Motion Picture Herald (Jan-Feb 1948)

Record Details:

Title:
Motion Picture Herald
Date:
Jan-Feb 1948
Publisher:
[New York, N.Y. : Quigley Pub. Co.]
Volume:
Motion Picture Herald (Jan-Feb 1948)
Leaf #:
000312
Language:
English
Subjects:
motion pictures, Motion pictures -- Periodicals
Collection:
Hollywood Studio System
Format:
Periodicals
Contributor:
Library of Congress, MBRS, Moving Image Section
Sponsor:
Library of Congress, Motion Picture, Broadcasting and Recorded Sound Division
Coordinator:
Media History Digital Library
Description:
Founded in 1915 by a Chicago printing company as a regional trade paper for Midwest exhibitors. In 1916, editor Martin Quigley bought out the owners, and over the next 15 years, he grew EXHIBITORS HERALD into one of the most important national, weekly trade papers in the film business. Quigley acquired MOTOGRAPHY in 1917 and MOVING PICTURE WORLD in 1927. In 1930, he acquired MOTION PICTURE NEWS and the new 'consolidated' publication became MOTION PICTURE HERALD. From the pulpit of his editorial page, Quigley preached the need to improve the motion picture industry and improve the quality of the films. He skillfully served as a mediator in disputes -- between distributors and exhibitors, between the film industry and the Catholic Church (Quigley was one of the architects of the Production Code). Quigley claimed that EXHIBITORS HERALD represented the 'independent exhibitor' and sections like 'What the Picture Did for Me?' certainly provided a forum for theater owners. But plenty of exhibitors viewed Quigley as a servant to the studios and large theater chains. In response, publications such as SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW, INDEPENDENT EXHIBITORS FILM BULLETIN, HARRISON'S REPORTS, and BOX OFFICE were either formed or grew significantly in the years following Quigley's brief moment of consolidation in 1930. -- Eric Hoyt, 2014
Date Added:
August 28, 2022
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%HAT THE PICTURE DID FOR . . . 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. Astor SCARF ACE: Paul Muni, George Raft— Old reissue, but a good picture. Did well with the old baby. Good for those patrons who like plenty of action and gun play. Don't pass this one up. Played Wednesday. Thursday, Dec. 24, 25.— Roy Mathews. Palace Theatre; Wilmington, N. C. Columbia CORPSE CAME C.O.D., THE: George Brent, Joan Blondell — My Sunday patrons enjoyed this murder story plus the combination of Brent and Miss Blondell. Played Jan. 11. — James C. Balkcom, Jr., Gray Theatre, Gray, Ga. DEAD RECKONING: Humphrey Bogart, Lizabeth Scott — Played during the coldest weather of the season. Below average draw. If I could have played it on Sunday it would have outdrawn the two days we played it. Played Monday, Tuesday, Jan. 12, 13. — James C. Balkcom, Jr., Gray Theatre, Gray, Ga. DOWN TO EARTH: Rita Hay worth Larry ParksDisappointing at the box office as well as to the patrons. Not nearly so good as its predecessor, "Here Comes Mr. Jordan." Played Sunday, Monday. — Hobart H. Gates, Garlick Theatre, Custer, S. D. LAW OF THE, CANYON: Charles Starrett, Smiley Burnette — The Durango Kid series continues to be a big hit with us. Played Friday, Saturday, Jan. 9, 10. — James C. Balkcom, Jr., Gray Theatre, Gray, Ga. Eagle Lion CODE OF THE PLAINS: Buster Crabbe, Al "Fuzzy'' St. John — A streamlined Western that pleased everyone. We need more of this type in Gray. Buster Crabbe and Al St. John make an ideal combination. Played Friday, Saturday, Jan. 16, 17. — James C. Balkcom, Jr., Gray Theatre, Gray, Ga. RED STALLION: Robert Paige, Ted DonaldsonPerfect small town picture. The outdoor Cinecolor is especially good. Word-of-mouth advertising was the best in a long time. Played Sunday, Monday. — Robert H. Gates, Garlock Theatre, Custer, S. D. Film Classics SPIRIT OF WEST POINT: Felix Blanchard, Glenn Davis — If you're in a good football area this will click. The two stars, Blanchard and Davis, help to boost this. Good football scenes. Flayed Sunday, Jan. 4. — James C. B.alkcom, Jr., Gray Theatre, Gray, Ga. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer THE ARNELO AFFAIR, THE: John Hodiak, George Murphy — The trailer was better than the show. It was slow moving and the story was rather weak. Drew better than expected. Strictly "B" material. Hodiak is popular here. Would make good double bill material. Played Monday, Jan. 5. — Fred J. Hutchings, Community Theatre, Leader, Sask., Can. GOOD NEWS: June Allyson, Peter Lawford— I opened with this picture Sunday afternoon and had a line of patrons half around the city block. It is easily one of the best pictures I've ever shown. This Technicolor musical starring Peter Lawford, June Allyson and Mel Torme blended with a collegiate background has all the ingredients of a top box office picture. — Virgil Long, VonDee Theatre, Seymour, Ind. LIVING IN A BIG WAY: Gene Kelly, Marie MacDonald — A light comedy that delighted my Sunday patrons. Played Dec. 28. — James C. Balkcom, Jr., Gray Theatre, Gray, Ga. SONG OF LOVE: Katharine Hepburn, Paul Henreid — Very, very definitely for the long hairs, and our audience are not that type. I know to most of them the prolonged piano solos were just so much finger exercises that Junior used to do. or daughter. And if you sit through two hours and not recognize a single thing they are putting over, then you have "Song of Love," and you can have it. — A. E. Hancock, Columbia Theatre, Columbia City, Ind. SONG OF THE THIN MAN: William Powell, Myrna Loy — So far as I am concerned the title might REPORT FROM ENGLAND G. S. Lomas, Plaza Cinema, Gloucester, England, would like American readers of What the Picture Did for Me to know the English opinion of American features. His is the first contribution to this department from that country. Mr. Lomas offers this verdict on RKO's "Tarzan and the Huntress": "We played this with 'Way Out West', a Laurel and Hardy picture. What would normally be a quiet Christmas week, turned out to be the best holiday possible. Children from school came here from miles around. Ideal program for kiddies." well have been "Swan Song.' I thought this to be the poorest of all in this series. Business poor. — Hobart H. Gates, Garlock Theatre, Custer, S. D. Monogram IT HAPPENED ON FIFTH AVENUE: Don De Fore, Ann Harding— A remarkable picture that shows what Hollywood can do when it wants to. Although no big names, any exhibitor should be proud to play a feature of this type. Played Tuesday, Wednesday, Jan. 5, 6.— James C. Balkcom, Jr., Gray Theatre, Gray, Ga. SWEETHEART OF SIGMA CHI: Elyse Knox, Phil Regan — A lovely little program picture. Very refreshing. It should do well in most small towns. We doubled it with a Western to satisfaction. — Harland Rankin, Plaza Theatre, Tilbury, Ont., Can. Paramount ADVENTURE ISLAND: Roy Calhoun, Rhonda Fleming — No good for business. Played it in adverse weather conditions. Business poor. — Harland Rankin, Joy Theatre, Bothwell, Ont., Can. BLAZE AT NOON: Anne Baxter, Sterling Hayden — This didn't go over at all. Sonny Tufts meant nothing in our town. Although a top picture, it proved to be a disappointment.— Harland Rankin, Plaza Theatre, Tilbury, Ont., Can. BLUE SKIES: Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire— This picture has all you can ask for in entertainment, but it didn't do business. Played too late and the weather was against us. — Harland Rankin, Eire Theatre, Wheatley, Ont., Can. NORTH OF THE RIOGRANDE : William Boyd, George Hayes — We played this on a weekend to satisfaction. Cassidy films are quite popular with us. — Harland Rankin, Plaza Theatre, Tilbury, Ont., Can. RKO Radio BACHELOR AND THE BOBBY SOXER, THE: Cary Grant, Myrna Loy, Shirley Temple — This is a natural for any situation. The acting is fine, and the comedy is O.K. It is entertaining. Play this and it will be sure to bring in the dough. It grossed as much as any feature we have ever had for two days. Played Saturday-Monday, Jan. 10-12.— O. Fomby, Paula Theatre, Homer, La. Small town patronage. FARMER'S DAUGHTER, THE: Loretta Young, Joseph Gotten — This was all right for our trade. Good I business and good reaction. Played Sunday, Monday, Jan. 11, 12. — A. C. Edwards, Winema Theatre, Sco | tia, Cal. Small lumber town patronage. KID FROM BROOKLYN, THE: Danny Kaye, | Virginia Mayo — Played late but business above average on this excellent color comedy. Danny is the funniest man on the screen to all ages around here. Flayed Saturday, Jan. 3. — Walter R. Pyle, Dreamland Theatre, Rockglen, Sask., Can. MY PAL WOLF: Jill Esmond, Sharyn Moffett• j Good weekend picture. Doubled with a Western. — Harland Rankin, Beau Theatre, Belle River, Ont., Can. NOCTURNE: George Raft, Lynn Bari— Adult en I tertainment pictures spell no business for us. This was no exception. — Harland Rankin, Beau Theatre, Belle River, Ont., Can. Republic DRIFTWOOD: Ruth Warrick, Walter Brennan— This is a good little action picture and, as with alt these action pictures, it did somewhere near normal ' business. It seemed to be what the public wanted. — A. E. Hancock, Columbia Theatre, Columbia City, Ind. I'VE ALWAYS LOVED YOU: Philip Dorn, Catherine McLeod — The story is weak, star names nil and decidedly too much music for a small town audience. Definitely too drawn out. A half hour could be cut from the running time. Acting not particularly good, either. Not worth the buildup given. Played Friday, Saturday, Jan. 2, 3. — Fred J. Hutchings, Community Theatre, Leader, Sask., Can. TWILIGHT ON THE RIO GRANDE: Gene Autry, | Adele Mara — A very good action-packed Western, with Gene at his best. Played Friday, Saturday, Jan. 16, 17. — James C. Balkcom, Jr., Gray Theatre, Gray Ga. TWILIGHT ON THE RIO GRANDE: Gene Autry, Adele Mara — This was very much below the Autry standard. Used on double bill with "Moss Rose. Business good. Played Friday, Saturday, Jan. 16, 17. f —A. C. Edwards, Winema Theatre, Scotia, Cal. Small lumber town patronage. Screen Guild GOD'S COUNTRY: Robert Lowery, Helen Gilbert —It might have been "God's Country" on the screen, but it was murder for the colored trade. Weather was good. Played as a single with a serial. Flayed Wednesday, Thursday, Jan. 4, 5.— Roy Matthews, Palace Theatre, Wilmington, N. C. NORTHWEST TRAIL: Bob Steele, Joan Woodbury rjj Coloring in this picture was good. Bob Steele did well as a Royal Mountie. Played to fair business. No good for a single bill. Weather cloudy and cold. Payed Sunday. Jan. 11.— Roy Matthews, Palace Theatre, Wilmington, N. C. Twentieth Century-Fox BOOMERANG: Dana Andrews, Jane Wyatt— This was picked up by our newspaper as the best action picture of the year. — Harland Rankin, Beau Theatre, Belle River, Ont., Can. FOREVER AMBER: Linda Darnel, Cornel Wilde — This was not a sensational draw, but it seemed to please the majority. I want to know why nearly all of the big road shows have a bad ending. Beautiful costumes plus Linda Darnell help make this an above (Continued on following page) 32 MOTION PICTURE HERALD, JANUARY 31, 1948