Motion Picture Herald (Jan-Mar 1954)

. . . the original exhibitors' reports department, established October 14, 1916. In it theatremen serve one another with information about the box office performance of What the Picture Did for Me, Motion Picture Herald, Rockefeller Center, New York 20. product — providing a service of the exhibitor for the exhibitor. ADDRESS REPORTS Paramount HOUDINI: Tony Curtis, Janet Leigh— Has just the right elements for popular entertainment. People were talking about wanting to see it before it arrived. Good business. Played Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, December 29, 30, 31. — Elaine S. George. Star Theatre, Heppner, O're. HOUDINI: Tony Curtis, Janet Leigh — Very good. Can’t expect too much business this time of year! Thanks to Paramount, our box office receipts are holding up better than usual. I notice where some exhibitors kick about Paramount pictures, but they always come through for us. Played Sunday, December 13. — Marcella Smith, Venton, McArthur, Ohio. PONY EXPRESS: Charlton Heston, Rhonda Fleming— Played this one late. Had a fair crowd Sunday night; snowstorm on Monday night. This is a good outdoor picture. Play it. Played Sunday, Monday, December 13, 14. — James Hardy, Shoals Theatre, Shoals, Ind. SHANE: Alan Ladd, Jean Arthur — This gave a boost to the worst December business on record. Many people came to see it again. Played Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, December 27, 28, 29. — Shirley Booth, Booth Theatre, Rich Hill, Mo. SHANE: Alan Ladd, Jean Arthur — Excellent. Played for one week and business good. Very good photography and story — a new kind of western movie which the patrons like. Very good acting on the part of Alan Ladd, Van Heflin and Jack Palance. Played Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, November 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28. — Y. Legault, Regent Theatre Hawkesbury Ont., Canada. SON OF PALEFACE: Bob Hope, Jane Russell— Another good picture from Paramount which was enjoyed by my customers. Receipts above average. Paramount features make it possible for my small town theatre to continue in business. — W. P. Brown, Nifty Theatre, Waterville, Wash. STALAG 17: William Holden, Don Taylor — Guess we played this too close to the holidays, as it didn’t draw, although no fault of the picture. It has humor in abundance, plus the drama of war. The male audience loved it, that is those who saw it, who weren’t too many. Small town and rural patronage. Played Wednesday, Thursday, December 16, 17. — D. P. Savage, Capitol Theatre, Listowel, O'nt., Canada. WAR OF THE WORLDS: Gene Barry, Ann Robinson— What this did for us is a sad tale. By agreeing to Sunday terms in our desperation for an early playdate, we not only set ourselves back indefinitely financially, but also put a severe strain on our public relations. Our regular Sunday evening adults refused to look at it, and the parents who thought they could trust us with their children on Sunday afternoon were most unhappy with us also. Played Sunday, Monday, December 6, 7. — Elaine S. George, Star Theatre, Heppner, Ore. WAR OF THE WORLDS: Gene Barry, A. Robinson — Very good color (Technicolor) and excellent fiction science type of movie. A picture to keep your patrons in suspense and excited all the way. Played Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Jauary 4, 5, 6. — Y. Legault, Regent Theatre, Hawkesbury, Ont., Canada. Twentieth Century-Fox FARMER TAKES A WIFE: Betty Grable, Dale Robertson — Just an average picture which failed at the box office for me. Betty doesn’t seem to bring them in as she used to. Played Sunday, Monday, December 27, 28. — James Hardy, Shoals Theatre, Shoals, Ind. GIRL NEXT DOOR, THE: June Haver, Dan Dailey — I was disappointed in this picture played to the usual Christmas crowd, which is not very many. This is the worst June Haver picture I have played here— no plot, no songs, very poor routine. I would have done better with a western. No good for small towns. Played Thursday, Friday, December 24, 25. — James Hardy, Shoals Theatre, Shoals, Ind. INVADERS FROM MARS: Helene Carter, Arthur Franz — If your patrons like pictures which are fantastic, play it. Use it with a small western and it will go over. Also play it on your Friday-Saturday billing. Did about average business both nights. Played Friday, Saturday, December 18, 19. — James Hardy, Shoals Theatre, Shoals, Ind. POWDER RIVER: Rory Calhoun, Corinne Calvet — A better than average picture. Very good acting by Rory Calhoun and Cameron Mitchell. Color was too dark in places. Played Friday, Saturday, December 11, 12. — James Hardy, Shoals Theatre, Shoals, Ind. SAILOR OF THE KING: Jeffrey Hunter, Michael Rennie — Good naval operations picture. Somewhat different than the usual. Did well on Sunday, but fell flat on Monday. Played Sunday, Monday, December 20, 21. — Dick Smith, Albany Theatre, Albany, Ind. United Artists BABES IN BAGBAD: Paulette Goddard, Richard Ney — Just play this one and you will need an adding machine to count the patrons walking out. The acting is terrible, sound terrible and color terrible. I cannot say the story is terrible because there is no story. It would not have mattered if we had played the last reel first. Made in exotic color, which is only orange and green. Let’s fight TV, not help it. Played Thursday, Friday and Saturday, December 24, 25, 26. — Y. Legault, Regent Theatre, Hawkesbury, Ont., Canada. Universal GREAT SIOUX UPRISING: Jeff Chandler, Faith Domergue — A very good Indian picture with beautiful color and a fine cast. Would have had a better crowd if.it hadn’t rained. Played Friday, Saturday, December 4, 5. — James Hardy, Shoals Theatre, Shoals, Ind. IT HAPPENS EVERY THURSDAY: Loretta Young, John Forsythe — Here is a natural for small towns and rural patrons. Was enjoyed by all who saw it. Played Tuesday, Wednesday, December 22, 23. — James Hardy, Shoals Theatre, Shoals, Ind. MISSISSIPPI GAMBLER: Tyrone Power, Piper Laurie — This picture was O'. K., but it didn’t draw too well. I really shouldn’t have bought it, as people around here do not go for this type of picture. It will probably do' all right in other communities. Played Sunday, December 20. — Marcella Smith, Vinton Theatre, McArthur, Ohio. TAKE ME TO1 TOWN: Ann Sheridan, Sterling Hayden — This is one of the best pictures I have played in this theatre. I thought all the cast did a perfect job. Those three boys also did their parts well. Don’t pass this one up— play it by all means. Played Sunday, Monday, November 29, 30. — James Hardy, Shoals Theatre, Shoals, Ind. THUNDER BAY: James Stewart, Joanne Dru— Good picture with good color, but I played it so late that business was very poor. Played Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, November 8, 9, 10. — Ken Gorham, Town Hall Theatre, Middlebury, Vt. THUNDER BAY: James Stewart, Joanne Dru — This one pleased everyone who saw it. A very good picture. You can’t go wrong on this one. Jimmy Stewart is very good. Also let’s see more of Marcia Henderson. Played Sunday, Monday, December 20, 21. — James Hardy, Shoals Theatre, Shoals, Ind. TUMBLEWEED: Audie Murphy, Lori Nelson — Good picture, good production in Technicolor. Played wide screen with good results. I can always depend on Universal westerns. Played Friday, Saturday, December 25, 26. — Lee Bell, Mulkey Theatre, Clarendon, Texas. WALKING MY BABY BACK HOME: Donald O’Connor, Janet Leigh — This is an entertaining picture, but not big. Everyone enjoyed it and especially the young people. The Technicolor is good and it can be played Wide screen to good advantage. Business about average. Played Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, December 27, 28, 29. — Lee Bell, Mulkey Theatre, Clarendon, Texas. WINGS OF THE HAWK: Van Heflin, Julia Adams — We ran the 2-D version. Very good small town picture with plenty of action. Did a good FridaySaturday business, things being what they are. Played November 13, 14. — Dick Smith, Albany Theatre, Albany, Ind. Shorts Paramount RIDIN’ THE RAILS: Sportlight — If you haven’t booked this sweetheart yet, get out your ballpoint pen and send in a date today. Oldsters, youngsters and in-betweeners enjoyed every second of this altogether too brief short. It’s on grandpas who play with model trains — the live steamers, they call themselves.— Bob Walker, Uintah Theatre, Fruita, Colo. Metro-Gold wyn-Mayer THAT’S MY PUP: Technicolor Cartoon — Good Tom & Terry short. — S. T. Jackson, Jackson Theatre, Flomaton, Ala. TOM & JERRY CARTOON REVUE: Technicolor Cartoons — If you have not played any of these cartoon revues, try one. Give your kid patrons a treat. They will really turn out for it. This is my second one and did well both times. — James Hardy, Shoals Theatre, Shoals, Ind. RKO Radio BEAR COUNTRY: Tru-Life Adventure — Another good Tru-Life Adventure which was liked well by the kiddies.— James Hardy, Shoals Theatre. Shoals, Ind. Warner Bros. THAR SHE BLOWS: Technicolor Special — A whale cf a good show and about whales at that. Excitement in Technicolor! — Sharon Bodenstein, Telepix Theatre, Boston, Mass. THAR SHE BLOWS: Technicolor Special — I think that eceryone enjoyed this wonderful short. — Paul C. Merryman, I.yric Theatre, Covington, Ind. MOTION PICTURE HERALD, JANUARY 23, 1954 31