Boxoffice-March.04.1950

EXHIBITOR HAS HIS SAY
ABOUT
PICTURES
Just as the Barometer vage 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 O.
COLUMBIA
Big Sombrero, The (Col)—Gene Autry,
Elena Verdu?ro, Stephen Dunne. This is a
nice, lively little western that pleased. Business
wasn't up to normal, but I'm convinced
that if Gene made them all in color, he'd
be back in the running for the crown. I'd
buy it. Played Fri., Sat. Weather: Perfect.—
Bob Walker, Uintah Theatre, Fruita, Colo.
Rural patronage.
• • •
Destroyer (Col)—Reissue. Edward G. Robinson,
Glenn Ford, Marguerite Chapman.
This is a fine reissue that will do business
in almost any situation. The NSS trailers
and paper on these reissues are certainly a
disgrace to a fine organization like that. I
doubled with "Gallant Blade" to average
business.—Melvin M. Edel, State Theatre,
Centralia, 111. Small town patronage. •
Knock on Any Door (Col)—Humphrey Bogart,
John Derek, Susan Perry. Anything with
cops in it scares my patrons off, so this
didn't do much for me. Personally, I thoroughly
enjoyed it. Bogart is a very convincing
attorney and John Eterek was perfectly
cast. Played Wed., Thurs. Weather:
Warm.—Mrs. Pat Murphy, Queen Theatre,
Holliday, Tex. Oil field patronage. • • *
Lust for Gold (Col) —Ida Lupino, Glenn
Ford, Gig Young. This one is really good.
My gross was average for midweek and all
my patrons seemed satisfied. The scenery
shots of Arizona are exceptionally good in
.sepictone. It's not a western but a historical
drama about the Lost Dutchman gold mine.
It has action aplenty and will easily do well
on the weekend. Played Wed., Thurs.
Weather: Fair and cold.—Fred G. Weppler,
Colonial Theatre, Colfax, 111. Small town and
rural patronage. • •
Miss Grant Takes Richmond (Col)—Lucille
Ball, William Holden, Janis Carter. This Is
a terrific comedy that really draws the laughs.
A good and made-to-order cast plus an excellent
story make this one of those flickers
that the patrons have been asking to
see. Doubled with "It's a Great Feeling"
(WB) and likewise this is a different type
of comedy. Those two laugh epics drew business
to slightly above average business.
Played Sat. (preview). Sun., Mon. Weather:
Clear and warm.—Jim Dunbar, Roxy Theatre.
Wichita, Kas. Subsequent downtown
run patronage.
• • •
Reckless Moment, The (Col)—James
Mason, Joan Bennett, Geraldine Brooks. This
is not a pleasant story. It concerns murder
and blackmail and has many tense spots.
It holds the interest all through but there
was no enthusiasm from the crowd on the
way out.—Frank Sabin, Majestic Theatre,
Eureka, Mont. Small town patronage. * • •
Return of October, The (Col)—Glenn Ford,
Terry Moore, Albert Shayne. It is seldom
we get finer comedy features than this, but
it was hard to sell. Those who came loved
it, but kept it to themselves, for it went from
nothing to worse each succeeding night.
Glenn Ford and Terry Moore make a wonderful
team. Terry is one of the nicest things
to happen to this business since I got In It.
By all means play it, but be sure you get
them sold. The trailer is good. I did lots
of promotion but had a lot of competition
during the run. Played Sun., Mon., Tues.
Weather: Perfect.—Bob Walker, Uintah Theatre,
Fruita, Colo. Rural patronage. • • •
EAGLE LION
Big Cat, The (EL)—Lon McCallister, Peggy
Ann Garner, Preston Poster. This has all
the angles. It has lots of action, scenery,
good color and a fair story—and the most
realistic fight I've ever seen in any picture.
Some came both nights to see that fight.
Played Tues., Wed. Weather: Good.—Jim
Mote, Friendship Theatre, Sterling, Okla.
Small town and rural patronage.
• •
Hold That Ghost (EL)—Reissue. Bud Abbott,
Lou Costello. There comes a time when
the elements will be stronger than the virge
to see Abbott and Costello. Eight Inches of
loose snow on the ground in North Dakota
and everybody stays home. Business was still
85 per cent. Played Thurs., Fri., Sat. Weather:
Stormy.—Ken Christianson, Roxy Theatre,
Washburn, N. D. Small town patronage. • •
Paradine Case, The (EL)—Gregory Peck,
VaUi, Ann Todd. The stars are not worth
mention, the story is worse, and the film
rental sickening. I'd rather have Eddie
Dean—and who wants him? Played Wed.,
Thurs. Weather: Wonderful.—J. F. Hall, Anthony
Theatre, Anthony, N. M.-Tex. Rural
and small town patronage. *
Portrait of Jennie (EL)—Jennifer Jones,
Joseph Cotten, Ethel Barrymore. Here's a
flop If there ever was one. One-third of my
patrons slept through it. If played at all, it
should be double billed. Played Sun., Mon.
Jim Mote Contributes
To EHHS Again
THIS department can take pride in this
communication from former contributors
who have reason to feel friendly to
the spirit engendered by this exchange
of opinion. The Jim Motes of the Friendship
Theatre at Sterling, Okla., write:
"Although it has been some time since
our last reports, we ha>e been reading
those sent in by other exhibitors and feel
that your EHHS department is rendering
a very valuable service to the exhibitors.
"Furthermore, if it had not been for It,
we wouldn't be reporting on anyone's pictures!"
Ed. Note : It was in this department that
the news of the burning of the Mote Theatre
in 1948 started contributions coming
in from fellow exhibitors to help him rebuild.
Is Good Entertainment
For Any Type Town
PINKY (20th-Fox) —Jeanne Grain,
Ethel Barrymore, Ethel Waters. Here Is
a picture that was very well received. We
did good business and for my money It it
very good entertainment for any town,
small or large. Played Sun., Mon.
Weather: Rain.—E. W. Clark, Molalla
Theatre, Molalla, Ore. Small town patronage.
• • *
Weather: Fair.—K. A. Spears, Roxy Theatre,
Winlock, •
Wash. Rural patronage.
Prairie Outlaws (EL)—Eddie Dean, Roscoe
Ates, Al LaRue. This is Just another powderand-noise,
run-of-the-mill western. Same
plot, same ending, even the kids didn't like
it. Played Fri., Sat. Weather: Fair.—J. P.
Hall, Anthony Theatre, Anthony, N. M.-Tex.
Rural and small town patronage.
•
METRO-GOLDWYN-rvIAYER
Any Number Can Play (MGM)—Clark
Gable, Alexis Smith, Wendell Corey. This
is adult entertainment and that kills it for
us so far as profits are concerned. Played
Thurs., Fri. Weather: Cold and rain.—Harland
Rankin, Plaza Theatre, Tilbury, Ont.
Small town patronage. • • •
Any Number Can Play (MGM)—Clark
Gable, Alexis Smith, Wendell Corey. The
"glamor boy" is fast becoming our number
one problem boy. Our small crowd (due to
the blizzard) agreed this was one of his best
pictures in some time. Business was 50 per
cent of normal and top rental, so no good
for us here. Played Sun., Mon.—Ken Christianson.
Roxy Theatre, Washburn, N. D.
Small town patronage. • *
Doctor and the Girl, The (MGM)—Glenn
Ford, Charles Coburn, Gloria DeHaven. By
golly, a few did come! Frankly, I didn't expect
too much, but my main competition
failed to play this one, so I fared better than
I would have normally. Doubled with "House
Across the Street" (WB) and all in all, I
believe the patrons who came enjoyed the
latter more than "The Doctor." Personally,
I was bored watching the doctor perform far
too many operations. Normally, this just
isn't the type of entertainment my patrons
desire—hence the reason for the 82 per cent
business figure. Played Sat. (preview), Sun.,
Mon. Weather: Rainy and cool.—Jim Dunbar,
Roxy Theatre, Wichita, Kas. Subsequent
downtown run patronage. • • *
Doctor and the Girl, The (MGM)—Glenn
Ford, Charles Coburn, Gloria DeHaven. This
is a good show. It Is a swell story and swell
entertainment for anyone. An exhibitor can
be proud to play this type of picture. Played
Sun., Mon. Weather: Snow.—K. A. Spears,
Roxy Theatre, Winlock. Wash. Rural patronage.
•
Homecoming (MGM) — Clark Gable, Lana
Turner, Anne Baxter. A small town exhibitor
like me who goes back and picks up this oldie
must have holes in his head. It's a good story
with fine acting, but it is strictly big town
'fare. Why can't they give Gable the old heman
roles? This didn't make expenses. Played
Sun., Mon., Tues. Weather: Fair. — Bob
Walker, Uintah Theatre, Fruita, Colo. Rural
patronage. • • •
Some of the Best (MGM)—Product documentary
short. This is a nice production of
MGM product for the past 25 years, and future
product for 1949-50. Played Tues., Wed.
BOXOFFICE BookinGulde March 4, 1950