ: James Craig, Bonita Granville — Fair adventure story with good action.— William G. Clark, Alamo Theatre, Pine Bluff, Ark. SPANISH MAIN, THE: Paul Henried, Maureen O'Hara — Plenty of color and good acting. Average business. A few women walked out because there was too much killing. Played Friday, Saturday, May 24, 25. — K. Walshaw, Broadview Theatre, Broadview, Sask., Can. Small town patronage. SPIRAL STAIRCASE: Dorothy McGuire, George Brent — A very good mystery, but not a big draw. Business was just normal. I expected more. Played Monday, Tuesday, June 3, 4. — Harland Rankin, Plaza Theatre, Tilbury, Ont., Can. THUNDERING HOOFS: Tim Holt— A very good Western. As I said before Tim Holt Westerns are always good. Business average. Played Friday, Saturday, May 24, 25.— Nick Raspa, State Theatre, Rivesville, W. Ba. Small town patronage. Republic CHEROKEE FLASH, THE: Sunset Carson, Linda Stirling — A good Western which pleased the Friday and Saturday trade. Played June 7, 8. — E. M. Freiburger, Paramount Theatre, Dewey, Okla. Small town patronage. HOME ON THE RANGE: Monte Hale, Adrian Booth — Pleasing program action picture with the addition of Republic's Magnacolor. Addition of Magnacolor was responsible for better than average business but the animals in the picture drew a lot of kids and since it was Sunday they brought mom and pop along. Was unable to get a critically sharp focus with this particular color. Played Sunday, May 26.— W. F. Shelton, Louisburg Theatre, Louisburg, N. C. JAMBOREE: George Byron, Ruth Terry— This is just what the small towns cry for. Played this picture late to very good business. This print was badly cut up, making parts of it impossible to understai>d. Sure hope more of these come soon. Very small town. Played Wednesday, Thursday, May 28, 29.— Curtis Willard, State Line Theatre, State Line, Miss. LOVE, HONOR AND GOODBYE: Virginia Bruce, Victor McLaglen — This was a fair show. No comment from the people. It fell flat the second night and did the worst business in months. Played Monday, Tuesday, May 27, 28.— Curtis Willard, State Line Theatre, State Line, Miss. SONG OF ARIZONA: Roy Rogers, Dale Evans— A very fine picture that was well liked by everybody. Roy Rogers films, in the small situations, are equal to, if not better than, the top leading companies' 50 per cent super-dupers. I always depend on a Roy Rogers picture for an above average gross. They love him down here. I think Republic is making a big mistake by shoving the "Sons of the Pioneers" more and more into the background. In my estimation I think that my patrons come to see the "Sons of the Pioneers" play just as much as they do Rogers. Played Thursday, Friday. May 16, 17.— H. D. Arrington, Dutch Mill Theatre, Holland, Texas. Small town and rural patronage. Screen Guild WILDFIRE: Bob Steele, Sterling Holloway— They loved this one. It sure drew them in. — C. L. Niles, Niles Theatre. Anamosa, Iowa. Twentieth CenturyFox BANJO ON MY KNEE: Barbara Stanwyck, Joel McCrea — A very good picture. This was a 20th-Fox (Continiwd on following page) 42 MOTION PICTURE HERALD, JUNE 22, 1946