Motion Picture Herald (Mar-Apr 1947)

WHAT THE PICTURE HID FOR ME . . . 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. Columbia BLONDIE'S LUCKY DAY: Penny Singleton, Arthur Lake — Very good "Blondie." Columbia has had some mighty good program pictures in the last few months. They have better ones than most companies. — S. T. Jackson, Jackson Theatre, Flomaton, Ala. CRIME DOCTOR'S MANHUNT, THE: Warner Baxter, Ellen Drew — Very good for my double bill program. Played Friday, Saturday, Jan. 24, 25. — James C. Balkcom, Jr., Gray Theatre, Gray, Ga. GENTLEMAN MISBEHAVES, THE: Osa Mason, Robert Stanton — Played during a severe cold wave. The younger patrons thought it cute. The older ones made no comment. Attendance poor. Played Wednesday-Friday, Feb. 5-7. — Kenneth L. Feldhaus, Beverly Theatre, University City, Mo. GILDA: Rita Hay worth, Glenn Ford — This sophisticated picture would probably draw in the big cities, but here it was a big flop. It was not very well liked by the few who saw it. I am glad we have a ''Blondie" coming up from Columbia to make up for our losses on "Gilda." Played Sunday, Monday, Jan. 12, 13. — David Bull, Lake Theatre, Howard Lake, Minn. Rural and small town patronage. NIGHT EDITOR: William Gargan, Janis CarterOne of the best little pictures I have ever played. Many fine comments. William Gargan is always good. — S. T. Jackson, Jackson Theatre, Flomaton, Ala. SO DARK THE NIGHT: Micheline Cheirel, Steven Geray — The foreign accent made this torture for my patrons. Dull. Played on a double bill. Played Friday, Saturday, Jan. 31, Feb. 1. — James C. Balkcom, Jr., Gray Theatre, Gray, Ga. Film Classics HELL'S ANGELS: Jean Harlow— Brought this old one back and gave it special plugging. Dropped heralds by plane and put on a special front. Results: packed the house for three nights in spite of a snow storm. Reissues are usually no good here but once in a while something special is worth plugging. Played Tuesday-Thursday, Jan. 28-30.— G. R. Borden, jr., AM-BC Theatre, Blaine, Wash. WILDFIRE: Bob Steele— Bob Steele socks here in any pictures he has ever made. So this in natural color is tops. It was enjoyed by all. The box office was good. Played Friday, Jan. 31. — Joe R. Hayworth, Playhouse Theatre, Pink Hill, N. C. Small town patronage. Metro-Geld wyn-Mayer COCKEYED MIRACLE, THE: Frank Morgan, Keenan Wynn — A cockeyed picture with a fine cast that did O. K. as a Sunday attraction. Played Feb. 2. — James C. Balkcom, Jr., Gray Theatre, Gray, Ga. FAITHFUL IN MY FASHION: Tom Drake, Donna Reed — Good little picture, but did under average business. Edward Everett Horton is very popular here. — S. T. Jackson, Jackson Theatre, Flomaton, Ala. HOLIDAY IN MEXICO: Walter Pidgeon, Ilona Massey — A swell picture, but not for a small town like this. The wrong kind of music and settings for farmers to go for. The result was not up to average. Flayed Tuesday-Thursday, Jan. 7-9.— G. R. Borden, Jr., AM-BC Theatre, Blaine, Wash. SHE WENT TO THE RACES: James Craig, Frances Gifford — The weather was better and this was well patronized and enjoyed by all. Played ThursdaySaturday, Jan. 23-25.— W. J. McGregor, Audio Theatre, Gladstone, Man., Can. Small town and rural patronage. THREE WISE FOOLS: Margaret O'Brien, Lionel Barrymore — My vote goes to this attraction as one of the year's poorest. It was a waste of film on such a good cast. Played Wednesday, Thursday, Jan. 29, 30. — James C. Balkcom, Jr., Gray Theatre, Gray, Ga. THREE WISE FOOLS: Margaret O'Brien, Lionel Barrymore — This one did nice business. The Sunday audience liked it, but some of the high school kids walked out . It made the ladies cry in a couple of places. It is a good picture. Played Sunday, Monday, Jan. 26, 27.— G. R. Borden, Jr., AM-BC Theatre, Blaine, Wash. Paramount JUNGLE PRINCESS: Dorothy Lamour, Ray Milland — This reissue did reasonably well against zero weather and a terrible trailer. When companies reissue pictures and make new prints why don't they insist that new trailers be made? The preview on this will kill it. Leave it off your screen. I am playing "Jesse James" next week and the trailer was found to be in such shape that you couldn't understand it. We used it on one program and it served as a comedy for the patrons. It was cut up badly. This condition will seriously effect my future playing of reissues. Played Friday, Saturday. Feb. 7, 8. — Ted Keelen, Royal Theatre, Sheffield. 111. OUR HEARTS WERE GROWING UP: Gail Russell, Diana Lynn — This is a farce comedy of the program type which failed to draw average business. It is a waste of film. Played Tuesday, Jan. 28. — E. M. Freiburger, Paramount Theatre, Dewey, Okla. SEARCHING WIND, THE: Robert Young, Ann Richards — This is too deep and there isn't enough action for the average small town. I would rate it tops as a picture, but at the box office it was very poor. Flayed Monday, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 28. — James C. Balkcom, Jr., Gray Theatre, Gray, Ga. SEARCHING WIND, THE: Robert Young, Ann Richards — A fine effort to educate the American public on a topic they should know all about. It is one that is all-important right now. They do not want to be enlightened. They want to be entertained. It will not get you a quarter. Played Tuesday-Thursday, Jan. 28-30.— Ted Keelen, Royal Theatre, Sheffield, 111. PRC AMBUSH TRAIL: Bob Steele. Syd Saylor — Good Western. Hope some company has Steele in a new series. He is very popular here. — S. T. Jackson, Jackson Theatre, Flomaton, Ala. THUNDER TOWN: Bob Steele, Syd Saylor— A good fast-action Western that pleased my weekend trade. Played Friday, Saturday, Jan. 31, Feb. 1. — James C. Balkcom, Jr., Gray Theatre, Gray, Ga. RKO Radio FROM THIS DAY FORWARD: Joan Fontaine, Mark Stevens— A truly good present-day picture with a swell cast. Down-to-earth story. The comments were good here. .It should please anywhere. Played Sunday, Jan. 26.— Joe R. Hayworth, Playhouse Theatre, Pink Hill, N. C. Small town patronage. HEARTBEAT: Ginger Rogers, Jean Pierre Aumont — This got by, because Miss Rogers' past pictures made her well liked here. Why doesn't RKO reissue those truly good entertainment-packed Roger and Astaire musicals like "Flying Down to Rio," etc. ? Played Thursday, Jan. 30.— Joe R. Hayworth, Playhouse Theatre, Pink Hill, N. C. Small town patronage. PINNOCCHIO1: Disney Feature Cartoon — An old Disney brought back at popular demand. Every child for miles around came out for it. Very good entertainment for everyone. All of Disney's work draw in this house. Played Saturday, Sunday, Feb. 1, 2.— Kenneth L. Feldhaus, Beverly Theatre, University City, Mo. SISTER KENNY: Rosalind Russell, Alexander Knox —Although it may be too heavy in a small town, an exhibitor should be proud to display this masterpiece. Rosalind Russell should be considered as a contender for an Oscar for her portrayal of Sister Kenny. Played Wednesday, Thursday, Jan. 22, 23.— James C. Balkcom, Jr., Gray Theatre, Gray, Ga. SONG OF THE SOUTH: Disney Feature Cartoon— This is tops in entertainment. Being a Georgia picture and being true to Southern tradition, the crowds turned out en mass. Acting by all members of the cast was superb. Everyone will profit by playing this. Monday, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 21. — James C. Balcom, Jr., Gray Theatre, Gray, Ga. TARZAN AND THE LEOPARD WOMAN: Johnny Weissmuller, Brenda Joyce — They like these very much. I played it on a weekend to extra business and they all seemed pleased. — E. A. Reynolds, Strand Theatre, Princeton, Minn. TARZAN AND THE LEOPARD WOMAN: Johnny Weissmuller, Brenda Joyce — The first night our competition was a basketball game and the second night it was the district finals of the Golden Gloves, but still this was the best picture of the month at the box office. The patrons liked it. Played Friday, Saturday, Jan. 17, 18. — David Bull, Lake Theatre, Howard Lake, Minn. Rural and small town patronage. TILL THE END OF TIME: Dorothy McGuire, Guy Madison — This is a swell drama of the returned soldiers which did average business, but with a stronger oast it could have been a knockout. Played Wednesday, Thursday, Jan. 29, 30.— E. M. Freiburger, Paramount Theatre, Dewey, Okla. Republic COLORADO PIONEERS: "Wild" Bill Elliott, Bobby Blake — Good Western. Elliott is very popular here. I have played also "In Old Sacremento" and that is fine. — S. T. Jackson, Jackson Theatre, Flomaton, Ala. DON'T FENCE ME IN: Roy Rogers, Dale Evans — Played this with "Strange Triangle" and we packed the house both nights. These help you through the winter. Plyed Tuesday, Wednesday, Nov. 12, 13.— W. J. McGregor, Audio Theatre, Gladstone, Man., Can. EARL CARROLL SKETCHBOOK: Constance Moore, William Marshall — A swell little musical comedy that pleased rural patronage. Got lots of compliments on it. Single billed it with good shorts and got by nicely. Played Friday, Saturday, Jan. 24, 25. — G. R. Borden, Jr., AM-BC Theatre, Blaine, Wash. WAGON WHEELS WESTWARD: "Wild" Bill Elliott — This man Elliott is really head and shoulders above some of the other Western players. Having seen the late William Hart in his heyday we have always seen quite a strong resemblance between the two. Played Friday, Saturday, Jan. 31, Feb. 1. — A. C. Edwards, Winema Theatre, Scotia, Cal. Small lumber town patronage. Screen Guild DEATH VALLEY: Robert Lowery, Helen Gilbert— We did something unusual by playing this picture single bill on a weekend. Believe it or not we did O. K. — Harland Rankin, Plaza Theatre, Tilbury, Ont., Can. GOD'S COUNTRY: Robert Lowery, Helen GilbertGood action picture in color which pleased good business. Play it. The kids will like Ace, the wonder dog. Played Friday, Saturday, Jan. 31, Feb. 1. — E. M. Freiburger, Paramount Theatre, Dewey, Okla. Twentieth CenturyFox BOWERY, THE: George Raft, Wallace Beery— Another reissue that didn't pay off here. It is very hard, to put over an old picture around these parts. I don't know why, because this show was very interesting and O. K. Played Friday, Saturday, Jan. 10, 11. — G. R. Borden, Jr., AM-BC, Theatre, Blaine, Wash. CENTENNIAL SUMMER: Jeanne Craine. Cornel Wilde — A good picture, but it fell short of the business it should have done. The public want to hear more music that is familiar. The numbers used in (Continued on following page) MOTION PICTURE HERALD, MARCH I, 1947 43