Boxoffice-November.24.1951

The
EXHIBITOR HAS HIS SAY
?M.
(Continued from preceding page)
Sat. Weather: Nice.—Carl F. Neitzel, Juno
Theatre, Juneau, Wis. Area patrons. • • *
20th CENTURY-FOX
Day the Earth Stood Still, The (20th-Fox)
—Michael Rennie, Patricia Neal, Hugh Marlowe.
It took this one to give me my first
average Sun., Mon. in eight weeks. The picture
is a pip and should hold its own any
place. Weather: Clear.—Don Donohue, Novato
Theatre, Novato, Calif. Small town,
rural patrons.
* * '
4iFrogmen, The (20th-Fox)—Richard Widmark,
Dana Andrews, Gary Merrill. This is
different and was well received by my customers.
It made a good impression also at
the boxoffice. No romance, but it is very
Instructive and very interesting—a good show.
Played Sun. through Wed. Weather:
Splendid.—M. W. Mattecheck, Mack Theatre,
McMinnville, Ore. City and country patrons.
« « *
OFrogmen, The (20th-Fox)—Richard Widmark,
Dana Andrews, Gary Merrill. Once
again Fox comes through with something different.
This is a fine, entertaining war drama
concerning the job done by the underwater
commandos in the last war. I regret to say
that business was only 90 per cent, so maybe
they're getting tired of war films. All comments
were good and I'm not sorry to have
played it. Played Sunday. Weather: Cool.
Carl P. Neitzel, Juno Theatre, Juneau, Wis.
Area patrons. * * *
Gunfighter, The (20th-Pox)—Gregory Peck,
Helen Westcott, Millard Mitchell. This is
very good, with Greg Peck in a new, tough
role that he does to perfection. Business was
way up.—Frank E. Sabin, Majestic Theatre,
Eureka, Mont. Small town, rural patrons. • • •
Guy Who Came Back, The (20th-Fox) —
Paul Douglas, Joan Bennett, Linda Darnell.
A good football picture that pleased all who
came, but I think the meaningless title kept
them away, as business was poor. Played
Tues., Wed. Weather: Good.—E. M. Freiburger,
Dewey Theatre, Dewey, Okla. Small
town patrons. * * •
Man Who Cheated Himself, The (20th-Fox)
—Lee J. Cobb, Jane Wyatt, John Dall. We
played this one on a weekend double bill and
didn't do much business with it and a repeat
on Roy Rogers. It is a good cops-and-robbers,
with a bit of mystery in the murder,
and okay for action fans. Played Fri., Sat.
Weather: Cold. — Mayme P. Musselman,
Roach Theatre, Lincoln, Kas. Small town patrons.
• • •
Mother Didn't Tell Me (20th-Fox)—Dorothy
McGuire, William Lundigan, June Havoc.
The name puzzled many people and so we had
a fair crowd. Played Sat., Sun. Weather:
Cool.—Earl Fleharty, Rimrock Theatre, Winnett,
Mont.
*
Country patrons.
Rawhide (20th-Fox)—Tyrone Power, Susan
Hayward, Hugh Marlowe. Personally, I went
for "Rawhide," as it is rough, tough, different
and interesting entertainment. It has a good
cast—that Hayward gal sure can act. Business
was normal and it satisfied my action
fans. Played Fri., Sat. Weather: Cold.—Ken
Patrons Enjoyed Race
In the Oldtime Cars
gXCUSE MY DUST (MGM)—Red Skelton,
Sally Forrest, Macdonald Carey.
We did above average but had to on account
of the film rental on this one. Our
patrons got a big kick out of the old
cars and the race. It was played on our
best time (Tucs. through Thurs.) and
worth It here. Weather: Fair.—Mayme
P. Musselman, Roach Theatre, Lincoln,
Kas. Small town patrons. * * *
Christiansen, Roxy Theatre, Washburn, N. D.
Small town patrons. • • •
Take Care of My Little Girl (20th-Fox)—
Jeanne Crain, Dale Robertson, Mitzi Gaynor.
This is a good picture in color, dealing with
the girls who attend college and join sororities.
However, no one here seemed interested
in it and business was poor. I took a loss.
Played Sun., Mon. Weather: Good.—E. M.
Freiburger, Dewey Theatre, Dewey, Okla.
Small town patrons. * • •
You're in the Navy Now (20th-Fox)—Gary
Cooper, Jane Greer, Millard Mitchell. Please
advertise it as a comedy and not as a war
picture, for better results. It was termed
"cute" and "good" here. Business was near
normal and it was sold right, so it satisfied
us and a new male attendance. Played Sun.,
Mon. Weather: Cold. — Ken Christiansen,
Roxy Theatre, Washburn, N. D. Small town
patrons.
• * •
UNITED ARTISTS "
Queen for a Day (UA)—Phyllis Avery, Darren
McGavin, Ruby Lee.
A good, entertaining
picture which pleased all who came, but it
failed to do any extra business. This was
Seldom-Come Patrons
Enjoyed 'Molly'
lyjOLLY
(Para)—Gertrude Berg, Philip
Leob, Eli Mintz. This is not as bad
as we were led to believe. It was enjoyed
here by an above average midweek adult
trade—the seldom -come patrons made
up the biggest part of a happy crowd.
It is okay for a midweek date. Played
Wed., Thurs. Weather: Warm. — Ken
Christianson, Roxy Theatre, Washburn,
N. D. Small town patrons. * * *
probably due to the fact that It had no star
power whatsoever. Played Tues., Wed., Thurs.
Weather: Good.—E. M. Freiburger, Dewey
Theatre, Dewey, Okla. Small town patrons.
* • •
Queen for a Day (UA)—Phyllis Avery, Darren
McGavin, Ruby Lee. Comments were
very good. Everyone seemed to like it. The
free dance in town spoiled our take as the
weather was warm and the farmers stayed
late in the fields and came to the dance
only. Book it, by all means. It will satisfy.
Played Wed., Thurs. Weather: Fair and
warm. — G. P. Jonckowski, Lyric Theatre,
Wabasso, Minn. Rural, small town patrons. •
UNIVERSAL-INTERNATIONAL
Apache Drums (U-I)—Stephen McNally,
Coleen Gray, Willard Parker. This is not a
satisfactory western. It takes more than
Indians to make a feature. It also takes a
story. My customers are tired of Indian
westerns. We have had just too many of
them. Played Wed., Thurs. Weather: Splendid.—M.
W. Mattecheck. Mack Theatre, Mc-
Minnville, Ore. City and country patrons.
* • •
Comin' Round the Mountain (U-I)—Bud
Abbott, Lou Costello, Dorothy Shay. Their
poorest to date. I had to move A&C from
Sun., Mon. to Fri., Sat., using a giveaway to
help them out, but this was worse than last
week with "Mark of the Renegade."
This is
my last A&C for many a moon, but my U-I
salesman isn't going to like it. Weather:
Clear.—Don Donohue, Novato Theatre, Novato,
Calif. Small town, rural patrons. • • •
Francis Goes to the Races (U-I)—Donald
O'Connor, Piper Laurie, Cecil Kellaway. This
one did 33 per cent below the first one of
the series, as it played on one side of us for
three days and then four days on the other
Bell-Ringer for Him:
Liked by 'Fortyish'
J^R. B£LVEDERE RINGS THE BELL
(20th-Fox) — CUfton Webb, Joanne
Dm, Hugh Marlowe. A bell-ringer, one
of Belvedere's best. It is a fine comedy
and was especially well received by middle-aged
people. Not one unsatisfactory
comment. We can stand a lot like this.
Played Sun. through Tues. Weather:
Fine.—M. W. Mattecheck, Mack Theatre,
McMinnville, Ore. City and country
patrons.
• • •
side, and then we got it at top rental pluj
percentage. Business was normal on Sundaj'
weak Monday, and not enough on Tuesday ti
pay the usherettes. Weather: Cold. — Kei
Christianson, Roxy Theatre, Washburn, N. L
Small town patrons.
» •
Gal Who Took the West (U-D—Yvonil'
DeCarlo, Charles Coburn, Scott Brady. Ni
good for me—this type of picture, even witl
star power, is n. g. and has no drawing power
The rental was too high and I lost money oi
the engagement. It is not a western and no
a musical comedy, but an attempt to combini
them. In my opinion, the result wasn*!
worth showing. Played Mon., Tues. Weather
Good.—Carl F. Neitzel, Juno Theatre, Juneau
Wis. Area patrons. • •
Mark of the Renegade (U-D—Ri
Montalban, Cyd Charisse. J. Carrol Naish
We just can't seem to do business with thif'
type of picture and it is very good. Played ot
our weekend double bill to just about average
business—which isn't too much, nowadays
Played Fri., Sat. Weather: Fair.—Mayme P
Musselman, Roach Theatre, Lincoln, ICas.
Small town patrons.
* • •
Prince Who Was a Thief, The (U-D—Anthony
Curtis, Piper Laurie, Everett Sloane.'
The handful of people that came said they
liked it. The cast, story and color were good
but costume pictures just will not draw here.
I had the lowest gross since we were snowbound
last March. Even the rain didnt help
to bring them in. Played Sun., Mon., Tues;
Weather: Rainy.—G. P. Jonckowski, I-jite
Theatre, Wabasso, Minn. Rural, small towiV
patrons.
•
Wyoming Mail (U-D—Stephen McNally,
Alexis Smith, Howard DaSilva. Another g(
superwestern from Universal, and although It
did not gross as much as "Winchester 73." It
pleased the customers and I did not have to
hide in my office until everyone went home.^
Too many other attractions that Sunday cut'
the attendance. Don't fail to play it. Playedi
Sunday afternoon and night. Weather: Falri
and warm.—E. C. Holt, Freeburn Theatre,
Freeburn, Ky. Small mining town patrons. • • •
WARNER BROS.
Breaking Point, The (WB)—John Garfield,
Patricia Neal, Phyllis Thaxter. A mighty fine
drama with a Hemingway punch. This has'
plenty of action, suspense and human appeal,
with a large cast. Personally, I could see It
again, but my boxoffice couldn't see it at alL'
I just made expenses but I worked for nothing.
I recommend it for a weekend with a western.
It will please them, except for the poor ending.
Played Wed., Thurs. Weather: Cool.—
Carl F. Neitzel, Juno Theatre, Juneau, Wis.
Area patrons.
• • •
On Moonlight Bay (WB)—Doris Day, Gordon
MacRae, Billy Gray. This feature is as
good as they come. It takes me back to the
days of my childhood, and that is a long time
ago, but I did the lowest business in montlis.
The picture still is good. Played Wed., Thurs.
Weather: Cold.—William Graham, Majestic
Theatre, Detroit, Mich. Neighborhood patrons.
•
BOXOFFICE BookinGuide Nov. 24, 1901i