Motion Picture Herald (Mar-Apr 1947)

''what the picture did for . . . the original exhibitors' report* 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 AULAS MR. TWILIGHT: Michael Duane, Trudy Marshall — Very good for a Sunday attraction. Played Sunday, March 9. — James C. Balkcom, Jr., Gray Theatre, Gray, Ga. BLAZING THE WESTERN TRAIL: Charles Star rett, Tex Harding — Good old Charles. Lots of support at the box office. Plaved Friday, Saturday, April 11, 12.— Harland Rankin, Plaza Theatre, Tilbury, Ont., Can. DEAD RECKONING: Humphrey Bogart, Lizabeth Scott — A good Bogart melodrama which seemed to me to fall apart near the end. Also, considering that we played it first run for this vicinity, its drawing power was not exceptional. Business only fair. In this locality murder is slowly beginning to lose its appeal. Played Sunday-Tuesday, April 6-8. — John R. Cooney, Waldo Theatre, Waldoboro, Me. DESERT HORSEMAN: Charles Starrett, Smiley Burnette — Good Durango Kid Western. They always please here. Business O.K. Played Saturday, March 22.— Joe R. Hayworth, Playhouse Theatre, Pink Hill. X. C. Small town patronage. JOLSON STORY, THE: Larry Parks, William Demarest — All of our house attendance records fell before this one. Furthermore, its popularity is no result of trick advertising, but it is based on the solid fact that it is probably the best popular musical of its type anybody ever made. It is radical, for Hollywood's formula of telling, with only slight deviations from the truth, the simple story of Jolson's life plus one magnificently rendered song after another give it a fundamental appeal which other pictures have seldom approached. Whether or not you care for Al Jolson himself, or whether or not you have heard of him, the "Jolson Story" will go straight to your heart. You will hum its songs for weeks afterwards. You can see it over and over again and like it better each time. As an exhibitor you can play it in your theatre until Doomsday and pack the house every night. Flayed Sunday-Wednesday. March 23-26.— John R. Cooney, Waldo Theatre, Waldoboro. Me. RENDEZVOUS WITH ANNIE: Eddie Albert, Faye Marlowe — If you haven't played this one, be sure to do so. The title won't draw them in, but if you play it on a Sunday double bill it will do well. Played Sunday. Monday. — W. P. Elkins, Lewis Theatre, Garrison, Ky. Small town and rural patronage. TWO FISTED STRANGER: Charles Starrett, Smiley Burnette— Charles Starrett and Smiley Burnette are always welcome here. Good Western. Played Friday, Saturday, March 21, 22.— James C. Balkcom, Jr., Gray Theatre, Gray, Ga. VOICE OF THE WHISTLER: Richard Dix, Lynn Merrick— Used on weak half of double bill. Not worth using at all for our trade. Played Friday, Saturday, March 21. 22.— A. C. Edwards, Winema Theatre, Scotia, Cal. Small lumber town patronage. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer COURAGE OF LASSIE: Elizabeth Taylor, Frank Morgan — It is a shame that Metro can't put out more features like this one. More power to "Lassie." We did extra business on this one for midweek. Played Wednesday, Thursday.— W. P. Eakins. Lewis Theatre, Garrison, Ky. Small town and rural patronage. FAITHFUL IN MY FASHION: Tom Drake, Donna Reed— Weak in stars and rather weak in story as well. However, a good supporting cast put over the picture's lighter moments. Backed up with a Western, it makes fair entertainment. It gets sentimental in spots. Played Monday. March 17.— Fred J. Hutchings, Community Theatre, Leader, Sask., Can. Small town and rural patronage. GREEN YEARS, THE: Charles Coburn, Tom Drake —I didn't see much of this picture because I was too busy trving to find empty seats for my customers. The' customers said it was good. Business better the second night. It played in competition with a well attended Bingo game the first night. Played Tuesday, Wednesday. Jan. 7, 8.— Newman R. Robinson, Joy Theatre, West Rutland, Vt. NO LEAVE, NO LOVE: Van Johnson. Marie Wilson—A better draw than "Easy to Wed," and just as funny. We had a sellout crowd for this effort. A good comedy is appreciated once in a while. The cast was good. We are looking forward to more ot the same. Played Friday. March 14.-Fred J. Hutchings, Community Theatre, Leader, Sask., Can. Small town and rural patronage. NO LEAVE, NO LOVE: Van Johnson, Marie Wilson— Played this early. That is, early for this community, and did less business than on "Night and Day"; however, it is a fair show and well liked. Played Sunday, Monday, March 23, 24.— W. F. Caudell, South Miami Theatre, South Miami, Fla. Suburban and rural patronage. THREE WISE FOOLS: Margaret O'Brien, Lionel Barrymore — Didn't receive the good comments that the former Margaret O'Brien pictures have received. Business was a little below average. Played Sunday, Monday, March 16, 17. — Newman R. Robinson, Joy Theatre, West Rutland, Vt. UNDERCURRENT: Robert Taylor, Katharine Hepburn— It was a different picture. The locals didn't care much for it, but those who came out to see it seemed to like it. Small towns usually go for more action. Played Sunday, Monday, March 2, 3. — G. R. Borden, Jr., Am-Bc Theatre, Blaine, Wash. UNDERCURRENT: Katharine Hepburn, Robert Taylor — Fair show, but my audience didn't care for it, so business was only medium. Played Wednesday, Thursday. March 26, 27. — Logan Hedrick, Homer Theatre. Homer, 111. Monogram DANGEROUS MONEY: Sydney Toler, Gloria Warren— This is the first Charlie Chan we have played, and it clicked. Played Friday, Saturday, March 21, 22. — James C. Balkcom, Jr., Gray Theatre, Gray, Ga. DON'T GAMBLE WITH STRANGERS: Kane Richmond, Bernadene Hayes — Despite the fact that we put out 3.000 heralds on this, it did poorly. Of course, business has been off since the first of January, but with the kind of advertising campaign we gave it. it should have grossed much more. However, it is a good program picture. Played Thursday, Friday, April 10, 11. — Abe H. Kaufman, Fountain Theatre, Terre Haute, Ind. BOWERY BOMBSHELL: Leo Gorcey. Huntz Hall— This is a good picture of the type the East Side Kids, now known as Bowery Boys, usually make. Played Thursday. Friday, April 3, 4— Abe H. Kaufman, Fountain Theatre, Terre Haute, Ind. BRINGING UP FATHER: Joe Yule. Renie Riano— This one was O. K. for laughs. I double billed it with "Spook Busters" and had a dandy midweek. Played Tuesday-Thursday. March 11-13— G. R. Borden. Jr.. Am-Bc' Theatre, Blaine, Wash." SUSPENSE: Belita, Barry Sullivan— This one has suspense. We got a good print from Monogram for a change. This is a good picture if you can buy it right and it will stand alone in small towns and rural sections. Played Sunday, Monday.— W. P. Eakins. Lewis Theatre. Garrison, Ky. Small town and rural patronage. SWEETHEART OF SIGMA CHI: Elyse Knox. Phil Regan — I predict that Miss Knox will go places. It would pay some big company to buy her contract and build her' up as a star, as she has all it takes to go to the top. How would she be in Technicolor? Played Sunday. March 23.— James C. Balkcom. Jr., Gray Theatre, Gray, Ga. UNDER ARIZONA SKIES: Johnny Mack Brown. Raymond Hatton— Johnny Mack Brown seems to be picking up more customers now. Played Friday. Saturday, March 14. 15.— James C. Balkcom. Jr., Gray Theatre, Gray, Ga. Paramount HERE COME THE WAVES: Bing Crosby. Betty Hutton— Didn't meet expenses on this show. Another program picture which Paramount sold me on percentage. Plaved Tuesday. Wednesday .—Newman R. Robinson. Toy Theatre. West Rutland, Vt. LADIES MAN: Eddie Bracken, Virginia Welles— This was a picture that did the trick. Everybody liked the picture. No walkouts. Played Sunday through Tuesdav. The weather was good. It is a good musical and there is comedy. It has a great cast with Eddie Bracken. Cass Daley, Virginia Welles and Spike Jones and the City Slickers. Played Monday -Tuesday. April 6-7— Larry Spaulding, Roxy Theatre, Flora, III. STORK CLUB: Betty Hutton, Barry Fitzgerald— Just another percentage picture. I shouldn't have brought it in, even if it had been on flat rental. Plaved Tuesday, Wednesday, March 18, 19. — Newman R. Robinson, Joy Theatre, West Rutland. Vt. STRANGE LOVE OF MARTHA I VERS, THE: Barbara Stanwyck, Van Heflin — This picture certainly did not deserve percentage terms. The print they sent I wouldn't wish on my competition. Played Tuesday, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 12. — Newman R. Robinson, Joy Theatre, West Rutland, Vt. PRC CARAVAN TRAIL THE: Eddie Dean, Al LaRue — After seeing this picture, many of the patrons asked to see more of these color Westerns. Plenty of action and music and wonderful color. Played Saturday, March 22. — Bob Fulkerson, Village Theatre, Sunflower, Kan. DOWN MISSOURI WAY: Martha O'Driscoll, William Wright — Don't play this. I doubled it with Warners' "Crime School." Got tired of counting the walkouts. Another casting like this and John Carradine will ruin his excellent acting career. Poor story material. Played Thursday, Friday, March 20, 21. — Newman R. Robinson, Joy Theatre, West Rutland. Vt. MINSTREL MAN: Benny Fields. Gladys GeorgeDid a bit better than average Sunday and Monday business due to the fact that this was played during spring vacation, when all the children are out of school. Good program picture. Used with a Three Stooges comedy and a cartoon. Played March 30. April 1. — Abe H. Kaufman. Fountain Theatre, Terre Haute. Ind. SONG OF OLD WYOMING: Eddie Dean. Jennifer Holt— You can't go wrong on this Eddie Dean series and of course the color ones are the best. Doubled this one with "Town Went Wild," also from PRC. and the combination couldn't be beaten for small town patronage. Played Friday. Saturday. Feb. 7. 8. — W. P. Eakins. Lewis Theatre, Garrison, Ky. Small town and rural patronage. Republic IN OLD SACRAMENTO: William Elliott, Constance Moore — Doubled with "Faithful in My Fashion.** Could have stood alone. Excellent Western story. Excellent acting by William Elliott. It has all that you could want in a high class Western. Played Thursday, Friday, March 6, 7. — Newman R. -Robinson. Joy Theatre. West Rutland, Vt. MAN FROM RAINBOW VALLEY: Monty Hale. Bobby Blake — This is a different type of color Western and our rural weekend crowd just loved it. I am lookingk forward to the next one in this color series. Played Friday, Saturday. — W. P. Eakins, Lewis Theatre. Garrison, Ky. Small town and rural patronage. MY PAL TRIGGER: Roy Rogers. Dale Evans— An excellent horse picture which did good business. Played Thursday. Friday.— Newman R. Robinson. Joy Theatre, West Rutland. Vt. RKO Radio GENIUS AT WORK: Alan Carney. Anne JeffreysUsed on my double bill program and I thought my house would shake down from all the laughter. It was one of the most pleasing pictures I have ever played on a double bill program. Played Friday. Saturdav. March 14, 15.— James C. Balkcom. Jr.. Gray Thea'tre, Gray, Ga. LADY LUCK: Robert Young. Barbara Hale— A good cast and a good picture for my town. Pleased all. Business good. Played Friday. March 21.— Toe R. (Continued on follcncinp pap?) MOTION PICTURE HERALD, APRIL 26, 1947 4'