Boxoffice-October.27.1951

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showed
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Mack
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Starrett,
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1 Carter,
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Blondie's
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The EXHIBITOR HAS HIS SAY ABOUT
PiaURES
An open forum in which, for the most part, exhibitors report on subsequent-run
showings of pictures. One (•) denotes a new contributor: two (••) is one who
has been reporting for six months or longer; (•••) a regular who has been
reporting for one year or more. These columns are open to all exhibitors.
COLUMBIA
Sun.. Mon. Weather: Hot.—Marcella Smith,
Vinton Tlieatre,
Beware! Spooks! (Col)—Reissue. Joe
McArthur,
E.
Ohio. Small town
patrons.
• * •
Brown, Mary Carlisle, Clarence Kolb. Joe E.
Brown had 'em rolling in the aisles. The old Show Boat (MGM)—Ava Gardner, Howard
folks laughed harder than the kids. They Keel, Kathryn Grayson. We did very well
don't make 'em like this any more. Let's have considering, and just about paid out the
more of these reissues. This was combined rental percentage charged us. The picture
with "In Old Amarillo" (Rep) for a good was slow in spots but picked up in the last
weekend bill—Pri., Sat.—William W. Anderson,
Evart Theatre, Evart, Mich. Small town, and satisfied all the customers. We had many
two reels for a better than average pace,
*
rural patrons.
nice comments, which is unusual. Played
Tues. through Thurs.
Hero (Col) —
Weather: Fine. —
Penny Singleton,
Mayme P. Musselman, Roach Theatre. Lincoln,
Kas. Small town patrons. • • •
Arthur Lake, Larry Simms. Blondies are
very popular as a series with us. Give us
more, Columbia. Played Thurs., Fri., Sat.
Weather: Fair. — MONOGRAM
Harland Rankin, Rankin
Enterprises, Chatham, Ont. General
Short
patronage.
* • * Downs, Johnny Mack Brown. We played this
Grass (Mono)—Rod Cameron, Cathy
one rather late but it is worth running and is
Santa Fe (Col) — Randolph Scott, Janis a lot better than most of the westerns. The
Jerome Courtland. An entertaining rental was a little high for a double bill but
picture but it did not quite come up to expectations.
However, the customers will be to build up the running time of your program.
too short for a single without a lot of shorts
pretty well satisfied. Played Wed. through Played Fri., Sat. Weather: Rainy.—Mayme
Sat. Weather: Rain. — M. W. Mattecheck, P. Musselman, Roach Theatre, Lincoln, Kas.
Theatre, McMinnville, Ore. City and Small town patrons. * * *
rural patrons. * * *
Sierra Passage (Mono) — Wayne Morris,
Snake River Desperadoes (Col)—Charles Lola Albright, Alan Hale jr. I gave this every
Smiley Burnette, Don Reynolds break in the world—Robinson-Turpin fight
Jug." Apparently Charles Starrett pictures and a $340 jackpot on Saturday. The
will never wear out. His features appear to result was the poorest Friday this place has
be more exciting each time and provide just ever had and a below average Saturday. The
as much laughter as the previous one. This picture is fair, okay only with a strong top
was one of the alltime best in regard to feature. Weather: Clear. — Don Donohue,
action and comedy. Played Fri., Sat. Weather:
Cool.—Ralph Raspa, State Theatre, Rives- rural patrons. » • •
Novate Theatre, Novate, Calif. Small town,
ville, W. Va. Rural patrons. * * *
PARAMOUNT
METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER
Lemon Drop Kid, The (Para)—Bob Hope,
Go for Broke! (MGM)—Van Johnson, Warner
Anderson, Lane Nakano. This is not
Marilyn Maxwell, Lloyd Nolan. This is just a
as good as "Battleground" and the boxoffice
it. I played it Mon., Tues. However,
it will please most patrons and you won't Upped Price on Reissues
lose money, so show it. Weather: Clear and
dry.—Kenneth Clem, Earle Theatre, Taneytown,
Md. Small town patrons. * * *
And Had Good Crowds
jl^KGENTINE NIGHTS (Realart)—Reissue.
Painted Hills, The Ritz Bros.,
(MGM)—Lassie, Paul
Andrews Sisters.
Kelly, Gary Gray. This
Doubled
is another
with
in the
"Captive Wild Woman." If
Lassie series that fell below average at the
you are in a small town and if you want
boxoffice. I guess they are too much alike. a double feature for any playdate of the
I used Disney's "Beaver Valley" with this week, try this combination. I strayed
for a suitable program and had better comments
on it than on the feature. Played Sun., these two on Sun., Mon. My usual policy
way, way off my beaten path and set
Mon. Weather: Okay.—D. W. Trisko, Ritz
Theatre, Jerome, Ariz. Mining patorns. * * *
is the best in single features on these
days, but after losing money over a period
of time with the topnotchers, I de-
Right Cross (MGM)—June Allyson, Dick
Powell, Ricardo Montalban. This was a real cided it was time to do something. I
clinker and didn't make expenses. My town raised the admission price a nickel (to
doesn't give a hoot for this kind of picture, make them think they were getting something
extra—they did!) and set these two
whether it is any good or not. Played Wed.,
Thurs.—Joseph Nehring, Floodwood Theatre, on Sun., Mon. I got
Ploodwood,
out some extra advertising
that paid off with extra good
Minn. Small town, rural patrons
* *
crowds both nights in spite of the
URoyal Wedding (MGM)—Fred Astaire, squally weather. Try it, fellows, and let
Jane Powell, Peter Lawford. This was a disappomtment
to me. It drew fairly well but money-making ideas, let me have them,
me hear from you. And if you have any
I did not notice any enthusiasm in the audience.
It impressed me as a picture that tried Fla. Small town, rural patrons. * * *
too.—I. Roche, Vernon Theatre, Vernon,
to be funny but fell short of its mark. Played
BOXOFFICE BoolcinGuide : : October 27, 1951
Technicolor in U-I Films
Praised by Exhibitor
LITTLE EGYPT (U-I)—Rhonda Fleming,
Mark Stevens, Nancy Guild. This
is spicy and nice and in beautiful Technicolor.
These Universal cameramen can
ju.st get more out of their TC cameras.
"Apache Drums," recently run, had some
was above average—no walkouts on
of the most unu.sual and beautiful camera
shots I have ever seen. And we can keep
U-I in focus, all the way through. Busines.