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 #:
000473
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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'/what 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 FULLER BRUSH MAN: Red Skelton, Janet Blair — Don't ever kid yourself about this one not drawing business. It is a super natural. Our only regret was we couldn't get more help as we could only run one show a night. Played Monday-Wednesday, Nov. 22-24. — Harland Rankin, Plaza Theatre, Tilbury, Ont., Can. GUILT OF JANET AMES, THE: Rosalind Russell, Melvyn Douglas — Not only Janet Ames had a guilt, so did we. We felt guilty charging people to see a flop like that. It makes no head or tail. Why pull down good stars with such a poor picture. Played Friday, Saturday, Nov. 26. 27— J. A. Herner, Dodsland Theatre, Dodsland, Sask., Canada. KEEPER OF THE BEES: Harry Davenport, Michael Duane — Played with "Blondie's Big Moment." Small town picture that did nice business and pleased. Played Monday, Tuesday, Nov. 8. 9— W. R. Pyle, Dreamland Theatre, Rockglen, Sask., Canada. MATING OF MILLIE, THE: Glenn Ford, Evelyn Keyes — Very nice picture. Played Saturday, Sept. 11. — B. B. Nielsen, Scenic Theatre, Tyler, Minn. TEXAS: William Holden. Glenn Ford — A good action weekend picture. We played on a single bill with a Laurel and Hardv comedy to nice business. — Harland Rankin, Beau Theatre, Belle River, Ont., Canada. Eagle Lion CANON CITY: Scott Brady, Charles Russell— A good picture. A good gross from a really up and coming' company. General audience house. Played Thursday-Saturday, Nov. 3-6.— Joe Turner, Lawton Theatre Co., Lawton, Okla. MICKEY: Irene Harvey, Bill Goodwin— Boy, what a swell show for any theatre. Play it and smile. Played Friday. Saturday, Nov. 19, 20.— W. R. Pyle, Dreamland Theatre, Rockglen, Sask., Canada. MICKEY: Irene Harvey, Bill Goodwin— A surprising success in every way from a new company that is rapidly improving itself. Played Sunday-Tuesday, Nov. 28-30.— Elliot R. Fine, Deluxe Theatre, Detroit, Mich. Film Classics GUNG HO: Randolph Scott, Grace McDonaldPlayed with "Eagle Squadron." This dual surprised us. It looks like war pictures are coming back. It got a fair gross in our action house. Played Saturday-Tuesday, Nov. 6-9.— Joe Turner, Lawton Theatre Co., Lawton, Okla. Metro-Gold wyn-Mayer A DATE WITH JUDY: Wallace Beery, Jane Powell, Elizabeth Taylor — A good family picture which did above average business. We can always depend on Metro for a good picture. Played Monday, Tuesday, Nov. 8, 9.— P. B. Williams, Gretna Theatre, Gretna, Va. BRIDE GOES WILD, THE: Van Johnson, June Allyson — Very fine entertainment. — B. B. Nielsen, Scenic Theatre, Tyler, Minn. CASS TIMBERLANE: Spencer Tracy, Lana Turner — One of the finest pictures we have ever played, in my opinion, and also that of many patrons. Swell entertainment which played to above average business. Played Monday, Tuesday, Nov. 29, 30.— W. R. Pyle, Dreamland Theatre, Rockglen, Sask., Can. GONE WITH THE WIND: Clark Gable, Vivian Leigh — This picture still brings them in and we had one of our best Thursday and Friday grosses. Many people came back to see it again. Played Sept. 30, 31. —Frank Patterson, Joy Theatre, Dubach, La. LUXURY LINER: George Brent, Jane PowellWonderful production. Beautiful color. All favorable comments. Business above average. All my patrons seemed to think Jane Powell will be one of the big stars of tomorrow. Played Saturdav-Monday. Nov. 27-29.— O. Fomby, Paula Theatre, Homer, La. STATE OF THE UNION: Spencer Tracy, Katharine Hepburn — A very well made picture. Played Saturday, Sunday. Nov. 6, 7. — B. B. Nielsen, Scenic Theatre, Tyler, Minn. SWISS MISS: Laurel & Hardy, Delia Lind— The best Laurel and Hardy made. It pleased everyone. These reissues are tops and they sure do business. I wish that they would make the new ones as well. This picture had good music, plenty of laughs and was fine for the entire family. Box office above average. Played Friday, Saturday, Nov. 5, 6. — Albert Hefferan, Crown Theatre, Marne, Mich. Monogram BABE RUTH STORY, THE: William Bendix, Claire Trevor — Not worth percentage. However, it was a nice little picture. Just average business, nothing to rave about. Played Tuesday-Thursday, Nov. 16-18. — Albert Hefferan, Crown Theatre, Marne, Mich. BABE RUTH STORY, THE: William Bendix, Claire Trevor — A pretty good picture which patrons liked and women cried over. But, in my opinion, the Babe Ruth story deserved to be produced on a much larger and better scale than was this one. Played Monday-Wednesday. Nov. 1-3. — D. A. Boyle, Empress Theatre, Macleod, Alberta, Canada. BABE RUTH STORY, THE: William Bendix. Claire Trevor — This was a natural for our small town. It drew the second largest crowd in the history of the theatre. Had many compliments and no complaints. Played Wednesday-Friday, Nov. 3-5. — P. B. Williams, Gretna Theatre, Gretna, Va. BABE RUTH STORY, THE: William Bendix, Claire Trevor — Very good sport picture. Good for the whole family. The stars were very good and did fine acting. Our box office showed slow business. Those who saw it liked it very much. Played Sunday-Tuesday, Nov. 21-23.— John Blevins, Rialto Theatre, Mullens, W. Va. IT HAPPENED ON FIFTH AVENUE: Victor Moore, Ann Harding — Allied Artists' first entry into motion picture lineup was and is a successful venture. This is the type of film that makes exhibitors optimistic about their future. This is my first entry in "What the Picture Did for Me." Played Sunday. Monday, Oct. 10. 11.— Robert H. Perkins, Lynn Theatre, Woodbine, Ky. Small town patronage. PANHANDLE: Rod Cameron, Cathy Downs— A fair dressed up Western. Good for the patrons who like action. Plenty of good fights. Acting good, except where the two girls appear in the picture. Then it is rather stilted and amateurish. Played Wednesday, Thursday, Nov. 24, 25. — D. A. Boyle, Empress Theatre, Macleod, Alberta, Canada. Paramount BEYOND GLORY: Alan Ladd, Donna Reed— Everyone should play this one. Alan is very good. Good story, and the young people should see this ore. Comments were all for this type of picture. Played Friday, Saturday, Nov. 19, 20— N. C. Philip, Glentworth Community Hall Co-operative Ass'n, Ltd., Glentworth, Sask., Canada. DREAM GIRL: Betty Hutton, Macdonald Carey— We never really rated much with Betty Hutton as an actress, but after seeing this corny picture I'm sure we will never have any more success with her. Played Friday. Saturday, Oct. 15, 16. — J. A. Herner, Dodsland Theatre, Dodsland, Sask., Canada. DUFFY'S TAVERN: Ed Gardner, Bing Crosby— Played it a little old. It still enjoyed nice business. — Harland Rankin, Beau Theatre, Belle River, Ont., Canada. EMPEROR WALTZ: Bing Crosby, Joan Fontaine — This is the podrest picture by far that Bing has been in and it cost me double my usual film rental. However, I managed to make enough to pay film rental and help. Played Thursday. Friday, Nov. 4, 5. — Frank Patterson, Joy Theatre, Dubach, La. EMPEROR WALTZ: Bing Crosby, Joan Fontaine — The poorest box office we had ever had. I think it was a complete flop. Nobody liked it at all. Crosby will have to do better than this if he wants the public to still come to his pictures. Played Tuesday Thursday, Nov. 9-11.— Albert Hefferan, Crown Theatre, Marne, Mich. SAINTED SISTERS, THE: Veronica Lake, Joan Caulfield — This is good comedy film fare that looked well. Played on Photo Night to satisfaction. Worth playing. — Harland Rankin, Eire Theatre, Wheatley, Ont., Canada. UN CONQUERED: Gary Cooper, Paulette Goddard — This picture is a natural for any situation and we did the business on it. Played Thursday, Friday, Oct. 7, 8. — Frank Patterson, Joy Theatre, Dubach, La. UN CONQUERED : Gary Cooper, Paulette Goddard — Color very good. Acting good. Box office very good. This seems to be the type of picture the average person wants to see. Good for a small town. Played Thursday-Saturday, Oct. 14-16.— N. C. Philip, Glentworth Community Hall Co-operative Ass'n, Ltd., Glentworth, Sask., Canada. RKO Radio BAMBI: Disney Feature Cartoon — Very good picture. Print in good condition. Good for young and old. Was disappointed in the receipts. Played Friday, Saturday, Oct. 29, 30.— N. C. Philip, Glentworth Community Hall Co-operative Ass'n, Ltd., Glentworth, Sask., Canada. BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES: Fredric March, Myrna Loy, Dana Andrews — Brought this one back for the first time at regular admission, and although it had played two runs at advanced roadshow prices, it was still good for 10 days at top gross. Many saw it the second, third and fourth times. Few adverse comments from ministers about drunk scenes, but still a truly great film. Played WednesdayFriday, Nov. 10-19.— Frank Aydelotte, Trail Theatre, Fort Collins, Colo. BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES: Fredric March. Myrna Loy, Dana Andrews — This was our second run and we had a houseful every time. Why not make more like this. It helps to boost up the theatres. Play it by all means. Played ThursdaySaturday, Oct. 21-23.— J. A. Herner, Dodsland Theatre, Dodsland, Sask., Canada. FORT APACHE: Henry Fonda, John Wayne, Shirley Temple — This is a real good action picture with a great cast. Did all right at the box office. Good story with plenty of comedy to relieve it. Played Friday, Saturday, Nov. 12, 13. — D. A. Boyle, Empress Theatre, Macleod, Alberta, Canada. FUGITIVE, THE: Henry Fonda, Dolores Del Rio — One of the poorest pictures we have ever played. Lost our shirt on this one. Our district is 30 per cent Catholic, and they even walked out. Beware of this one. This is the last special we are biting on. Played Monday, Tuesday, Oct. 11, 12. — N. C. Philip, Glentworth Community Hall Co-operative Ass'n, Ltd., Glentworth, Sask., Canada. GOOD SAM: Gary Cooper, Ann Sheridan — A nicely produced mild, slow-moving type of picture, with many chuckles. People will like it, if you can get them into the theatre. Didn't do well for me. Played Friday, Saturday, Nov. 26, 27. — D. A. Boyle, Empress Theatre, Macleod, Alberta, Canada. UNDER THE TONTO RIM: Tim Holt, Nan Leslie— Plenty of shooting and action in this typical Holt Western. They draw here and provide a good hour's entertainment. Tim Holt is personable and has a certain boyishness that appeals to the feminine patrons. Played Monday, Nov. 15. — Fred J. Hutchings, Community Theatre, Leader, Sask., Can. WONDER MAN: Danny Kaye, Virginia Mayo— This replaced "Fighting Father Dunne," which we booked, but didn't get a chance to see. However, everyone seemed happy. — Harland Rankin, Beau Theatre. Belle River, Ont., Canada. Realart ARGENTINE NIGHTS: Ritz Brothers, Andrews Sisters — Played second half of Thanksgiving double (Continued on following page) MOTION PICTURE HERALD, DECEMBER 18, 1948 37