Boxoffice-September.23.1950

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EXHIBITOR HAS HIS SAY ABOUT PICTURES Just as the Barometer vage shoios 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. All exhibitors welcome. Blue Ribbon pictures are marked thus U. COLUMBIA OAU the King's Men (Col)—Broderick Crawford, Joanne Dru, John Ireland. We thought this was too highbrow for small towns but we found out different. Played Mon., Tues.—Harland Rankin. Plaza Theatre, Tilbury, Ont. Small town patronage. • • • Father Is a Bachelor (Col)—William Holden, Coleen Gray. Mary Jane Saunders. We liked this one better than "Cheaper by the Dozen." it did nearly as much business, and it cost us one-fourth as much. It is a swell piece of entertainment. Played Sun., Mon. Weather: Cold.—R. V. Rule, Alco Theatre, Harrisville, Mich. Small town patronage. • • • IVIiss Grant Takes Richmond (Col)—Lucille Ball, William Holden, Janis Carter. They don't make any better comedies than this, and it has a top comedy cast. The story is clever, too. Business was nothing to brag about, but those that took a chance loved it. The terms were fair, so I'm happy. Don't pass it up. Played Sun., Mon.. Tues. Weather: Hot.—Bob Walker. Uintah Theatre, P^uita, Colo. Rural patronage. * • • Nevadan, The (Col)—Randolph Scott, Dorothy Malone, Forrest Tucker. Why Scott fools around making pictures for anyone but Columbia. I'll never understand. In this one you have another very satisfying, big western. It's not as great as "Coroner Creek" but it is one of Scott's big ones. Tucker and Macready are the perfect team of villains, to make it a sure-fire crowd-pleaser. Business was above average, for a change. Don't pass it up. Played Fri., Sat. Weather: Hot.— Bob Walker. Uintah Theatre, Fruita, Colo. Rural patronage. * • • No Sad Songs for Me (Col)—Margaret Sullavan. Wendell Corey, Viveca Lindfors. This is a very good drama which failed to draw and caused me a loss at the boxoffice. There is nothing wrong with the picture but my customers just do not want tear-jerkers with a tragic ending. Played Tues., Wed.. Thurs. Weather: Good.—E. M. Freiburger, Dewey Theatre, Dewey. Okla. Small town patronage. • • • Rusty's Birthday (Col) — Ted Donaldson, John Litel, Ann Doran. I doubled this with "Northwest Trail" (SG) to average attendance. This Rusty is as good as tradepress reports say it is. It is a top little picture with everything for the whole family. You can't go wrong playmg this Rusty. Played Saturday only. Weather: Fair and warm.—Fred G. Weppler, Colonial Theatre, Colfax, lU. Small town and rural patronage. • • • Palomino, The (Col)—Jerome Courtland. Beverly Tyler. Joseph Calleia. This is a real action picture which we double biUed with "Bomba. the Jungle Boy" (Mono) and did exceptionally well. I would recommend this combination to anyone who can possibly get it, as we did outstanding business equal to many of the top Fox and Metro pictures which are more highly recommended. Played Thurs. through Sat. Weather: Rain.—Harland Rankin, Plaza Theatre, Tilbury, Ont. Small town patronage. * • • Riders in the Sky (Col)—Gene Autry, Gloria Henry. Pat Buttram. These Gene Autry pictures are like the "old gray mare" —they ain't what they used to be! This is the poorest Autry to date, and we don't like the sepiatone . . . The kids are the westerns' best friends, so why not have more comedy and music and less saloons and gambling? Played Fri., Sat. Weather: Rain.—R. V. Rule, Alco Theatre, Harrisville, Mich. Small town patronage. • • • EAGLE LION CLASSICS Eagle Squadron (ELC) — Reissue. This pulled a full house on Sunday, which isn't at all unusual, but did above average on Monday with rain threatening, and a heavy downpour during the middle of the show. Robert B. Tuttle. Sky Drive-In Theatre, Adrian, Mich. Rural and city patronage. • METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER Ambush (MGM) — Robert Taylor, John Hodiak, Arlene Dahl. When Luke Short writes 'em, they're always good. Taylor has too good a vocabulary for a scout who has spent his life in the wilderness, but aside from that, it's a thrill-packed western that holds you on the edge of your seat from the moment it opens until the end. Western fans will complain that it is too short. Business was nothing big but was better than I expected for Labor day weekend. It is certainly one you need. Played Sun., Mon., Tues. Weather: Sultry.—Bob Walker, Uintah Theatre, Fruita, Colo. Rural patronage. • * * Battleground Hodiak, Ricardo Montalban. I'll never know why this didn't do the business it should have. It's based on the 101st Airborne division's heroic stand at Bastogne. It's very — (MGM)—Van Johnson, John Nebraska Exhibitor Asks For Department Form CEEMS like it pays to let folks know they will be welcomed as contributors to these pages, for we received this letter last week from Walter Austin of the Plains Theatre at Plainview, Neb.: "In a recent issue, in the EHHS department, I noticed you answered an inquiry on how to contribute to that department. "Will you please send me a form which you furnish for this particular department? "We read EHHS before we look at any other part of the magazine, and thought perhaps our two-cents' worth might help some exhibitor." The EHHS form is on the way . . . There must be others who want to participate instead of just sitting on the sidelines. Comment of the Week To Be New Feature CO.ME of tlic comments wliicli come in each week in routine reports deserve to be singled out for special attention. For that reason we are reserving this space hereafter for the COMMENT OF THE WEEK. And were starting it off this week with one from R. V. Rule of the Alco Theatre at Harrisville. Mich., who reminds us and producers as follows: "The kids are the westerns' best friends, so why not have more comedy and music and less saloons and gambling?" good if war pictures will still go in your location. Played Sun., Mon. Weather: Fair.—Jim Mote, Friendship Theatre, Sterling, Okla. Rural and small town patronage. • • • tJFather of the Bride (MGM)—Spencer Tracy, Joan Bennett, Elizabeth Taylor. This is one of the cleverest comedies of this or any other year. Spencer Tracy is superb, as usual, also Joan Bennett and stunning Elizabeth Taylor. This is another great moneygetter. Played Wed., Thurs., Fri. Weather: Good.—Ken Gorham, Town Hall Theatre, Middlebury, Vt. College town patronage. * • • Happy Years, The (MGM)—Dean Stockwell, Darryl Hickman, Scotty Beckett. This is a piece of grand family entertainment. The boxoffice was a little below normal, due. perhaps, to our playing it too new. However, this is the kind that will please everybody and the kind that will keep your books in the black. Played Sun., Mon. Weather: Fair.—R. V. Rule, Alco Theatre, Harrisville, Mich. Small town patronage. * * * Key to the City (MGM)—Clark Gable. Loretta Young, MarUyn Maxwell. We played this picture late and chased it all over the state and against the "greatest show on earth," RingUng Bros, circus, to normal business and all satisfied customers. It is a fine picture, Metro, with Gable in a role he is suited for. The old standby stars still please and draw. Played Sun.. Mon. Weather: Cool and rain.—Ken Christianson. Roxy Theatre, Washburn, N. D. Small town and rural patronage. • • • Malaya (MGM)—Spencer Tracy, James Stewart, Valentina Cortese. We expected more from stars Spencer Tracy and James Stewart, but they just didn't turn out for this. I liked the picture myself. Played Wed., Thurs. Weather: Fair.—Harland Rankin, Plaza Theatre, Tilbury, Ont. Small town patronage. • • • Malaya (MGM)—Spencer Tracy, James Stewart. Valentina Cortese. This would have fallen pretty flat without cash night and even so it was a bit off average. Why? It has a good cast and is well made ... I don't know for sure but it may be that this type is losing its appeal. We find comedies, good musicals, family types and superwesterns much better attended here generally than pictures of war and/or intrigue. "Battleground" was an exception. Played Wed.. Thurs. Weather: Good.—William J. Harris. Crown Theatre. Lincoln, Ark. Small town and rural patronage. • • • (JOn the Town (MGM)—Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra, Betty Garrett. This is a nice musical with comedy and in color. Comments were good. Played Sun.. Mon. Weather: BOXOFFICE BookinGuide : : Sept. 23, 1950
Cool.—L. Brazil jr., New Theatre, Bearden, Ark. Small town patronage. • • • Please Believe Me (MGM)—Deborah Kerr, Robert Walker, Mark Stevens. Tliis comedy from MGM failed at my boxoffice—unless the film producers figure that $18 over the film rental is a howlingly successful picture. It is a delightful comedy that kept the patrons laughing and waiting for the next scenes. This had the customary MGM star appeal but something was lacking some place. Played Wed., Thurs. Weather: Fair and cool. —Fred G. Weppler, Colonial Theatre, Colfax, 111. Small town and rural patronage. • * Reformer and the Redhead, The (MGM)— Dick Powell, June Allyson, David Wayne. This didn't do anything to write home about. The first night was fair but the second night was no good. Played Mon., Tues. Weather: Fair.—Harland Rankin, Plaza Theatre, Tilbury, Ont. Small town patronage. • • Southern Yankee, A (MGM)—Red Skelton, Brian Donlevy, Arlene Dahl. We played this Thurs., Pri. and did above average business both nights. As we buck a free band concert, stock-car races, as well as another drive-in and two indoor houses on Thursday, we were well pleased.—Robert B. Tuttle, Sky Drive-In Theatre, Adrian, Mich. Rural and • city patronage. MONOGRAM Hold That Baby! (Mono)—Leo Gorcey, Huntz HaU, Gabriel Dell. This is one of the best in the series—a lot of laughs and it seemed to please everyone. Monogram has a good bet in the Bowery Boys, with plenty of tieups in this little programmer. This gave us near normal business, which is good at harvest time here. Played Tues., Wed. Weather: Hot, windy and dry.—Ken Christiansen, Roxy Theatre, Washburn, N. D. Small town and rural patronage. * ' * Jiggs and Maggie Out West (Mono)—Joe Yule, Renie Riano, George McManus. This is very good and is good for any day in the week. They should make about three or four of these a year. Business and comments on it were excellent. Played Fri., Sat. Weather: Cloudy.—L. Brazil jr., New Tlieatre, Bearden, Ark. Small town patronage. * • • PARAMOUNT Captain Carey, U.S.A. (Para)—Alan Ladd, Wanda Hendrix, Francis Lederer. I ain't mad at nobody, after running this one with "Holiday Affair" (RKO), for two days and a midnight show. I never could figure out which one they wanted to see the more. Both flickers were topnotch entertainment and did much toward sending my patrons home happier because they had attended a movie His Severest Critics Had Best Comments SINGING GUNS (Rep) — Vaughn Monroe, Ella Raines, Walter Brennan. Some patrons are never pleased with any picture after they have seen it, but my very severest critics came up after this show with the best comments. No one will go wrong on this picture. It has the very best color, a. wonderful cast, and several came back the second night. When Vaughn sang "Mule Train" the house went wild. Flayed Sun., Mon. Weather: Fair.—James Landsen, Landsen Theatre, Clairfield, Tenn. Small mining camp patronage. * that day. Played Sat. (preview). Sun., Mon. Weather: Rainy and sultry.—Jim Dunbar, Roxy Theatre, Wichita, Kas. Subsequent downtown run patronage. • • • OSo Proudly We Hail (Para)—Reissue. This is as great as any of the Claudette Colbert, Paulette Goddard. a fine picture that is new war pictures. It has everything needed in a movie, but it failed to do business. People are afraid to see the war again. I am proud to have played this even though business was near normal. Played Thurs., Fri. Weather: Hot and dry.—Ken Christiansen, Roxy Theatre, Washburn, N. D. Small town and rural patronage. • • • RKO RADIO Storm Over Wyoming (RKO)—Tim Holt, Richard Martin, Noreen Nash. This is a good western series. Try one and see if it takes hold. Played Pri., Sat. Weather: Good.—Carl Neitzel, Juno Theatre, Juneau, Wis. Small town and farm patronage. • • • Wagonmaster (RKO)—Ben Johnson, Joanne Dru, Harry Carey jr. This is a very good western and we did good business with it Fi-i., Sat.—Dick DeVries, Ritz Theatre, Correctionville, Iowa. Rural patronage. Ad- Dick DeVries of Iowa Is Anxious to Build XXTE HAVE ANOTHER new contributor this week and welcome his reports and the information about himself and his theatre experience. Folks, meet Dick DeVries, Ritz Theatre, Correctionville, Iowa, who comments: "I would like to say here that pictures as a whole have been good in the 12 years I have been in show business. My wife, Jessie, and myself also run a motel from May to October 15. We have three boys, Jerry, 10 years, Mark 4, and Tom 6 months. Our hope is to build our theatre larger this fall or to build a new theatre." Here's wishing you the best of luck on that. And let's have more reports. mission: 15-26 cents for children, adults, 40-45 cents. Wagonmaster (RKO)—Ben Johnson, Joanne Dru, Harry Carey jr. This was our lowest Sun., Mon. grosser for August, yet it did passable business. The music is very good but the plot is weak and there is not mucli star value. It will make a good booking, however, but not at the top terms which we paid. Played prevues Sun., Mon. Weather: Partly rainy.—William J. Harris, Crown Theatre, Lincoln, Ark. Small town and rural patronage. • • • REPUBLIC Code of the Silver Sage (Rep) — Allen "Rocky" Lane, Eddy Waller, Roy Barcroft. If it is an action -packed picture you want, there is plenty of lead flying, fast slinging and hard riding in all of Rocky Lane's pictures. RepubUc doesn't ask for all you make, either. They rent their films on a live-andlet-live basis. I've played two of their pictures a week for three years and I know. Played Fri., Sat. Weather: Rain. — James Lansden, Lansden Theatre, Clairfield, Term. Small mining camp patronage. * Fighting Seabees, The (Rep)—Reissue. This picture did very well at the boxoffice and the comments were all good. If your fans like John Wayne, play it. I should have played it two nights Instead of one. Many Don't Want the Kettles To Be Sophisticates MA AND PA KETTLE GO TO TOWN (U-I)—Marjorie Main, Percy Kilbride, Richard Long. This did good business but after seeing it, we were afraid U-I was going to ruin Ma and Pa at the boxoffice—in Lincoln, anyway, by giving Ma and Pa money, trips to the city, and practically making sophisticates out of them. Our people like to see them with their kid problems, financial worries, and still with a sense of humor. It will be better, we think, to get them back on the farm, as U-I is doing in their next vehicle. Played Sun., Mon. Weather: Okay. William J. Harris, Crown Theatre, Lincoln, Ark. Small town and rural patronage. * * * came the next night expecting to see this picture. Played Wednesday, cash night. Weather: Cool and nice.—Clinton Bahensky, Time Theatre, Albert City, Iowa. Small town and rural patronage. • Hi, Neighbor (Rep) — Reissue. Lulubelle and Scotty, Jean Parker. This hillbilly reissue will please your rural trade. It has a lot of laughs and they leave happy. It is good for the weekend trade and is sold right, so it is money in the bank. Lulubelle and Scotty have what it takes in these parts. I wish I had ten of these a year to run. Thanks, Republic. Played Fri., Sat. Weather: Hot and dry.—Ken Christiansen, Roxy Theatre, Washburn, N. D. Small town and rural patronage. • • • Sands of Iwo Jima (Rep)—John Wayne, John Agar, Adele Mara. We opened August with a three-day stand for this picture, and teamed it up with our new "three-shortswith-a-single-feature" policy. It did better than average business.—Robert B. Tuttle, Sky Drive-In Theatre, Adrian, Mich. Rural and city patronage. • Sands of Iwo Jima (Rep)—John Wayne, John Agar, Adele Mara. This is one of the best pictures of the year. It is a war picture, and very timely, with lots of action. It has a good cast and is well acted. Comments were good. Played Sun., Mon. Weather: Cloudy.—L. Brazil jr., New Theatre, Bearden, Ark. Small town patronage. • * • 20th CENTURY-FOX yCheaper by the Dozen (20th-Fox)—Clifton Webb, Jeanne Crain, Myrna Loy. All the other fellows who played this said it already. It's a small town gold mine and will build up your theatre's patronage. Played Sun., Mon. Weather: Fair.—Carl Neitzel, Juno Theatre, Juneau, Wis. Surrounding trade area patronage. • • • OCheaper by the Dozen (20th-Fox)—Clifton Webb, Jeanne Crain, Myrna Loy. Any picture which makes it easy for a member of the audience to put himself in the position of one of the players, is on the right track. In addition, any picture which treats family life and problems so as to make it easier for it to strike familiar chords with the audience, is assured of a larger potential audience. This is such a picture. We had the usual theatregoers plus many of the seldomgoers over 40 years of age, and that made our engagement a success. — The scene at the dance is delightful, and Webb and Jeanne Crain handle it masterfully, making it appear wholly spontaneous. An enjoyable pic- ( Continued on page 4) BOXOFFICE BookinGuide : : Sept. 23, 1950
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Boxoffice-September.23.1950

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