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EXHIBITOR HAS HIS SAY ABOUT PICTURES Just as the Barometer page shows first run reports on current pictures, this department is devoted for the most part to reports on subsequent runs, made by exhibitors themselves. A one-star contributor is new, two stars means the exhibitor has been writing in for six months or longer, and a three-star contributor is a regular of one year or more, who receives a token of our appreciation. All exhibitors welcome. Blue Ribbon pictures are marked thus ^. COLUIvlBIA FILM CLASSICS Fuller Brush Man, The (Co! i—Red Skelton, Four Feathers (FC)—Reissue. June Duprez, Janet Blair, Don McGuire. What a comedy! Ralph Richardson. Don't be afraid of this It was played very late but did better than reissue. It did 'way above average weekend average business for our best change. Don't business for us and pleased young and old. pass it up if you haven't used it. It should do Played Fri., Sat. Weather: Mild.—Arthur E. well as a repeat show. Played Sun., Mon. Phifield, Park Theatre, South Berwick, Me. Weather: Rain and mild.—Arthur E. Phifield, Small town patronage. » • • Park Theatre, South Berwick, Me. Small town Long Voyage Home, The (FC) — Reissue. gan, Minn. Small town and rural patronage. * patronage. * • » John Wayne, Thomas Mitchell. Opinion was divided on this feature. It has several good Home in San Antone (Col) — Roy Acuff, star names, comedy and several fights. It's Jacqueline Thomas, Bill Edwards. Here's giltedged corn with a comedy cast and Roy Acuff. a man's show that did poorly here. Ideal business, but What more could you want in a country town? weather miners and a feature have no for top money now. Played Tues., It's his best, but you'll have to tighten seats Wed. Ralph Raspa, State Theatre, Rivesville, W. Va. Rural patronage. • » • after this laugh jamboree. Business was the best in weeks, but 25 per cent under last year. Played Fri., Sat. LIPPERT PRODUCTIONS Uintah Theatre, Pruita, Colo. Rural patronage. • * * Mark of the Lash (LP)—Al "Lash" LaRue, Al "Fuzzy" St. John. I received plenty of Kim of the Canyon (Col)—Gene Autry, Nan good comments on this western and the companion Weather: Fair.—Bob Walker, Leslie, Thurston Hall. The story is a little feature, "Zamba" (EL). Business was imusual with a setting in a ghost town. There average but it could have been terrific, if is very little singing and sepiatone photography (which my patrons don't like) , but it is Weather: Fair.—Ralph Raspa, State Theatre, times had been normal. Played FYi., Sat. otherwise good. Played Fri., Sat. Weather: RivesviUe, W. Va. Rural patronage. * • Fair.—Mrs. Pat Murphy, Queen Theatre, Holliday, Tex. Oil field patronage. » » « METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER UBarkleys of Broadway, The (MGM) — We Were Strangers (Col)—Jennifer Jones, John Garfield, Gilbert Roland. This Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Oscar Levant. is This is a nice picture. The action failed to nothing to write home about. I've played hold up throughout the picture. Business was worse and played better. Played Mon., Tues. only average, Weather: Rain.—Harland Rankin, Plaza Theatre, Tilbury, Ont. Small town patronage. * * • Sun., Mon. Weather: Okay.—D. W. Trisko, due to playing it late. Played Ritz Theatre, Jerome, Ariz. Mining town patronage. • » • EAGLE LION Bride Goes Wild, The (MGM)—Van Johnson, June Allyson, Butch Jenkins. We played Big Cat, The (EL)—Lon McCallister, Peggy Ann Garner, Preston Foster. This is a Technicolor beauty, filmed in Utah's mountainous this before Christmas, when the boxoffice did not have a chance, but the few who did venture out were just as wild as the bride. They region, that we played in the middle of the week. In my estimation, it is a small town rolled In the aisles. One lady told me later natural. However, the running time is too that she woke up in the middle of the night short. It would have been grand for the top laughing at some of the lines. Others said of a weekend biU and we would have done just that had it been a fair rental price. The cougar-dog fight was worth the admission price alone. Patronage was good. Weather: He Has His Own System Snow and ice.—Paul D. Ratliff, Daytona Theatre, Oi Averaging Reports Dayton, Ore. Small town and rural pa- * T BYE COVERSTON of the Cherokee tronage. Theatre, Southwest City, Mo., sends Paradine Case, The (KL)—Gregory Peck, along this note with some reports: Valli, Ann Todd. I'm glad I bought this on 'TEvery once in a while I get the urge flat percentage with no guarantee, to show to do my duty to my fellow exhibitors and what that really means in a small town. It is do some reporting myself. I usually fall well done but has no draw here. Played Tues., off to sleep before I get it done and when Wed. Weather: Good. — Terry Axley, New I awake, the urge Is gone. But frankly, Theatre, England, Ark, Rural and small town I think this reviewing service is the finest patronage. » • • that has ever been offered by any trade paper. (Hear, hear!). To get an idea of WSince You Went Away (EL)—Claudette what a picture is like and will do for me, Colbert, Jennifer Jones, Joseph Cotten. Here here is the way I do it: Is a grand picture. I bought this at a fair "I take all of the reports on a picture price, played it midweek and did over 200 from all of the theatres that are like mine, percentage business, thanks to these smaller average them up, award my own pluses companies—they give a small town exhibitor and minuses, and in the end I have a a break.—C. A. Morris, Morgan Theatre, Mor- result that fits my situation perfectly." Used as School Special With Appropriate Short KTDNAPPED (Mono)—Roddy McDowall, Sue England, Dan O'Herlihy. British dialog pictures do not take here, but I advertised this as a special school show (a classical work by Stevenson and required reading in most high schools), set the March of Time's "Fight for Better Schools" to go with it, and managed to do pretty well—enough to get by. There is action a-plenty in it, on sailing ships and on land, so it might do pretty well if you can tie it in with your local school as I did. Played Sun., Mon. Weather: Good. —I. Roche, Vernon Theatre, Vernon, Fla. Small town and rural patronage. * * * they would come the second time if I played it again.—J. Bye Coverston, Cherokee Theatre, Southwest City, Mo. Small town and rural patronage. * * Date With Judy, A (MGM)—Wallace Beery, Selena Royle, Carmen Miranda. I bought this late, but even so, everyone should want a date with Judy. With Christmas five days away, however, darned few did. It's one of the finest small town features I ever hope to exhibit. How could they assemble k finer cast? It's crammed with comedy, the color is good, the story is perfect, and the music hot. You owe it to the industry public relations program to give your townfolk this double-A entertainment, if you haven't before. I barely got back rental, but those few loyal fans loved it! Played Sun., Mon., Tues. Weather: Fair.—Bob Walker, Uintah Theatre, Fruita, Colo. Rural patronage. * * * yLittle Women (MGM) — June Allyson, Peter Lawford, Margaret O'Brien. This is a swell picture that did almost 100 per cent over average business. Who got most of the gross? Metro did. Figuring off our overhead and an extra $20 for additional advertising, we actually took a loss on the deal. Plus the fact a picture like this simply kills the picture following it on midweek. Just why the friendly company can't give a little town a chance to make a Uttle profit is a $64 question. Played Sun., Mon., Tues.—C. A. Morris, Morgan Theatre, Morgan, Mirm. Small town and rural patronage. Scene of the Crime (MGM)—Van Johnson, Arlene Dahl, Gloria DeHaven. We think the title killed this film. If it had even been called "Detective Story," it would have done some business. People are sick and tired of crime stories—they even look at the lobby paper and walk away. And no mother would let her kids come to see it. Yet it isn't a bad detective story at all. In fact, we liked it. It is good for midweek or Fri., Sat. We played it Sun. through Tues.—Von Gulker, Wilshlre Theatre, Fullerton, Calif. General patronage. yThree Musketeers, The (MGM) — Lana Tm-ner, Gene KeUy, June Allyson. Here is a terrific Technicolor epic. If MGM had kept up the near-slapstick tempo which dominates the first half of the picture instead of trying to end It more or less as a tear-jerker, I think it might have been a big grosser. I paid too much for it. Farmers don't Uke fancy pants and sword-fighting, so I stick my neck out every time just because I like this sort of : BOXOFFICE BooldnGuide : February 11, 1950
— —— thing. Kelly is wonderful as Dumas' chief character. The rest of the cast is tops. Those that do see it are bound to like most of it. Certainly it is the fine kind of feature we've all clamored for. Played Sun., Mon., Tues. Weather: Perfect.—Bob Walker, Uintah Theatre, Fruita, Colo. Rm-al patronage. « » • OWizard of Oz, The (MGM) — Reissue. Judy Garland, Frank Morgan, Ray Bolger. Our loss on this pictm-e was unquestionably due to the pre-Christmas playdate. The color was excellent and oiu' print was in good condition. The picture is a masterpiece and merits preferred playing time. Played Tues., Wed.—E. A. London, State Theatre, Olivet, Mich. Small town and rural patronage. • • MONOGRAM Bomba, the Jungle Boy (Mono)—Johnny Sheffield, Peggy Ann Garner, Onslow Stevens. This is a good jungle picture in sepiatone which gave us an average weekend business. Played Fri., Sat. Weather: Rain.—Jack Hammond, Shastona Theatre, Mount Shasta, Calif. Small lumber town patronage. • • » PARAMOUNT Alias Nick Beal (Para) — Ray Milland, Audrey Totter, George Macready. We expected this to go over but we were not right. Our second night was the next poorest we have had in some time. Played Wed., Thurs. Weather: Cold.—Harland Rankin, Plaza Theatre, Tilbury, Ont. Small town patronage. • * • Paleface, The (Para)—Bob Hope, Jane Russell, Robert Armstrong. This show was swell for our New Year's crowd. It drew well for these times and pleased everyone, I would say. Hope's best film in years! Played Sun., Mon. Weather: Fair.—Arthur E. Phifield, Park Theatre, South Berwick, Me. Small town patronage. * * * Searching Wind, The (Para)—Robert Young, Sylvia Sidney, Ann Richards. Does your audience go for international foreign diplomatic manipulations and intrigue? If they do, then play this by all means. Then you can say you have played the worst everything from then on will be better. We don't know what the "searching wind" was looking for—but we know what you will. Yep, that's right—customers.—J. Bye Coverston, Cherokee Theatre, Southwest City, Mo. Small * town and rural patronage. Sorrowful Jones (Para)—Bob Hope, Lucille Ball, William Demarest. Tiiis is the first Hope pictiu'e that has played here to a profit for a long time. Business was good and our patrons were well pleased. The picture rates preferred playing time at reasonable flat rental. Played Sun., Mon. Weather: Fair. E. A. London, State Theatre, Olivet, Mich. Small town and rural patronage. * * Sorry, Wrong Number (Para) — Barbara For Italian Patronage Suggests This One FISHERMAN'S WHARF (SR)—Reissue. Bobby Breen, Henry Armetta. Here is a swell family show that could easily prove to be a sleeper if you have a large Italian patronage. The music, the homespun comedy, and the Italian accent went over swell. It's an old RKO picture. Played Tues., Wed. Weather: Ideal. — Ralph Raspa, State Theatre, Rivesville, W. Va. Rural patronage. » • » Stanwyck, Burt Lancaster, Ann Richards. Nuts—we starved for a week after paying for this one. You have to have people in the seats to take in money, and they were not there for this one. In our opinion, tliis was our biggest flop of '49. Played Sat., Mon. Weather: Good. — S. N. Holmberg, Regal Theatre, Sturgis, Sask. Small town patronage. • • Thelma Jordon (Para)—Barbara Stanwyck, Wendell Corey, Joan Tetzell. This is another love triangle affair that grossed only fair at the boxoffice. Stanwyck is good in the part but there was a lot of unfavorable comment. Played Sun., Mon. Weather: Okay.— D. W. Trisko, Ritz Theatre, Jerome, Ariz. Mining town patronage. • • • RKO RADIO Every Girl Should Be Married (RKO) — A Cary Grant, Franchot Tone, Betsy Drake. timely twosome and a good comedy but I had a lot of soft seats and nobody to put in them. I'd have been better off to have closed up and gone to a show some place myself. Played Sun., Mon. Weather: Cold.—Bob Walker, Uintaii Theatre, Pruita, Colo. Rural patronage. • • • Follow Me Quietly (RKO)—Ray Bolger, Anne Shirley, Dennis Day. This is a good program picture at a double-feature price. Hails Industry Short As Best Ever Shown MOVIES ARE ADVENTURE (U-D — Industry series short. In my estimation, this industry short is one of the best I have ever shown on the screen. It is chock-full of scenes from exciting pictures, old and new. The atomic bomb explodes, a giant zeppelin burns, a huge gorilla attacks a modem city, Indians attack and TJ. S. Cavalry come to the rescue, a giant herd of elephants stampede a native village, and other equally breath-taking scenes. This short should be shown in every theatre in the country, as it sure is powerful stuff and potent advertising. Try it and you will agree with me 100 per cent. Played Fri., Sat. Weather: Good. — I. Roche, Vernon Theatre, Vernon, Fla. Small town and rural patronage. * « » Enough said. Played Thurs., Fri., Sat. Weather: Good.—Terry Axley, New Theatre, England, Ark. Rural and small town patronage. • * * Ulchabod and Mr. Toad (RKO)—Disney cartoon with talents of Bing Crosby and Basil Rathbone. This is a master production by Walt Disney. The kids went wUd over it. Adult patronage was a bit below average so the total gross was about average. Played Sat., Sun., Mon.—O. Fomby, Paula Theatre, Homer, La. Small town patronage. • • • Make Mine Laughs (RKO)—Ray Bolger, Anne Shirley, Dennis Day. The few who came to see this feature and "Last Days of Pompeii" were really entertained. The monkey act and duck act stole the show. Give us more like this one and "Variety Time." Play up the names. Played Sun., Mon. Weather: Ideal.—Ralph Raspa, State Theatre, Rivesville, W. Va. Rural patronage. • • • Savage Splendor (RKO)—African travel picture. Our gross was 'way off on this but it was not the picture's fault. One of winter's first blows kept them away. Doubled with "Seal Island," it made a mighty fine Changed From Musicals To a Super-Western FIGHTING MAN OF THE PLAINS (20th-Fox) — Randolph Scott, BiU Williams, Victor Jory. Our patrons seem to be shjring at musicals, which we have been giving our best spots. The receipts consistently have proven this, so we set in this Technicolor, infamous Jim Dancer (Randolph Scott), reformed-guerilla, film for a change. Business was above average and comments were good. Dale Robertson, who came to Scott's rescue in the final scene, should go places if given a chance. His personality and acting were outstanding. Weather: Stormy and icy. Paul D. Ratliff, Daytona Theatre, Dayton, Ore. Small town and rural patronage. * show in beautiful color. Book it. If you can buy it reasonably, exploit it, and play it in nice weather and you should have lots of satisfied customers. Played Tues., Wed., Thurs. Very cold.—William J. Harris, Ciovm Theatre, Lincoln, Ark. Rural and small town patronage. ' * * Song Is Born, A (RKO)—Danny Kaye, Virginia Mayo, Hugh Herbert. This one did not go over as well or please like the past two Danny Kaye shows. We did just average business and paid top rental. Played Tues., Wed., Thurs. Weather: Fair and mild. Arthur E. Phifield, Park Theatre, South Berwick, Me. Small town patronage. * • * Stagecoach Kid (RKO)—Tim Holt, Richard Martin, Jeff Donnell. A Tim Holt western which did average Fri., Sat. business. No better or no worse than others in this series. We made a profit.—E. M. Freiburger, Dewey, Okla. Small town patronage. • » • Tarzan's Magic Fountain (RKO)—Lex Barker, Brenda Joyce, Albert Dekker. Good old Tarzan—they love him and his treeclimbing antics. Played Fri., Sat. Weather: Cool.—Harland Rankin, Plaza Theatre, Tilbury, Ont. Small town patronage. • • • REPUBLIC Angel on the Amazon (Rep)—George Brent, Vera Ralston, Brian Aherne. I had quite a few favorable comments on this one—just why, I don't know, as it did not appeal to me at all. The first reel has an airplane io it, which is forced down in the jungle. Then follows a shift of scenery to various sections of the world in the flashback style. There are, however, some interesting scenes from the jungle, especially the one where the black panther attacks a sleeping man. Maybe this is what sold it to my patrons. Played Sun., Mon. Weather: Good.—I. Roche, Vernon Theatre, Vernon, Fla. Small town and rural patronage. * • * Plunderers, The (Rep) — Rod Cameron. Ilona Massey, Adrian Booth. This picture is rough and rugged and GOOD. Played Thurs., Fri., Sat.—W. O. Woody, Stockton Theatre, Stockton, Mo. Small town patronage. • • • 20th CENTURY-FOX Chicken Every Sunday (20th-Fox) — Dan Dailey, Celeste Holm, Alan Young. Sunday was good but Monday was a waste of time, so I guess nobody told his neighbor to "be sure and see it." I enjoyed it, but agree that Dan Dailey should dance. Weather: Fair and (Continued on page 4) BOXOFFICE BookinGuide :: February 11, 1950
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TOTAL NET PAID CIRCULATION EXCEEDS
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JAMES STEWART honored by the fans o
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m [vrnm »m "Put down your horn, ja
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— Producers Spur Congress To Abol
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Invitation to Arbitration: "The def
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Text of the Findings of Fact, Concl
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were permitted under the consent de
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94. For many years the distributor-
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and in some cases the operating com
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ner, and half of Universal. Accordi
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; the Attorney General or an Assist
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faxi, taxi ! Zome along to -^nvinvp
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to, and the public will enjoy, subs
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— Protests and Bookings Race on S
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— ilwaukee Suit Brings $1295,000
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4ST,Wf iNCHELL WROTE: m;'iL-{OiI:Ii
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1 1 TV Building Audiences For Weste
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BOXOFFICE Bonus For Brotherhood Wee
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. . and Novice Showmen Prove Ingenu
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Annual Dance Revue on Salt Lake Sta
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PTA-Sponsored Series Fills Theatres
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Zenith Distributor Tieup Spreads In
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— Co-Op and Baby Derby Exploit 'W
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. . . W. . . Harry I I . . Don . "
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Congressman Pledge Tax Drive Suppor
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. . The . . Monogram . . The . . Mi
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. . Others . . The Tax Repeal Meeti
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Victor Norton Joins NBC In Big Reor
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AMPP Urges Congress To Drop Federal
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— Paramount Producer Hal WalUs ha
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— Directors Approve New Working P
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He gives shape to things to come...
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. . . United . . Evergreen Chain Ma
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LSOO-Car Airer Begun At W. Covina,
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. . His . . . . Tax Group Formed By
Page 85 and 86: Charles Stewart Buys Torrington Dri
Page 87 and 88: Wisconsin ITO Pledges To Pass on Ta
Page 89 and 90: . . . Rube . . . Chicago . . Irving
Page 91 and 92: ' •'' . mmana 150 Score Paces Kan
Page 93 and 94: Allied Asks Exhibitors To Shun 'Str
Page 95 and 96: . . George . . The . . Prolest by T
Page 97 and 98: f Pay Hikes to Policemen Who Shut L
Page 99 and 100: BlaltCircuil Marks 30th Anniversary
Page 101 and 102: : . . John — Loew's Penn Scores W
Page 103 and 104: Schreibers Dispose Of Two More Hous
Page 105 and 106: . . "Adam's . . Georgia Theodore Mi
Page 107 and 108: Boston Women's Club Fetes Sam Goldw
Page 109 and 110: Sutton Firm Denied Operation Permit
Page 111 and 112: . . Norman . . . Manager . . Sidney
Page 113 and 114: . . . Charles . . Cesar . . Due . .
Page 115 and 116: " New Lubbock Theatre Will Be UOO S
Page 117 and 118: M Introducing - - - American Desk D
Page 119 and 120: ; Barrymore Jr. Wins Texans at Prem
Page 121 and 122: Texans Organizing Drive Against Tax
Page 123 and 124: Memphis Board Okays 'Life' and 'Out
Page 125 and 126: . . . John . . Slrand Is Remodeled
Page 127 and 128: . -NOWi will stand up before 150-mi
Page 129 and 130: . . We . . The . . The ' Orleans.
Page 131 and 132: Odeon Plans to Build Theatre at Edm
Page 133 and 134: . . . Because Calgary's Spotlight F
Page 135: )XOFFICE BAROMETER • EXHIBITOR HA
Page 139 and 140: . Alphabetical Picture Guide ladex
Page 141 and 142: ++ Very Good; + Good; — Fair; —
Page 144 and 145: • ) SHORTS CHART Short subjects,
Page 146 and 147: : ; . SHORTS REVIIWS Kix A\it'i\^ *
Page 148 and 149: '. Because . . The FEATURE REVIEWS
Page 150: "Play it big. One of the best to co
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