Boxoffice-August.19.1950

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
bp 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. All exhibitors welcome. Blue Ribbon
pictures are marked thus U.
COLUMBIA
WAll the King's Men (Col) — Broderlck
Crawford, Joanne Dru. John Ireland. This
Is a high-grade picture that was a boxofflce
flop. Too bad, but there are just not enough
people in this small town who enjoy this type
of show. Played Sun., Mon. Weather: Clear
and warm.—Leo W. Smith. Elk Theatre. Elkton,
S. D. Small town and rural patronage.
* *
Anna Lucasta (Col) — Paulette Goddard,
William Bishop, Oscar Homolka. This is a
fair picture, but no good for a weekend date.
The adults liked this one but the children
walked out. Played Mon.. Tues. Weather:
Good.—C. E. McMurchy, Reston Memorial
Theatre Co., Reston, Man. Rural and small
town patronage.
* •
Blondie's Hero (Col)—Penny Singleton, Arthur
Lake. Larry Simms. We thought this
the best of the Blondies to date. All enjoyed
it. Played Tues., Wed.—Frank Sabin, Eureka
Theatre, Eureka, Mont. Small town and rural
patronage.
* * '
Doolins of Oklahoma, The (Col) — Randolph
Scott, George Macready, Louise Allbritton.
This is fair entertainment but nothing
to get up and holler about. I didn't do
very good business on this, but I don't blame
the picture as the weather was real hot and
air conditioning for my small place is something
to dream about. Maybe I am playing
too many westerns. Played two days.
Weather: Very warm.—Bill Risk, Paradise
Theatre, Paradise Valley, Alta. Small town
•
and rural patronage.
Kill the Umpire (Col) — WilUam Bendlx,
Una Merkel. Ray Collins. I played this one
hot after its release—the first showing in the
area, but it still did only average business.
The film rental was right so I came out even
on it at any rate. It is a good comedy as
only William Bendix can do it. I had one
complaint from patrons who came to see it
and that was that there wasn't enough baseball.
Played Sun., Mon. Weather: Fair and
rain.—Fred G. Weppler, Colonial Theatre,
Colfax, 111. Small town and rural patronage.
* • •
Loaded Pistols (Col)—Gene Autry, Barbara
Britton, Chill Wills. This old one sure does
pack a lot of action. At the end of Gene's
third fight, we find him on top of a runaway
stagecoach battling the villain with might
and main! Naturally, one of the wheels is
about to come off the racing coach—it does
just one second after Gene knocks the bad
man off and jumps himself—then the stagecoach
plunges 9,000 feet or so to the bottom
of a canyon. Gene sings and does a little
romancing, while Chill Wills puts in a dab
of comedy here and there. Honest, though,
fellows—it's a humdinger! Played FYi., Sat.
Weather: Dandy.—I. Roche, Vernon Theatre,
Vernon, Fla. Small town and rural patronage.
• • •
Pennies From Heaven (Col)—Reissue. Bing
Crosby, Madge Evans, Edith Fellows. This is
a good musical show. Sure it's a reissue, but
it had never been in town before. It did
average midweek business and I am glad I
played it. It will outgross some of the new
klucks. Sell it for what it is and it will go
over.— E. M. FYeiburger, Dewey Theatre,
Dewey, Okla. Small town patronage. • • •
South of Death Valley (Col)—Charles Starrett.
Smiley Burnette, Gail Davis. I doubled
this with "Hoedown" for a most satisfactory
program. Most of the comments were on
"Hoedown" but Smiley still has his fans, and
this is average for the series. Business was
outstanding. Played Fri., Sat. Weather:
Hot.—Bob Walker, Uintah Theatre, Pruita,
Colo. Rural patronage. • • *
LIPPERT PRODUCTIONS
Call of the Forest (LP)—Robert Lowery,
Ken Curtis. This is a nice outdoor picture for
the entire family. Comments and business
on it were good. Played Sun., Mon. Weather:
Warm.—L. Brazil jr.. New Tlieatre, Bearden,
Ark. Small town patronage. * * *
Hollywood Bam Dance (LP)—Ernest Tubb,
Lori Talbott, Helen Boyce. Songs — more
than you ever heard in a movie, crude In
production (corn is the word), crude in acting—but
your rural family trade will eat it
up. SRC on Saturday night, so what can
we say but good for it! Played Fri., Sat.
Weather: Warm and dry.—Ken Christianson,
Roxy Theatre, Washburn, N. D. Small town
patronage. ' * *
METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER
Conspirator (MGM)—Robert Taylor, Elizabeth
Taylor, Robert Fleming. The star power
of this picture clicked here and I had average
gross. The story is not the type that my patrons
generally like, but still there were no
walkouts. This is a gripping story which
should be well liked in situations where
mystery and intrigue go over. The dialog
was difficult to understand, since most supporting
players were English. Played Wed.,
Thurs. Weather: Fair.—Fred G. Weppler,
Colonial Theatre, Colfax, 111. Small town
and rural patronage. * * *
Doctor and the Girl,
The (MGM)—Glenn
Bill Risk From Paradise
Risks Losing It— Maybe
TX/e welcome one of our Canadian contributors
to these columns for the
first time this week—Bill Risk of the
Paradise Theatre, Paradise Valley, Alta.
Says Bill by way of introducing himself:
"This Is the first contribution I have
made to EXHIBITOR HAS HIS SAY,
but have been reading comments from
your contributors for quite a few years
now and can truthfully say that in choosing
pictures for use here, EHHS is the
deciding factor. More power to BOX-
OFFICE, and thanks to iU EHHS for the
very 'choosey' commenting."
Nice to have you join us. Bill. The
more the merrier, says the old adage.
Need Not Be Afraid
To Recommend This
ARCTIC FURY (RKO)—Del Cambre,
Eve Miller, Gloria Petroff. This is a true
story of an Arctic doctor. It has everything
you need to entertain your patrons.
The things that man went through—plane
crash, freezing temperatures, attaclcs by
wild dogs, bears, etc., starvation and
three months of loneliness! It should
be played on a Fri., Sat. with a western
—and don't be afraid to go out and recommend
It. Even if it is a little picture,
it will please. Played Fri., Sat. Weather:
Good. — Carl Neitzel, Juno Theatre,
Juneau, Wis. Small town and surrounding
area patronage. *
Ford, Charles Coburn, Gloria DeHaven. I'd be
a happier boy if I'd switched playdates on
this with "That Forsyte Woman." This is a
wonderful little picture that everyone liked
and which did make expenses midweek. It
has one of those wonderful endings that send
them home happy. This is the first time In
weeks that I've had a Metro picture that has
made "me" happy. Played Wed., Thurs.
Weather: Hot.—Bob Walker, Uintah Theatre,
Fruita, Colo. Rural patronage. • • •
Nancy Goes to Rio (MGM)—Jane Powell,
Ann Sothern, Barry Sullivan. This Is an
extremely entertaining Technicolor musical
that did below average gross in my situation.
However, it was no surprise to me, since all
types of musicals I've offered my patrons in
the past 18 months have not done what they
should at the boxoffice. It was a good picture
and those who came enjoyed it. What
more can I do? Played Sun., Mon. Weather:
Fair.—Fred G. Weppler, Colonial Theatre,
Colfax, 111. Small town and rural patronage.
• • •
That Forsyte Woman (MGM)—Errol Flynn,
Greer Garson, Walter Pidgeon. Ho, hum.
What a dull way to spend an evening! I
don't blame people for staying away from
this slow-moving, long-drawn-out drama.
Business couldn't have been worse. Metro
must be trying to kill Flynn's boxoffice draw
for Warner. Go ahead and be a chump if
you want to. Played Sun., Mon.. Tues.
Weather: Hot.—Bob Walker, Uintah Theatre,
Pruita, Colo. Rural patronage. * • *
(MGM)—K a t h r y n
That Midnight Kiss
Grayson, Jose Iturbi, Ethel Barrymore. Compliment
Leo once again on this one. Our
customers raved about It and came in family
groups. This is a swell weekender. Played
Fri., Sat. Weather: Excellent.—C. E. Mc-
Murchy, president Reston Memorial Theatre
Co., Reston, Man. Rural and small town
patronage. * *
Yellow Cab Man, The (MGM)—Red Skelton,
Gloria DeHaven. Walter Slezak. We did
average business with this picture midweek,
and those that saw it didn't squawk and
there are a lot of laughs. We paid too much
for the run but didn't lose any money, which
is unusual at this time. This is worth a playdate
on your best time. Played Tues., Wed.,
Thurs. Weather: Fair and cool.—Mayme P.
Musselman, Roach Theatre, Lincoln, Kas.
Small town patronage. * * *
MONOGRAM
Bomba on Panther Island (Mono) —Johnny
Sheffield, Allene Roberts, Lita Barton. This
drew a flock of kids here but few adults
and the few adults didn't enthuse. However,
the kids enjoyed it. Played Tues., Wed.—
BOXOFFICE BooldnGuido :: August 19, 1950