Motion Picture Herald (Mar-Apr 1947)

WHAT THE PICTURE DID 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 BANDIT OF SHERWOOD FOREST: Cornel Wilde, Anita Louise — Good action with a nice story. It received favorable comments. Pleased the customers. Played Sunday-Tuesday, March 9-11— D. W. Trisko, Star Theatre, Stanley, N. D. BLONDIE KNOWS BEST: Penny Singleton, Arthur Lake — Usually the "Blondie" pictures are the best bets we get from Columbia. Played Sunday and Monday, but business was off although the weather was O.K. However, this is up to the "Blondie" good standard. Played March 10, 11. — Abe H. Kaufman, Fountain Theatre, Terre Haute, Ind. PERILOUS HOLIDAY: Pat O'Brien, Ruth Warrick — Nice light mystery. Played Wednesday, Thursday, March 12, 13. — D. W. Trisko, Star Theatre. Stanley, N. D. PERILOUS HOLIDAY : Pat O'Brien, Ruth Warrick —One of Columbia's socalled specials that fell down badly. Filled with talk, but very little action or story. Quite a number of walkouts, and very poor business. Played Tuesday, Wednesday. March 11, 12. —Arthur E. Phifield, Park Theatre, South Berwick, Maine. Metro-Gold wyn-Mayer BOYS' RANCH: Jackie "Butch" Jenkins, James Craig — First day this outdrew "Lassie." It is a knockout for small towns and one they will tell you about the next day. You can't possibly go wrong on this. As if you didn't already know. Played Sunday. Monday, March 16, 17.— Charles L. Jones. Elma Theatre. Elma, Iowa. COURAGE OF LASSIE: Lizabeth Taylor, Frank Morgan — Perfect family picture. Second best grosser ever played. Gave a pup from the stage and stood them up for two out of three nights. One of these every month would be wonderful. Flayed Sunday -Tuesday, March 2-4. — Charles L. Jones, Elma Theatre, Elma, Iowa. COURAGE OF LASSIE: Elizabeth Taylor, Frank Morgan — Here is a picture that is a pleasure to play. Your patrons will thank you for playing this picture. Beautiful color and a nice story. Played Sunday, Monday, March 2, 3. — Dow B. Summers, Royal Theatre, Unionville, Mo. SON OF LASSIE: Peter Lawford, Donald CrispPlayed this late, but business was above average. It seems that a good picture in Technicolor will always do business regardless of age. Played Sunday, Monday, March 9, 10. — E. M. Freiburger, Paramount Theatre, Dewey, Okla. Monogram IN FAST COMPANY: Leo Gorcey. Huntz HallVery good action picture. It is O.K. for a midweek playdate. The weather was good, but business was off due to the general slump in business. Played Tuesday, Wednesday, March 11, 12.— Abe H. Kaufman, Fountain Theatre, Terre Haute, Ind. JUNIOR PROM: Freddie Stewart. June Preisser— The first of a new series from Monogram. It seemed to please O. K., especially the younger set. _ Hope this series builds up like the "Bowery Boys" did. Played Thursday, Friday. March 6, 7.— Arthur E. Phifield. Park Theatre, South Berwick, Maine. JUNIOR PROM: Freddie Stewart, June Preisser— Teen-age delight. Grownups liked it too. A good little picture that did business. Played Sunday, March 9. — Melvin Lipnick, Inverness Theatre, Inverness, Miss. SPOOK BUSTERS: Leo Gorcey. Huntz Hall— The Bowery Boys have a good following here. Most people go to the theatre to laugh and forget their troubles. This picture will get the laughs. Played Friday, March 7. — Melvin Lipnick, Inverness Theatre, Inverness, Miss. SUSPENSE: Belita, Barry Sullivan— A picture well named. It did barely average business, as this heavy type of picture never goes over in my town. This picture is very good and if mystery stories go over in your situation, play this by all means. Played Sunday. Monday, March 9. 10.— Arthur E. Phifield, Park Theatre, South Berwick, Maine. WIFE WANTED: Kay Francis, Paul Kavanaugh —Did below average business on this picture. It could have been the cold wave. Played Monday, Tuesday. — L. Brazil, Jr., New Theatre, Bearden, Ark. Paramount MASQUERADE IN MEXICO: Dorothy Lamour, Arturo de Cordova — The title alone was bad enough, but the acting and the story were worse. Played Wednesday, Thursday, March 5, 6. — D. W. Trisko, Star Theatre, Stanley, N. D. STRANGE LOVE OF MARTHA IVERS, THE: Barbara Stanwyck, Van Heflin — This is a show for adults only. The children like to go, too, but this is no show for the kiddies. It is not for a small town. Played Sunday, Monday, March 9, 10. — Dow B. Summers, Royal Theatre, Unionville, Mo. PRC BORN TO SPEED: Johnny Sands, Terry AustinHere is a good picture for the small town. It has plenty of excitement and appeals to all ages. It did better than average business for me. Played Friday, Saturday, March 1, 2.— L. Brazil, Jr., New Theatre, Bearden, Ark. CARAVAN TRAIL, THE: Eddie Dean, Al LaRue — This Western is much better than the "Song of Old Wyoming." and the color is good. Emmett Lynn does a good job and looks like the k«nd of "Bogart menace" that might go places in pictures. Recommend that PRC keep him with Dean. — Abe H. Kaufman, Fountain Theatre, Terre Haute, Ind. DEVIL ON WHEELS: Damian O'Flynn. Lenita Lane — By all means, play this. All the kids of the town turned out as well as a good percentage of the adults. Everyone was pleased. Better than average draw. Played Saturday, Sunday. March 15, 16. — L. Brazil, Jr., New Theatre, Bearden, Ark. GAS HOUSE KIDS: Robert Lowery, Teala Loring — This is a good little action picture which did above average business and pleased the Friday and Saturday fans. Played March 7, 8.— E. M. Freiburger, Paramount Theatre, Dewey, Okla. NORTH OF THE BORDER: Richard Hayden, Inez Cooper — This cowhand isn't as big as some, but there seems to be plenty of shooting to satisfy. Played Friday. Saturday. March 14, 15. — Harland Rankin. ■Plaza Theatre, Tilbury, Ont., Can. PRAIRIE BADMEN: Buster Crabbe, Al "Fuzzy" St. John — Good little Western which pleased on Friday and Saturday. Played March 14, 15.— E. M. Freiburger, Paramount Theatre, Dewey, Okla. RKO Radio BAMBOO BLONDE: Frances Langford, Russell Wade — Used on top half of a double bill. Very weak. In fact, it would have been poor in the second spot. Business poor. Played Friday, Saturday, March 14, IS— A. C. Edwards, Winema Theatre, Scotia, Cal. Small lumber town patronage. CHILD OF DIVORCE: Sharyn Moffett. Regis Toomey — This is an entertaining little picture but business was below average. Played Tuesday, March 11. — E. M. Freiburger, Paramount Theatre, Dewev, Okla. FALCON'S ALIBI, THE: Tom Conway. Rita Corday — Used on double bill for weekend. Every poor. No business. Much adverse criticism. Played Friday. Saturday. March 14, 15. — A. C. Edwards, Winema Theatre, Scotia, Cal. Small lumber town patronage. LADY LUCK: Robert Young, Barbara Hale— Swell program picture which did average ^business. It was very entertaining with a carload of laughter. Clean and good for the family trade. No gunplay, no murders, no strange people. It was a good picture. Played Wednesday, Thursday, March 12, 13.— Charles L. Jones, Elma Theatre, Elma, Iowa. LADY LUCK: Robert Young, Barabara Hale— We had no luck with the picture. Business below par. Played Monday, Tuseday, March 10, 11.— Harland Rankin, Plaza Thaetre, Tilbury, Ont., Can. SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON: Thomas Mitchell, Edna Best — Very good. The children enjoyed it. Doubled with a Western to satisfactory business. Played Friday, Saturday, March 14, 15. — Harland Rankin, Plaza Theatre, Tilbury, Ont., Can. TILL THE END OF TIME: Dorothy McGuire. Guy Madison — This was much better than expected, but in our estimation it could hardly be rated as an "A" picture. The acting was good and the action saved the day for our trade. Business fair. Played Sunday, Monday, March 2, 3. — A. C. Edwards, Winema Theatre, Scotia, Cal. Small lumber town patronage. Republic BELLS OF ROSAR1TA: Roy Rogers, Dale Evans — One of the first Rogers in several months. This one is real good with a fine supporting cast. Did a fine business on this and it pleased all. Played Thursday, Friday, March 13, 14.— Arthur E. Phifield, Park Theatre, South Berwick, Maine. MY PAL TRIGGER: Roy Rogers, Dale EvansOne of the best. Big drawing power. Pleased the crowd 100 per cent. Has strong appeal. Played March 7. 8. — J. L. Thaver, Raymond Theatre, Raymond, N. H. NIGHT TRAIN TO MEMPHIS: Roy Acuff, Adele Mara — Get behind this one and get out of the way. It is a small town natural. It is a fine picture, too. The second night crowd will be as good as the first. How many pictures will do that ? Played Tuesday, Wednesday, March 4. 5. — Dow B. Summers, Royal Theatre, Unionville, Mo. Screen Guild NORTHWEST TRAIL: Bob Steele— A fine picture for the Saturday night trade. Nice color and a good story. Play it and you will be satisfied. Played March 1. — Dow B. Summers, Royal Theatre, Unionville, Mo. ROLLING HOME: Jean Parker, Russell Hayden— Good family picture with lots of laughs. Did average business doubled with a Western. Played Friday, Saturday, March 7, 8.— Charles L. Jones, Elma Theatre, Elma, Iowa. Twentieth CenturyFox BLACK BEAUTY: Mona Freeman, Richard Denning— Fairly good horse picture without any stars to help draw, but it did big business for me on midweek, which helped a lot. A small town natural. Played Tuesday, Wednesday, Feb. 25, 26.— Arthur E. Phifield, Park Theatre, South Berwick, Maine. BLACK BEAUTY: Mona Freeman, Richard Denning— What a surprise I got on this one. Young and old flocked to see it. It is a story that they had read sometime in their lives. It pleased generally, but it is just a mediocre picture. 20th-Fox would have had something if they had put "Smoky" production behind it. Play it. by all means. Played Saturday-Monday. March 1-3. — L. E. Mahoney, Columbus Theatre, Columbus, N. D. BLACK BEAUTY: Mona Freeman, Richard Denning— The title sold the picture. Used on top half of a double bill to good business. It is very good for a double bill. Played Friday, Saturday, March 7, 8.— A. C. Edwards. Winema Theatre, Scotia, Cal. Small lumber town patronage. BOWERY, THE: George Raft, Wallace Beery— A good reissue which played to good Thursday and Fri(Continued on following page) MOTION PICTURE HERALD, APRIL 5, 1947 45