Motion Picture Herald (Sep-Oct 1948)

Record Details:

Title:
Motion Picture Herald
Date:
Sep-Oct 1948
Publisher:
[New York, N.Y. : Quigley Pub. Co.]
Volume:
Motion Picture Herald (Sep-Oct 1948)
Leaf #:
000510
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 01, 2024
Something wrong or inaccurate about this page? Let us Know!

Thanks for helping us continually improve the quality of the Lantern search engine for all of our users! We have millions of scanned pages, so user reports are incredibly helpful for us to identify places where we can improve and update the metadata.

Please describe the issue below, and click "Submit" to send your comments to our team! If you'd prefer, you can also send us an email to mhdl@commarts.wisc.edu with your comments.




We use Optical Character Recognition (OCR) during our scanning and processing workflow to make the content of each page searchable. You can view the automatically generated text below as well as copy and paste individual pieces of text to quote in your own work.

Text recognition is never 100% accurate. Many parts of the scanned page may not be reflected in the OCR text output, including: images, page layout, certain fonts or handwriting.

(Continued from preceding page) Sept. 10, 11— Earle J. Stierwalt, McCleary Theatre, McCleary, Wash. BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES: Myrna Loy, Fredric March — A wonderful picture that drew above average crowd for two nights. Why can't pictures be along this line? A good plot, a good moral and an audience pleaser. "Best Years of Our Lives" has all these traits. Played Wednesday, Thursday, Aug. 18, 19.— James C. Balkcom, Jr., Gray Theatre, Gray, Ga. FIGHTING FATHER DUNNE: Pat O'Brien, Myrna Dell— Pat O'Brien still does a good job and his personality in the role of Father Dunne lifts this picture right up with the big ones. Will please everyone hand business will be good. Played Sunday -Wednesday, Aug. 29-Sept. 1.— Stanley Lambert, Logan Theatre, Chicago, 111. FORT APACHE: John Wayne, Henry Fonda, Shirley Temple — A swell action picture with plenty of star power and length. This will do business for you and you will have many fine comments on it. Don't fail to play it. Played Sunday, Monday, Sept. 5, 6. — E. M. Freiburger, Paramount Theatre, Dewey, Okla. FUGITIVE, THE: Henry Fonda, Dolores Del Rio — A waste of film and a great disappointment to Fonda fans, who were bored by it. Failed to take in film rental. Played Tuesday, Aug. 31. — E. M. Freiburger, Paramount Theatre, Dewey, Okla. GUNS OF HATE: Tim Holt, Nan Leslie— Just what the small town exhibitor needs for Friday and Saturday. Played Friday, Saturday, Sept. 3, 4. — E. M. Freiburger, Paramount Theatre, Dewey, Okla. I REMEMBER MAMA: Irene Dunne, Barbara Bel Geddes — Tops! Here is a picture that should please them all from the hinterlands to Broadway. George Stevens has proven his ability long ago. In my opinion, he is the best director in the business. Hope he doesn't give up directing, now that he is producing. Played Friday-Thursday, July 30-Aug. 5. — Stanley Lambert, Logan Theatre, Chicago, 111. IF YOU KNEW SUSIE: Eddie Cantor, Joan Davis — An average musical which failed to draw any extra business. Played Sunday, Monday, Aug. 29, 30. — E. M. Freiburger, Paramount Theatre, Dewey, Okla. MIRACLE OF THE BELLS: Fred MacMurray, Valli, Frank Sinatra — A good drama, but too heavy for a small town which plays to family trade. Business was fair, but the salesman led me to believe it would be big, so I was let down. Played Sunday, Monday, Aug. 22. 23. — E. M. Freiburger, Paramount Theatre, Dewey, Okla. MIRACLE OF THE BELLS: Fred MacMurray, Valli, Frank Sinatra — A good show that failed here. Can't figure it out, as we have a large Catholic population here. Played Friday, Saturday, Aug. 27, 28.— D. W. Trisko, Ritz Theatre, Jerome, Ariz. WESTERN HERITAGE: Tim Holt. Nan Leslie— Zane Grey stories do O.K. here for Westerns. This one is above average for the series. Played Tuesday, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 25 — D. W. Trisko, Ritz Theatre, Jerome, Ariz. Republic ALONG THE OREGON TRAIL: Monte Hale, Ad rian Booth — Doubled with "The Big Clock" to below average business. Folks liked this one far better than the top half of the program. The Trucolor was good, the story fair and. for a change, the heroine was good to look at". A real action Western with just enough music to carry the story. Played Friday, Saturday, Sept. 10, 11.— Jack Hammond, Shastona Theatre, Mount Shasta, Cal. DRIFTWOOD: Ruth Warrick, Walter Brennan— This didn't take. Don't know why. Business poor. — Harland Rankin, Beau Theatre, Belie River, Ont., Can. HEART OF VIRGINIA: Robert Lowery, Janet Martin — This is another good race horse story showing more races than usual. Republic did a nice job on this picture and believe it will stand alone with a good short subject. Frankie Darro has always been popular here. Better than average draw. Played Monday, Tuesday.— L. Brazil, Jr., New Theatre, Bearden, Ark. SPRINGTIME IN THE SIERRAS: Roy Rogers, Jane Frazee — Very good Rogers Western. Played Friday, Saturday, Aug. 13, 14.— James C. Balkcom, Jr., Gray Theatre, Gray, Ga. TIMBER TRAIL: Monte Hale, Lynne Roberts— Don't pass this one up. It is a natural. It has everything a Western audience could wish for. Play it.— Harland Rankin, Plaza Theatre, Tilbury, Ont., Can. TIMBER TRAIL: Monte Hale, Lynne Roberts— These Hale Westerns seem to be getting more popular with the fans. Played Friday, Saturday, Aug. 27, 28. —James C. Balkcom, Jr., Gray Theatre, Gray, Ga. Screen Guild RENEGADE GIRL: Alan Curtis, Ann SavageVery good for a double feature. Played Friday, Sat 52 urday, Aug. 20, 21. — James C. Balkcom, Jr., Gray Theatre, Gray, Ga. QUEEN OF THE AMAZONS: Robert Lowery, Patricia Morison — Another Screen Guild attraction that made an excellent double feature program. Played Friday, Saturday, Aug. 27, 28. — James C. Balkcom, Jr., Gray Theatre, Gray, Ga. Twentieth Century-Fox BELLE STARR: Gene Tierney, Randolph ScottExcellent acting. Well attended and really enjoyed by all. Why not make the new pictures as good as the old? Played Tuesday. — E. J. Bunnell, Crist Theatre, Loveland, Ohio. CAPTAIN FROM CASTILE: Tyrone Power, Jean Peters — This, I thought a good picture. Having seen it before, I had anticipated better business than we got. Played Monday, Tuesday, Sept. 13, 14. — Harland Rankin, Plaza Theatre, Tilbury, Ont., Can. FOXES OF HARROW: Maureen O'Hara, Rex Harrison — A good picture, but somehow it failed to bring them in. It lacked the appeal that makes us happy. Played Monday, Tuesday, Sept. 13, 14. — Harland Rankin, Eire Theatre, Wheatley, Ont., Can. GENTLEMEN'S AGREEMENT: Gregory Peck, Dorothy McGuire — Not for small towns. The moral of the story is excellent, but it is slow moving. Long and all dialogue. Some walkouts. — J. L. Thayer, Raymond Theatre, Raymond, N. H. GIVE MY REGARDS TO BROADWAY: Dan Dailey, Nancy Guild — Vaudeville nostalgia in Technicolor. You will drop an occasional tear during this picture and your audience will love it. Personally, I'm hoping George Jessel will produce some more musicals because his stuff is loaded with the vim and vitality that the vaudeville shows diffuse. Played Friday-Tuesday, Sept. 10-14. — Stanley Lambert, Logan Theatre, Chicago, III. I WONDER WHO'S KISSING HER NOW: June Haver. Mark Stevens — We exchanged this for a poor new picture and we were not sorry, as our business was tops. A good color picture that the entire family will like. If you have already played it, play it again. It will do business. Played Sunday, Monday, Sept. 12. 13. — Albert Hefferan, Crown Theatre, Marne> Mich. SWAMP WATER: Walter Brennan, Anne Baxter — Being a Georgia picture, this double clicked. An excellent reissue. Played Sunday, Aug. 29. — James C. Balkcom. Jr., Gray Theatre, Gray, Ga. United Artists ARCH OF TRIUMPH: Ingrid Bergman, Charles Boyer — Wow! Did we take a beating on this one! A slow moving mellerdrammer with no* one able to understand Boyer (as usual) and no one able to hear Miss Bergman with her whispering. Our opinion is that Miss Bergman just can't portray a woman of the streets convincingly. We erred in booking this one for three days, or for any days. We scraped bottom for the lowest midweek to date. Played TuesdayThursday, Sept. 7-9. — Jack Hammond, Shastona Theatre, Mount Shasta, Cal. ON OUR MERRY WAY: John Ireland, Jane Randolph—Loaded with laughs. Miss Lamour does a terrific job of kidding herself and the entire cast, which is loaded with too names. It keeps you in stitches with a series of hilarious situations that seem endless. You have plenty of names to sell in this one. Played Sunday-Tuesday, Sept. 5-7.— Stanley Lambert, Logan. Theatre, Chicago, 111. OTHER LOVE, THE: Barbara Stanwyck, David Nevin — A love story and no good for a small town. David Nevin, English actor, made a bad situation worse. Played Wednesday, Thursday, Sept. 1, 2.— E. M. Freiburger, Paramount Theatre, Dewey, Okla. Universal ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN: Bud Abbott, Lou Costello— One of the best and most entertaining in the Abbott and' Costello series. A good draw and a pleased audience. Plaved Monday. Tuesday, Aug. 30, 31— James C. Balkcom, Jr., Gray Theatre, Gray, Ga. BLACK BART: Yvonne de Carlo, Dan Duryea— A good Western of the upper bracket. I believe it is the best film in Technicolor we have played in some time. Plaved Mondav, Tuesday. Sept. 6-7.— James C. Balkcom, Jr., Gray Theatre, Gray, Ga. PIRATES OF MONTEREY: Maria Montez, Rod Cameron — A fair Technicolor production. Played Sunday, Aug. 22. — James C. Balkcom, Jr., Gray Theatre, Gray, Ga. RIDE THE PINK HORSE: Robert Montgomery, Wanda Hendrix— Another poor one, of which we have had too many of late. Pass it if you can. I put off playing it as long as I could. Business was very poor. A ten dollar Western will do more business for you. Played Tuesday, Aug. 24. — E. M. Freiburger, Paramount Theatre, Dewey, Okla. SENATOR WAS INDISCREET, THE: William Powell, Ella Raines — Our worst Tuesday night since we have been in show business. We thought that ice, snow and Christmas Eve caused patrons to stay away, but now I think it is Universal's pictures. — E. J. Bunnell, Crist Theatre, Loveland, Ohio. Warner Bros. ALWAYS TOGETHER: Robert Hutton, Joyce Reynolds — The Janie series seems to be slipping. Played Sunday, Aug. 15. — James C Balkcom, Jr., Gray Theatre, Gray, Ga. BIG SLEEP, THE: Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall— The "Big Sleep" referred to must have been about those patrons who stayed home and had a good sleep rather than attend our show. Poor opening on Sunday, and one of the worst Mondays in years. Ever since Humphrey 'quit making knockdown gangster pictures our customers have quit coming out for him. Some action, but too much conversation, and the picture dragged out too long. Bogart has finally gone the "wrong way," trying to make the kind of pictures his fans don't want to see him in. Played Sunday, Monday, Sept. 12, 13.— Abe H. Kaufman, Fountain Theatre, Terre Haute, Ind. KEY LARGO: Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall— Most of the so-called big pictures from Warners fail to draw. This was no exception, although it is well made. Gangster pictures just aren't for Gray, unless they are on a double bill. Played Wednesday, Thursday, Sept. 1, 2. — James C. Balkcom, Jr., Gray Theatre, Gray, Ga. SILVER RIVER: Errol Flynn, Ann Sheridn— O.K. for a situation that has a Western draw. Did only fair here. Played Friday, Saturday, Aug. 20, 21.?— D. W. Trisko, Ritz Theatre, Jerome, Ariz. SILVER RIVER: Errol Flynn, Ann Sheridan— A fine super Western that would have gone over well, but our local Berlin fair drew all our patrons. It takes Warners to make the best Westerns. Played Tuesday-Thursday, Sept. 14-16. — Albert Hefferan, Crown Theatre, Marne, Mich. TREASURE OF SIERRA MADRE: Humphrey Bogart, Walter Huston — Exhibitors' hearts fail when their box office fails and this picture really caused me to have heart failure. It is a man's picture and when we ladies are left out, we squawk and my ladies squawked. Played Wednesday, Thursday, Aug. 25, 26.— Mrs. Cleo M. Shingler, Buena Vista Theatre, Buena Vista, Ga. Small town and rural patronage. Short Subjects Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer JUST SUPPOSE: Pete Smith Specialties— About the corniest bit of nonsense ever forced upon the public. If they must waste good film why not at least make it funny or educational? — E. J. Bunnell, Crist Theatre, Loveland, Ohio. PUSS 'N' TOOTS: Gold Medal Cartoons— Pleasing cartoon in full color. — E. M. Freiburger, Paramount Theatre, Dewey, Okla. Paramount LAND OF LOST: Noveltoons— Entertaining cartoon in color which had special appeal to the children. — E. M. Freiburger, Paramount Theatre, Dewey, Okla. RKO Radio PLUTO'S BLUE NOTE: Walt Disney CartoonsEntertaining color cartoon by Disney. — E. M. Freiburger, Paramount Theatre, Dewey, Okla. NO MORE RELATIVES: Edgar Kennedy— Good two-reel comedy with plenty of laughs. — E. M. Freiburger, Paramount Theatre, Dewey, Okla. SPOOK SPEAKS: Leon Errol— A good tworeel comedy which pleased all.— *E. M. Freiburger, Paramount Theatre, Dewey, Okla. Warner-Vitaphone BUCCANEER BUNNY: "Bugs Bunny" Specials— — This baby, as usual, had the people screaming. Brother. I havent been without a "Merrie Melodies" or a "Looney Tune" every week for the past 16 years. — Stanley Lambert, Logan Theatre, Chicago, 111. LITTLE PANCHO VILLA: Blue Ribbon Cartoons — Worthwhile color cartoon. — E. M. Freiburger, Paramount Theatre, Dewey, Okla. LIVING WITH LIONS: Technicolor Adventures— A swell one-reel short in color with plenty of wild lions which will thrill and entertain. — E. M. Freiburger, Paramount Theatre. Dewey. Okla. SO YOU WANT TO BE A DETECTIVE: Joe McDoakes — An entertaining one-reel comedy which was satisfactory. — E. M. Freiburger, Paramount Theatre, Dewey, Okla. MOTION PICTURE HERALD, OCTOBER 2, 1948