Boxoffice-11.11.1950

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BOXOFFICE BookinGuide Nov. 11, 19 ^ j EXHIBITOR HAS HIS SAY ABOUT PICTURES Jimt as the Barompter vage shows first run reports on current pictures, this department is devoted tor the most part to reports on subseauent runs, made bv exhibitors themselves. A one-star contributor is new. two stars means the exhibitor has been writing in for six months or longer, and a threes-star contributor is a regular of one year or more. All exhibitors welcome. Blue Ribbon pictures are marked thus O. COLUMBIA Kill the Umpire (Col)—William Bendix, Una Merkel, Ray Collins. This one is short and ideal for double billing, but for some reason Bendix doesn't have the deserved following that he should. This program with "The Crooked Way" (UA) held way above average for the first two days and on the third it was embalmed and buried, dead. The flicker was good for a lot of belly laughs, though, and was different in the material used. Played Tues., Wed.. Thurs. Weather: Clear and warm.—Jim Dunbar, Roxy Theatre, Wichita, Kas. Downtown subsequent run patronage. • • • Mr. Soft Touch (Col)—Glenn Ford, Evelyn Keyes, John Ireland. This is another "oldie" that I had good luck on. It is suitable for Christmas time and should please the whole family. If you've been kicking some picture around from Columbia and haven't played this, pick it up. Columbia has been making lots of swell pictures for us "small fry" and selling them right. Keep it up. boys! Played Tues., Wed., Thurs. Weather: Warm.—Carl Neitzel, Juno Theatre, Juneau, Wis. Small town and surrounding area patronage. * * * EAGLE LION CLASSICS Mr. Blanding:s Builds His Dream House (SRO-ELO—Cary Grant. Myrna Loy, Melvyn Douglas. I played this funny comedy on a Wed., Thurs. date to good houses and it was liked by those who saw it. I hope the producers make a sequel, which should be funnier.—Dave S. Klein, Astra Theatre, Kitwe/ Nkana, Northern Rhodesia, Africa. Mine and * government employe patronage. Red Stallion in the Rockies (ELO—Arthur Franz, Jean Heather, Wallace Ford. This was a natural and we packed them in for a change. Play it, by all means, is our suggestion. Played Sat., Men. Weather: Good. Sam Holmberg, Regal Theatre. Sturgis. Sask. Rural patronage. • * • Ride 'Em Cowboy (EDO—Reissue. Bud Abbott, Lou Costello. Like I said about "Hit the Ice," this pair goes over very well In this town, for the people that come. Again I repeat, people can laugh, even though the world is in such a mess. Let's keep them laughing. Played Fri., Sat. Weather: Just right.—Theron Pollard, Garfield Theatre, Garfield. Utah. Mining town patronage. * LEPPERT PRODUCTIONS Rocketship XM (LP)—Lloyd Bridges. Osa Massen. John Emery. This picture failed miserably as a drawing card. We turned in about 40 per cent of the average weekend business, for the lowest gross in five years. The picture was not worth the playdate. Played Fri., Sat. Weather: Fair and stormy. —W. L. Stratton, Lyric Theatre. Challis. Ida. Small town patronage. • • • METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER Ambush (MGM) — Robert Taylor, John Hodiak. Arlene Dahl. This Is better than most westerns and I believe most audiences would enjoy It. Ours did.—C. E. Bennewltz, Royal Theatre, Royalton. Minn. Rural patronage. Annie Get Your Gun (MGM)—Betty Hutton, Howard Keel, Louis Calhern. This is the best musical show in a long, long time. It was produced lavishly in Technicolor, with plenty of comedy, singing and dancing, plus crack shots, Indians, Buffalo Bill, Pawnee Bill, Sitting Bull and Annie Oakley. This picture gave me nearly a full house, something which has not happened since World War II. By all means play this excellent production Played Tues., Wed., Thurs. Weather: Good. E. M. Freiburger, Dewey Theatre. Dewey, Okla. Small town patronage. "• ' • io; Father of the Bride (MGM) — Spencer Tracy, Joan Bennett, Elizabeth Taylor. I played this late and to good advantage, since it had played practically all Wichita theatres ahead of me. Many came to see it the second time and still enjoyed it immensely. Comments were good and the business was fine. Frankly. I thought it was cute but it didn't give me the happy boost I had expected. As long as the patrons were happy, however, I was too. I doubled it with an oldie of John Wayne's, "Adventure's End" (Realart). Played Sat. (preview). Sun., Mon. Weather: Clear and hot.—Jim Dunbar, Roxy Theatre, Wichita. Kas. Downtown subsequent run patronage. * ' • My Crown (MGM)—Joel McCrea. Stars in Ellen Drew, Dean Stockwell. This is a swell family picture which pleased above average business. Even the ministers came to see this one. This attraction should make the cash register click in any-sized town, and build prestige for the exhibitor who shows it. Play it if you can, and you and your customers New Contributor Hails From Northern Rhodesia "PHIS week we have a new contributor from far away Northern Rhodesia, Africa. It is Dave S. Klein, managing director of the recently opened Astra Theatre in Kitwe/Nkana, a town of about 5,500 consisting of copper mine and government employes, with a large percentage of businessmen. The house seats 592 and is the first release house in Northern Rhodesia for 20th-Fox, RKO and UA. Klein gives this additional information about the theatre: "This theatre is high up on the circuit, playing new releases shortly after their premiere in Johannesburg, South Africa." It is fine to have an international "voice of the exhibitor" angle to this department. We wish we might hear from other exhibitors in other countries, in addition to those from the United States and Canada. Comment of the Week Lauds Laugh Shows /^NE showman makes an observation in one of his reports that we have picked out as the Comment of the Week, because we think it is worth studying. It comes from Theron Pollard of the Garfield Theatre at Garfield, Utah, and is: "Again I repeat, people can laugh, even though the world is in such mess. Let's keep them laughing." will both be happy about the engagement Played Sun.. Mon. Weather: Good.—E. M Freiburger, Dewey Theatre, Dewey, Okla ' Small town patronage. * • PARAMOUNT Furies, The (Para) — Barbara Stanwyck Wendell Corey, Walter Huston. This migh' be a super in some house, but here it is to( much drama and not enough action—especially for a Fri. -Sat. date. I paired it with i pretty good jungle travelog, "Jungl< Stampede" (Rep). In fact. I believe the patrons enjoyed the travelog more than thej did the Stanwyck terror. I wasn't proud o; the business either flicker did for the tw( days. Played Fri.. Sat. Weather: Fair aw cool.—Jim Dunbar, Roxy Theatre, Wichita Kas. Downtown subsequent run patronage. Lady Eve, The (Para) — Reissue. Barbara Stanwyck, Henry Fonda. Everyone seemed t< enjoy this picture but we did 26 per cen below average business with it. It is a goot comedy and would go well on the lower hal of a double bill. I have been having Thursda: night trouble for some time and really don' blame the picture for this decrease.—N. D Patterson, Tate Theatre, Coldwater. Mis; Small town and rural patronage. Manhandled (Para) — Dorothy Lamoui Sterling Hayden, Dan Duryea. We felt thi was good entertainment but the public didn' go for it. Business was very bad. Playe( Wed.. Thurs. Weather: Fair.—Harland Ran kin. Rankins Enterprises, Chatham, Ont Rural patronage. * ' My Friend Irma Goes West (Para)—Johl Lund, Marie Wilson, Diana Lynn. This is an other winner for the fall season. Martin an( Lewis are a small town exhibitor's dream team, and the others in the cast acted thai parts to a T. Let's have more like it.—Arthu Goldstein, Ute Theatre, Strasburg, Col(j Small town and rural patronage. Riding High (Para)—Bing Crosby. Coleei Gray, Charles Bickford. As a horsemai would say. "This is a winner." It is a stor about a race horse, with a good cast, ani is a comedy that is well acted. Played Sun Mon. Weather: Warm.—L. Brazil jr.. Ne\ Theatre, Bearden, Ark. Small town patronagf RKO RADIO Bride for Sale (RKO)—Claudette Colber Robert Young. George Brent. The story wa okay and the people that came all enjoyeit. The print was excellent, the cast was we: chosen, and it ended on a pleasing note, t has quite a bit of comedy. Played Fri.. Sa' Weather: Warm and excellent.—Tlieron Pol lard. Garfield Theatre. Garfield, Utah. Mln ing town patronage.
' feature 1 Crosby, ! ging ' Admiral ' loved Joan of Arc (RKO)—Ingrid Bergman, Jose Ferrer, Francis L. Sullivan. This is an excellent film but was too long, although it played \ here to excellent houses on Fri., Sat. The all Uked it but I personally am glad these shows only come once in a while.— Dave S. Klein, Astra Theatre, Kitwe/Nkana. Northern Rhodesia, Africa. Mine and government employe patronage. • j I ica. ' patrons after seeing it, there was nothing but praise. Played Sat., Sun.—C. B. Bennewitz, Royal Theatre, Royalton, Minn. Rural patronage. UCinderella CRKO)—Disney feature cartoon. While this picture lacks the music of "Snow White," it has that intangible top artistry of Disney, and I liked it whether anybody else would or not. The picture did a tremendous business first run here, and I was doubtful that it would do second run. The weather was cool Sunday, mild Monday, and we ran about 23 per cent under normal for the two days. — Robert B. Tuttle, Sky Drive-In Theatre, Adrian, Mich. Rural and • city patronage. UCinderella (RKO)—Disney feature-length cartoon. Like with other exhibitors, this one brought forth the wiggling kids and squalling babies to my house, too. Luckily there were enough of the adults bringing them that it did average business at the boxoffice. Sunday was great but by Tuesday it was dragbusiness. I coupled this with "The Was a Lady" (UA) , which wasn't a bad comedy, but certainly was not worth the near top price I paid for it. Played Sat. (preview). Sun., Tues. Weather: Clear and cool.—Jim Dunbar, Roxy Theatre, Wichita, Kas. Etowntown subsequent run patronage. • * * Ulchabod and Mr. Toad (RKO)—Disney cartoon with the talents of Bing Basil Rathbone, Eric Blore. Tlie kids it and the adults sat through it. Disney is to be complimented for pioneering in the full-length cartoon feature, but they would : have to be short and the terms lower so that \ they could be double billed. That's the only way I can make any money on them. I did average business with it, doubled with "Texas, Brooklyn and Heaven." (UA). Played Fri., Sat. Weather: Cool.—Carl Neitzel, Juno Theatre, Juneau, Wis. Small town and surrounding area patronage. * * * Our Very Own (RKO)—Ann Blyth, Farley Granger, Joan Evans. All patrons said this was the best picture we had ever run. It is certainly a good family picture and I think it should be shown in every town in Amer- cellent houses on Fri., Sat. Don't miss it! —Dave S. Klein, Astra Theatre, Kitwe/ Nkana, Northern Rhodesia, Africa. Mine and government employe patronage. * Young, William Holden, Robert Mitchum. This is a very sensible picture that carried its story very well. It has a good cast and if you haven't played it and your town will go for a little bit of a real show, try it. Good luck. Played Mon., Wed. Weather: Cool.— Theron Pollard, Garfield Tlieatre, Garfield, Utah. Mining • town patronage. REPUBUC Desperadoes of the West (Rep)—Serial. We just started with this new serial and it looks like it will be a good one. Weather: Warm. L. Brazil jr.. New Theatre, Bearden, Ark. Small town patronage. * * * Scatterbrain, The (Rep) — Reissue. Judy Canova, Alan Mowbray. This was coupled with a Tex Williams short western and pulled a better-than-average crowd in excellent weather. Double bills always pull better, however, any night of the week for us—but then Judy Canova suits them there. Played Tues., Wed. Weather: Clear and warm.- Wants Special Handling For Small Towns TXriLLIAM J. HARRIS of the Crown Theatre at Lincoln, Ark. has his say about pressbooks "We get pressbooks on nearly all our pictures and use them as much as possible. But often, as we cannot play the picture at the same time larger cities do, all material for tie-ins offered by the companies is exhausted by the time our request is in. With quite a limited budget, small towns are eager to take advantage of most of these gratis opportunities, but the big boys have gobbled them up by the time they get down to us little guys. "Most recent example was the supply of Confederate bills to plug 'Two Flags West.' Said supply was gone before we put in our order. How about a pressbook department for the small towns, with plans that really work, or with tie-ins for small towns only? "Most of us are willing to put out the effort for showmanship, but without car agencies and other businesses found in cities, our opportunities are limited. Some tie-in material reserved exclusively for small town theatres would help a lot, and there have been many pictures lately which could have been plugged very effectively this way." this one Wed., Thurs. The kids and some of the miners liked this one but I am afraid our mining community is too sophisticated to really enjoy this. I am sure Randolph Scott could be given better material to work with.— Dave S. Klein, Astra Theatre, Kitwe/Nkana, Says Advertise Shorts; They are Important BABY PUSS (MGM) — Short.—Gold Medal reprint. These Tom & Jerry shorts merit special attention. People are constantly asking for these cartoons, and really get a kick out of them. Here is the way my patrons rate cartoons: MGM, Warners, Fox, Paramount, Columbia, RKO. Even the adults sit through them twice. Advertise your short subjects they are important.—Car! Neitzel, Juno Theatre, Juneau, Wis. Small town and surrounding area patronage. * * * Northern Rhodesia, Africa. Mine and government employe • patronage. Dancing in the Dark (20th-Fox) —William Powell, Betsy Drake, Mark Stevens. Don't be afraid to recommend this one. There is just enough music and comedy and the part is perfect for Powell. It you can get them in, they wUl like it. Played Sat., Sun.—C. E. Bennewitz, Royal Theatre, Royalton, Minn. Rural patronage. * * • It Happens Every Spring (20th-Fox)—Ray Mllland, Jean Peters, Paul Douglas. I made the mistake of letting the Eastern Star use this as a benefit show. They sold tickets in advance of showing and packed the place. The picture is a honey—very different and laughable. It's all about a professor who discovers how to throw a baseball that hops like a Mexican jumping bean. It is a baseball picture with laughs and is excellent. Played Tuesday only. Weather: Good.—Carl Neitzel, Juno Theatre, Juneau, Wis. Small town and surrounding area patronage. * When Willie Comes Marching Home (20th- Fox)—Dan Dailey, Corinne Calvet, Colleen Townsend. This is tops in entertainment and the producer, director and cast should be congratulated for a really fine picture. The details of every scene were carefully planned. Don't pass up this one. The attendance was good. Played Sat., Sun.—C. E. Bennewitz, Royal Theatre, Royalton, Minn. Rural patronage. ' * • Whirlpool (20th-Fox)—Gene Tierney, Jose Ferrer. Richard Conte. I played this one also over the weekend to poor houses. Leave this out—you'll find the patrons do likewise. Dave S. Klein, Astra Theatre, Kitwe/Nkana, Northern Rhodesia, Africa. Mine and government employe * patronage. We did 13 per cent above average busif Arden A. Richards, Craigsville Drive-In Theatre, Craigsville, W. Va. Farmer and coal ness with it. Played Tues., Wed.—N. D. Pat- UNITED ARTISTS ' terson, Tate Theatre, Coldwater, Miss. Small • miner patronage. Crooked Way, The (UA) — John Payne, town and * rural patronage. Sonny Tufts, Ellen Drew. This has a good Twilight in the Sierras (Rep)—Roy Rogers, cast and a little different twist that seemed Raehel and the Stranger (RKO)—Loretta Dale Evans, Estelita Rodriguez. I teamed this to hold all patrons in their seat. Of course Roy Rogers with "The Black Book" (ELC) it was my misfortune to run UA's worst print and improved Sunday business over "Cinderella" the week before, but Monday night as well as many points to the plot. It is a and I lost two minutes just from splices Says Fox Was Wise to turned cold and the total boxoffice was about good action-type flicker, with fine marquee Leave Out Love Interest 25 per cent under average.—Robert B. Tuttle, names to help sell it. Doubled with "Kill the UTWELVE O'CLOCK HIGH (20th- Sky Drive-In Theatre, Adrian, Mich. Rural Umpire" (Col) and played Tues., Wed., Thurs. Fox)—Gregory Peck, Hugh Marlowe, * and city patronage. Weather: Clear and warm.—Jim Dunbar, Gary Merrill. Play this one, by all means. Roxy Theatre, Wichita, Kas. Downtown subsequent run patronage. * * * It is one of the best war films for many 20th CENTURY-FOX years, with top performances by Gregory Peck and Dean Jagger. Fox was Canadian Pacific (20th-Fox) — Randolph extremely If This Be Sin (UA)—Myrna Loy, Richard Scott. wise leaving Jane Wyatt, Victor Jory. I played out the love interest Greene, Peggy Cummins. We played this and in this excellent picture. Played to ex- a two-reel short, but still no draw. This being an Englisli picture might have had something to do with it. I saw it and liked it, and those who did break over and go admitted it (Continued on page 4) BOXOFnCE BookinGuide :: Nov. 11, 1950
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V/etoen. MctuM yndocd^ Bob Hope, Lu
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OF FAME ! Next: M-G-M! M-G-M presen
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j^J0HNAGAI)fc'FI!ANKL0VE)Oy^''SyZAN
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' mil. , Sara I ike . 21-23 I Franc
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i BOXOFFICE FAIR TRADE PRACTICES CO
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k. State Censors Called To National
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e 6t V >-. r-^ «J ^)- iM endorseme
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There's Only One
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. . . . amateur The High ^^^ of Cro
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aagraphs That Are Paramount IN Disc
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dIe 24.000 YOU'VE GOT TO BE TO STAY
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Portrait of an l^xhibitor^s Wife .(
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land, Nancy Davis and John Hodiak.
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iccaj^on -v viib^.^^^K^. \ I >-N, \
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they've played Columbia's sensation
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I Use the NSS LUE RIBBON AWARD KIT
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Monogram and U-I Have Big Backlogs
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i P. .^( CHESTER FRIEDMAN EDITOR ox
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I I American -1 bVANCE PROMOTION RE
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Football Fans Enter Guessing Contes
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; In ' and • Almost f until I see
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I In ^ Senator 'Has Nothing fo Hide
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' Two , (London). I viUe ' BUFFALO
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I I i ALBANY—The federal ban on t
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. . Bill , . Manager . . The . . .
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NEWS AND VIEWS THE PRODUCTION CEMTE
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I '! AFM Places Monogram On Union '
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. . Among DENVER \rive-ins in the t
Page 57 and 58: ; On I I . . Back . . . . ELC ^ SEA
Page 59 and 60: . ' I I lenses, f ' office , an C |
Page 61 and 62: I Minneapolis Bills Headed by 'Lady
Page 63 and 64: . . . Add . . Merle . . Don . . Hol
Page 65 and 66: . . Louis . . . . Ticket Tax Suit E
Page 67 and 68: ' ATLANTA—East , tured I The I dr
Page 69 and 70: I surest , The ; intricacies I I I
Page 71 and 72: . . . John . . W. . . Walter . . Em
Page 73 and 74: ' I . . . Abe . . . MGM q I CONGRAT
Page 75 and 76: Texas Variety Club Re-EIec!s Office
Page 77 and 78: ;. mary Lowgrade Operations Are Thr
Page 79 and 80: • hotel, ' jSays Exhibitors Share
Page 81 and 82: • . . Katharine . . "La . . . . R
Page 83 and 84: HALT TO COMPETITIVE BIDDING IS ASKE
Page 85 and 86: ; BOXOFFICE Small-Towner Must Watch
Page 87 and 88: , Samoa ,s Monogram ; .-,3—Copper
Page 89 and 90: . Word . handling : Marco, . . ;t.
Page 91 and 92: fcondenmed by many exhibitors for p
Page 93 and 94: ' TOwTisend I DETROIT—lATSE 1 The
Page 95 and 96: ; Hippodrome—The . . . The . . Se
Page 97 and 98: f i I (15) • Rufe, Allied Film Cl
Page 99 and 100: Hartford Theatre Marks Fifth Year H
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Page 105 and 106: I 1 O'Rourke . . The . . For . . .
Page 110 and 111: ' j ' ExhihiioT Has His Say (Contin
Page 112 and 113: tt Very Good; + Good; — Fair; —
Page 115 and 116: 1 Western : .'iinan-Ward I CHECK RU
Page 117 and 118: ' J elles-J. I JJ. F PUBLIC (IjC We
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Page 121 and 122: 'ipln/MS on Current Productions; Ex
Page 123 and 124: ; onal 1 New ! Box , 12 : Advertisi
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Boxoffice-11.11.1950

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