Motion Picture Herald (Nov-Dec 1948)

Short Product in First Run Houses (Continued from preceding page) what action fans want. Too much emphasis is being placed on singing. Now nearly every cowboy has to sing a few numbers. Played Friday, Saturday, Nov. 19, 20. — James C. Balkcom, Jr., Gray Theatre, Gray, Ga. THAT^S MY MAN: Don Ameche, Catherine McLeod — This is a nice picture for us, but it has no drawing power. Even the addition of a cartoon (four) program couldn't help. Played Tuesday, Wednesday, Nov. 9, 10. — Abe H. Kaufman, Fountain Theatre, Terre Haute, Ind. UNDER COLORADO SKIES: Monte Hale, Adrian Booth — Hale is not a top star with us. You can have him, we don't want him. Played Friday, Saturday, Nov. 12, 13. — James C. Balkcom, Jr., Gray Theatre, Gray, Ga. UNDER CALIFORNIA STARS: Roy Rogers, Jane Prazee — Always a good draw. We hope he will continue in our situation on weekends. Played Thursday-Saturday, Nov. 18-20. — Harland Rankin, Eire Theatre, Wheatley, Ont., Can. S-R-O MR. B LANDINGS BUILDS HIS DREAM HOUSE: Cary Grant, Myrna Loy — Did better than average business. Enjoyed by everyone. Played Sunday Tuesday, Nov. 14-16.— Booth Theatre, Rich Hill, Mo. Small town patronage. MR. B LAN DINGS BUILDS HIS DREAM HOUSE: Cary Grant, Myrna Loy — Well produced. Very funny. Business good. Customers satisfied. Played Saturday-Tuesday.— George C. Porter, Beckley Theatre. Beckley, W. Va. NEW YORK— Week of December 5 ASTOR: Musical Gems RKO Feature: A Song Is Born RKO CAPITOL: Professor Tom MGM City of Little Men MGM Feature: The Kissing Bandit MGM CRITERION: Call of the Canyon .. .Universal Feature: Live Today for Tomorrow Universal GLOBE: A Lass in Alaska Columbia Witch's Cat 20th Cent.-Fox Feature: Blood on the Moon RKO RIALTO: Teddy and the Rough Riders Warner Bros. Harebrained Hare Warner Bros. Feature: Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves . Universal RIVOLI: Neptune's Playground. 20th Cenf.-Fox Feature: The Snake Pit 20th Cent.-Fox ROXY: Free Enterprise 20th Cent.-Fox Olympic Water Wizards 20th Cent.-Fox Feature: When My Baby Smiles at Me 20th Cent.-Fox STRAND: Princely India Warner Bros. Bannister's Bantering Babies. . . .Warner Bros. Odor of the Day Warner Bros. Feature: The Decision of Christopher Blake Warner Bros. CHICAGO— Week of December 5 GARRICK: Olympic Water Wizards 20th Cent.-Fox Feature: The Snake Pit 20th Cent.-Fox PALACE: Frozen Fun RKO Water Battlers Universal Rudolph, the Red Nose Reindeer. .Monogram Feature: Kiss the Blood Off My Hands. . Universal STATE LAKE: So You Want To Be on the Radio Warner Bros. Hot Cross Bunny Warner Bros. Feature: Fighter Squadron Warner Bros. UNITED ARTISTS: The Glass Orchestra Paramount Feature: The Return of October Columbia Twentieth CenturyFox BELLE STARR: Gene Tierney, Randolph Scott— This reissue grossed more than most new "A" pictures on a midweek booking. Played Wednesday, Thursday, Nov. 10, 11.— William P. McGovren, Ritz Theatre, Loogootee, Ind. CHALLENGE, THE: Tom Conway, June Vincent — Played on a double bill and few understood what Tom Conway was saving with that mushy accent. Played Friday, Saturday, Nov. 12, 13.— James C. Balkcom, Jr., Gray Theatre, Gray, Ga. DANGEROUS YEARS: William Halop, Ann _ E. Todd — Another film on juvenile delinquency that failed in its purpose, but less than some. Left most of the patrons unsatisfied. Played Sunday-Tuesday, Nov. 7-9— Don B. Sanders, Tower Theatre, Salt Lake City, Utah. DEEP WATERS: Dana Andrews, Jean Peters— A fine production with an outstanding cast. Played Wednesday, Thursday, Nov. 10, 11.— James C. Balkcom, Jr., Gray Theatre, Gray, Ga. SITTING PRETTY: Robert Young. Maureen O'Hara — This is one of the best comedies every played and the patrons were well satisfied. Everyone^ went out with a smile on his face. Played it too late in the year, but did fairly well. By all means play this in your best playing time. Played Thursday-Saturday, Nov. 18-20— H. J. McFall, Lyric Theatre, Russell, Man., Canada. Small town patronage. STREET WITH NO NAME, THE: Mark Stevens, Barbara Lawrence— Had it booked for Sunday and Monday, November 7, 8, and held it for three more. Advertised only for two days. Gross_ receipts would have been much larger if I advertised for longer. Goes very well with Roy Rogers and Sunset Carson Western. Played Sunday-Thursday, Nov. 7-11. — S G. Waitsman, Radio Theatre, Baltimore, Md. STREET WITH NO NAME, THE: Mark Stevens, Barbara Lawrence — Played this on Hallowe'en night. Best of this type, so far. Very good at the box office. Played Saturday, Oct. 30.— Charles A. Thompson, Grove Theatre, Blooming Grove, Texas. United Artists TIME OF YOUR LIFE: James Cagney, William Bendix— This picture rates as near zero as any picture I have ever seen. How a producer could call this entertainment is beyond my comprehension. It did good business on Sunday simply because our patrons were misled by the title and names of the stars and they didn't hesitate to say so as they went out. they evidently continued to talk after they got out, as it fell flat on Monday. If you have to play it after it has been played nearby you would be better off to let it set and get yourself a Western. Some of our patrons were so disgusted I doubt if they will be back for some weeks to come. Played Sunday, Monday, Nov. 21, 22. — Dick Smith, Albany Theatre, Albany, Ind. Universal ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN: Abbott, Costello— Very good at the box office. A little too scary for the little ones but the high school kids really enjoyed it. Played TuesdayThursday, Nov. 2-4.— Charles A. Thompson, Grove Theatre, Blooming Grove, Texas. ARE YOU WITH IT?: Donald O'Connor, Olga San Juan — Nice carnival picture that went over well in this town. It gave good satisfaction and did good business. Lots of comedy in this one. Played Sunday, Monday, Nov. 7, 8. — H. M. Swam, Maynard Theatre, Maynard, Minn. BLACK BART: Dan Duryea, Yvonne de CarloNice Western in Technicolor that did better than average business. This is the kind they want in these small towns and never fail to do business. Wish we could get one like this and "River Lady" every week. Played Sunday, Monday, Oct. 24, 25.— H. M. Swam, Maynard Theatre, Maynard, Minn. PITTSBURGH: Randolph Scott, John WayneThis is a splendid reissue with a good cast. It's a Universal reissue from the Cincinnati exchange. Very good print. Lots of action, fights and thrills in this coal mining story. Worth repeating again. Played Thursday, Friday, Nov. 25, 26.— Abe H. Kaufman, Fountain Theatre, Terre Haute, Ind. RIVER LADY: Yvonne de Carlo, Dan Duryea— Very good lumberjack picture done in Technicolor. We had lots of nice comments on this picture and it did all right in the first big storm of the season. Roads impassable, and the business was surprising. Played Saturday, Sunday, Nov. 20, 21.— H. M. Swam, Maynard Theatre, Maynard, Minn. Warner Bros. EACH DAWN I DIE: James Cagney, George Raft — Plenty of action and suspense. A good reissue with top stars. Played Sunday, Nov. 7. — James C. Balkcom, Jr., Gray Theatre, Gray, Ga. JOHNNY BELINDA: Jane Wyman, Lew Ayres— Played four days in our "A" house. Started slow but built up each day to show a good gross. Received an excellent adult reaction and considered by many to be the best picture seen in Elizabeth City this year. Played Wednesday-Saturday, Nov. 17-20. — Levin B. Culpepper, Carolina Theatre, Elizabeth City, N. C. ROMANCE ON THE HIGH SEAS: Jack Carson, Doris Day — A good show hut for some reason did not draw. Think the title was against it for small town business. Played Sunday-Tuesday, Oct. 24-26. — Booth Theatre, Rich Hill, Mo. Small town patronage. ROMANCE ON THE HIGH SEAS: Jack Carson, Doris Day — This picture was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone, but for some unexplained reason it did the poorest Sunday and Monday business in weeks. Played Nov. 14, 15.— William P. McGovern, Fitz Theatre. Loogootee, Ind. Short Features Columbia HECTIC HONEYMOON: All Star Comedies— Very funny slapstick two-reel comedy. — Abe H. Kaufman, Fountain Theatre, Terre Haute, Ind. TALL, DARK AND GRUESOME: All Star Comedies— Caused more hilarity than any comedy we have played in many months. Will play it back. — Booth Theatre, Rich Hill, Mo. Metro-Goldwyh-Mayer MAKE MINE FREEDOM: MGM Technicolor Cartoons— A good little cartoon that shows up Communism. Everybody should play this one. — Don B. Sanders, Tower Theatre, Salt Lake City, Utah. THE TRUCE HURTS: MGM Technicolor Cartoons — This is a cartoon riot. One of the best we have ever played. — Abe H. Kaufman, Fountain Theatre, Terre Haute. Ind. Twentieth CenturyFox MEXICAN HAYRIDE: Terrytoons— Fair, but liked better than Mighty Mouse.— Don B. Saunders, Tower Theatre, Salt Lake City, Utah. Universal RED INGLE AND ORCHESTRA: Name Band Musicals— Everybody got a big kick out of this two-reel musical. It isn't often that people come out talking about how good a short subject was. — William P. McGovern, Ritz Theatre, Loogootee, Ind. WarnerVitaphone CALGARY STAMPEDE: Technicolor SpecialsPlay this without fail and use the one-sheets with your advertising. You will never be sorry. Played with a reissue, "Valley of the Giants," and outgrossed all other Monday -Wednesday this year. — H. J. McFall, Lyric Theatre, Russell, Man., Canada. Frank Folsom Elected President of RCA Frank M. Folsom, executive vice-president in charge of RCA Victor Division, has been elected president of the Radio Corporation of America, effective January 1. The board of directors has named John G. Wilson, vice-president and general manager in Camden, N. J., to succeed Mr. Folsom. David Sarnoff, who has been both president and chairman of the board of RCA continues as chairman of the board and will remain chief executive officer of RCA, as well as chairman of the board of the National Broadcasting Company and RCA Communications, Tnc, both wholly owned subsidiaries of RCA. 38 MOTION PICTURE HERALD, DECEMBER II, 1948