Motion Picture Herald (Nov-Dec 1948)

Record Details:

Title:
Motion Picture Herald
Date:
Nov-Dec 1948
Publisher:
[New York, N.Y. : Quigley Pub. Co.]
Volume:
Motion Picture Herald (Nov-Dec 1948)
Leaf #:
000417
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 29, 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. Columbia ADVENTURES IN SILVERADO: William Bishop. Gloria Henry — A better than average Western. Played Friday. Saturday, Nov. 19, 20.— Rowell Bros., Idle Hour Theatre, Hardwick, Vt. BLOND IE'S REWARD: Penny Singleton, Arthur Lake — We used to play "Blondies" on Sunday and Monday, but the last few we played did badly, so switched to midweek. Only fair business. Am afraid Columbia has been using the same material and gags so long that patrons have lost interest. Hope future ones will be pepped up with new ideas. Played Thursday. Friday, Nov. 18, 19. — Abe H. Kaufman, Fountain Theatre, Terre Haute, Ind. CORONER CREEK: Randolph Scott, Marguerite Chapman — Rough, tough, knockdown, shoot 'em up, but my patrons ate it up and asked for more of the same. Columbia knows how to make good Westerns. Played Friday. Saturday, Oct. IS. 16.— James C. Balkcom, Jr., Gray Theatre, Gray, Ga. STRAWBERRY ROAN, THE: Gene Autry, Gloria Henry— This feature is an exhibitor's paradise for any small town theatre. This gave us our largest Saturday night gross for the entire season. Color was good and the print was grand, as we usually receive from Columbia. Everyone went away satisfied and we were certainly pleased with the box office gross. Played Thursday-Saturday, Oct. 7-9.— H. J. McFall, Lyric Theatre, Russell, Man., Canada. Small town patronage. TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH: Dick Powell, Signe Hasso — Too much conversation and not enough action to suit our patrons. As long as Columbia was making a picture dealing with opium smugglers they should have made a better trailer to help sell the picture for what it was intended to be. Played Sunday, Monday, Nov. 14, IS. — Abe H. Kaufman, Fountain Theatre, Terre Haute, Ind. Eagle-Lion MICKEY: Irene Harvey, Bill Goodwin — A good little picture. We tied in with the high school band on this one and mopped up. Full house both nights. All favorable comment. Play it and I am sure you will be satisfied with the results. Played Wednesday, Thursday, Nov. 24, 25.— O. Fomby, Paula Theatre, Homer, La. Small town patronage. RETURN OF RIN TIN TIN, THE: Donald Woods, Bobby Blake — This picture had played all around us, and was afraid of the results. We had a lot of kids waiting to get in when we came down to open up. Play it, by all means, if your folks like dog pictures, and who doesn't. Weather good. Business better than average. Played Friday. Saturday, Oct. 29, 30.— H. M. Swam, Maynard Theatre, Maynard, Minn. UNTAMED FURY: Mikel Conrad, Gaylord Pendleton— Good action story of the swamplands. O.K. for midweek. Played Tuesday, Wednesday, Nov. 16, 17. —Abe H. Kaufman, Fountain Theatre, Terre Haute, Ind. Film Classics BUCK PRIVATES: Bud Abbott, Lou Costello— Drew better than average business. This is probably their best picture and has lots of gags. Played Friday, Saturday, Nov. 5, 6.— Booth Theatre, Rich Hill, Mo. Small town patronage. DRUMS: Sabu, Raymond Massey — Booked for one day only. Did fair business. Could be better. Had "Under Colorado Skies," with Monte Hale and Adrian Booth, with it. Played Sunday. Monday, Nov. 21, 22. — S. G. Waitsman, Radio Theatre, Baltimore, Md. SPOILERS, THE: Marlene Dietrich, John Wayne — This is the most entertaining and exciting reissue that we have played. If you want a house full and your patrons crave action, play this by all means. Thanks to Film Classics for bringing back some of the best pictures of the past. Played Monday, Tuesday, Nov. 8, 9.— James C. Balkcom, Jr., Gray Theatre, Gray, Ga. WESTERNER, THE: Gary Cooper, Walter Brennan— Double billed with "The Housekeeper's Daughter." Broke house records for 1948 by a long way in a house where Westerns usually flop. Played Thursday-Saturday, Nov. 4-6.— Don B. Sanders, Tower Theatre, Salt Lake City, Utah. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer BIG CITY: Margaret O'Brien, Robert Preston— This picture brought more favorable comments than any in months. Grossed slightly more than average midweek business. Played Wednesday, Thursday, Nov. 24, 25.— William P. McGovern, Ritz Theatre. Loogootee, Ind. BIG CITY: Margaret O'Brien, Robert Preston— A very good human interest story. Pleased everyone. Double billed with Republic's "Night Time in Nevada." Excellent business both nights with local basketball in competition. Played Friday, Saturday, Nov. 19, 20.— Dick Smith, Albany Theatre, Albany, Ind. EASTER PARADE: Judy Garland, Fred Astaire — A beautiful Technicolor musical that should do O.K. anywhere. Fred Astaire had the best role of his career and did the best job entertaining that I have ever seen him do. The songs were great. The guy who sang "The Girl on the Magazine Cover" makes all the women fans swoon and ask to hear him again. Played Wednesday, Thursday, Nov. 17, 18.— James C. Balkcom, Jr., Gray Theatre, Gray, Ga. HUCKSTERS, THE: Clark Gable, Deborah Kerr— This was the most horrible picture we ever put before our patrons. They advised us that they can hear these soap opera programs at home and we murdered Clark Gable in our situation by playing it. Pass it up. Played Monday-Wednesday, Oct. 18-20.— H. J. McFall, Lyric Theatre, Russell, Man., Canada. Small town patronage. JULIA MISBEHAVES: Greer Garson, Walter Pidgeon — Different Garson. Business good. Miss Garson is a favorite here. Played Saturday-Tuesday. — George C. Porter, Beckley Theatre, Beckley, W. Va. ON AN ISLAND WITH YOU: Esther Williams, Peter Lawford — A very good musical romance. Everyone enjoyed this MGM production. Business average the first night, and improved each succeeding night. Played Tuesday-Thursday, Nov. 23-25. — Dick Smith, Albany Theatre, Albany, Ind. ROMANCE OF ROSY RIDGE: Van Johnson, Thomas Mitchell— By all means play this one. The action and music and acting were all first rate. The story also pleased everyone. Business was good and everyone went home happy. Played ThursdaySaturday, Sept. 23-25.— H. J. McFall, Lyric Theatre, Russell, Man., Canada. Small town patronage. SOUTHERN YANKEE, A: Red Skelton. Brian Donlevy — One of the better Skeltons. Business good. Audience reaction favorable. Played Saturday-Tuesday.— George C. Porter, Beckley Theatre, Beckley, W. Va. THREE DARING DAUGHTERS: Jeanette MacDonald. Jose Iturbi — Nice little musical that single billed here in spite of some heavy opposition. Played SundayWednesday, Nov. 14-17. — Don B. Sanders, Tower Theatre. Salt Lake City. Utah. Monogram BABE RUTH STORY, THE: William Bendix, Claire Trevor— Held up good the first day but after word-of-mouth, the other days fell off. Although the more sentimental patrons liked this, most of regular customers thought it was overdone from this angle. Played SundayWednesday, Nov. 21-24.— Don B. Sanders, Tower Theatre, Salt Lake City, Utah. PABE RUTH STORY, THE: William Bendix, Claire Trevor— Best Sunday-Monday grosser in the past year and this was very well liked by almost everyone. Another case of the New York critics not knowing what the common people like. Played Sunday, Monday, Oct. 31, Nov. 1.— William P. McGovern, Ritz Theatre, Loogootee, Ind. MICHAEL O'H ALLORAN : Scotty Beckett, Allene Roberts — Nice program picture that brought in average midweek business. — William P. McGovern, Ritz Theatre, Loogootee, Ind. PANHANDLE: Rod Cameron, Cathy Downs Nothing but good comments on this one. Little better than average business. Played Friday, Saturday, Nov. 19, 20.— Booth Theatre, Rich Hill, Mo. Small town patronage. Paramount EMPEROR WALTZ: Bing Crosby, Joan Fontaine —A beautiful picture in Technicolor, but did not draw here. This town will not go for costume pictures. Played Sunday-Tuesday, Nov. 7-9. — Booth Theatre, Rich Hill, Mo. Small town patronage. NIGHT HAS A THOUSAND EYES: Edward G. Robinson, Gail Russell — Very good for this type of show. Some of our patrons stayed away, not liking this type of show. Played Wednesday, Thursday, Nov. 10, 11.— Rowell Bros., Idle Hour Theatre, Hardwick, Vt. SORRY, WRONG NUMBER: Barbara Stanwyck, Burt Lancaster — We didn't do too well with this picture. Business below average. Not much favorable comment. Played Saturday-Monday, Nov. 13-15.— O. Fomby, Paula Theatre, Homer, La. Small town patronage. SORRY. WRONG NUMBER: Barbara Stanwyck, Burt Lancaster — A real thriller which, because of its morbid plot, has somewhat limited appeal. Those of our patrons who like this type of show thought it excellent. Played Wednesday, Thursday, Nov. 17, 18. —Rowell Bros., Idle Hour Theatre, Hardwick, Vt. RKO Radio BACHELOR AND THE BOBBY SOXER: Cary Grant, Myrna Loy, Shirley Temple — This drew a pretty good crowd. The humor was good and aroused appreciative laughs. Swell to see Myrna Loy again. Miss Temple is no great shakes as an actress, but her name still helps at the box office. Worth playing. Played Friday, Nov. 19. — Fred J. Hutchings, Community Theatre, Leader, Sask., Can. FIGHTING FATHER DUNNE: Pat O'Brien, Myrna Dell — This was no sensational draw, but I recommend it as one of the finest pictures of the year. Played Sunday, Nov. 14. — James C. Balkcom, Jr., Gray Theatre, Gray, Ga. FORT APACHE: Henry Fonda, John Wayne, Shirley Temple — Excellent Western. Business very good. You can't go wrong here. Played Saturday-Tuesday. — George C. Porter, Beckley Theatre, Beckley, W. Va. GOOD SAM: Gary Cooper, Ann Sheridan— Give this picture a little boost and it will be one of the best grossers. We did mighty well with it. Business far above average. All favorable comment. Play this one, brother. Played Saturday-Monday, Nov. 20-22. — O. Fomby, Paula Theatre, Homer, La. Small town patronage. RACHEL AND THE STRANGER: Loretta Young, Robert Mitchum — Different. Entertaining. Audience reaction good. Business good. Played SaturdayTuesday. — George C. Porter, Beckley Theatre, Beckley, W. Va. RETURN OF THE BADMEN: Randolph Scott, Anne Jeffreys — Another good Western from RKO. Grossed better than average. Played Tuesday -Thursday, Nov. 16-18. — Charles A. Thompson, Grove Theatre, Blooming Grove, Texas. Republic CAMPUS HONEYMOON: Lyn & Lee Wilde, Adele Mara — Makes a nice supporting musical. Played Thursday-Saturday, Nov. 18-20.— Don B. Sanders, Tower Theatre, Salt Lake City, Utah. DESERT PATROL: Bob Steele, Marion Weldon— Bob Steele is certainly the most pleasing action Western star that I have. These reissues should be reviewed by the film companies if they want to see (Continued on following page) MOTION PICTURE HERALD, DECEMBER II, 1948 37