DECEMBER

'
The EXHIBITOR HAS HIS SAY
(Continued from preceding page)
House Theatre, Coaticook, Que. Small-town
and rural patronage.
With a Song in My Heart (20th-Fox)—
Susan Hayward, David Wayne, Rory Calhoim.
If you haven't played this picture,
then you are missing a fine show. Played
it late here to a gratifying business. It will
please all ages.—C. J. Otts, Wakea Theatre,
Waskom, Tex. Small-town patronage.
With a Song in My Heart (20th-Fox)—
Susan Hayward, Rory Calhoun, David V/ayne.
I will not condemn a fine picture on boxoffice
appeal only. Here is a fine piece of
merchandise. This did not draw too well
but there is such a thing as being a little
proud of what your screen shows and I was
proud to run this one. Played Sun., Mon.
Weather: Fair and warm.—Joe and Mildred
Faith, Linn Theatre, Linn, Mo. Small-town
and rural patronage.
UNITED ARTISTS
High Noon (UA)—Gary Cooper, Thomas
Mitchell, Lloyd Bridges. Through no fault of
the feature we did not do too well with this.
It is is a different western and good for any
situation. Stanley Kramer knows his business.
Played Wed., Thurs. Weather: Cold
and clear.—Al Hatoff, Park Theatre. Brooklyn,
N. Y. Neighborhood patronage.
Island of Desire (UA)—Linda Darnell, Tab
Hunter, Donald Gray. Not much can be said
for this one, but it did average business.
D. B. Piske, Fiske Theatre at Oak Grove, Lake
and Lake Drive-In theatres at Lake Providence,
La. Small-town and rural patronage.
Try and Get Me (UA) — Frank Lovejoy,
Kathleen Ryan, Richard Carlson. Drop this
one a couple of times before playing. We have
been playing a lot of murders lately. For us
It was just another picture show. Comments
were fair. Played Thurs., Fri., Sat. Weather:
Mild.—Harold Bell, Opera House Theatre,
Coaticook, Que. Small-town and rural patronage.
UNIVERSAL-INTERNATIONAL
Bronco Buster (U-I)—John Lund, Scott
Brady, Joyce Holden. Right down the alley
for our action fans. Picture good—business
good. Played Fri., Sat. Weather: Fair and
Warm.—Dan Guest, Tower Theatre, Wichita
Palls, Tex. Suburban and city patronage.
Francis Goes to West Point (U-I)—Donald
O'Connor, Lori Nelson, Alice KeUey. The
magic has gone from the name "Francis" and
it's just another show that didn't do average
business. Business was below such pictures as
"Aaron Slick From Punkin Crick" (Para), "A
Girl in Every Port" (RKO) and "About Face"
(WB). Whatever you do, don't buy this one
at a top film rental as I did. Your customers
won't get too excited about it. Played Sun.,
Mon. Weather: Pleasant.—Dwight Hanson,
Valley Theatre, Eddyville, Iowa. Small-town
and rural patronage.
Ma and Pa Kettle Back on the Farm (U-I)
—Marjory Main, Percy Kilbride, Richard
Long. We ran this picture very late and it
did below average business.—D. B. Fiske, Fiske
Theatre at Oak Grove, Lake and Lake Drivein
theatres, Lake Providence, La. Small-town
and rural patronage.
Sally and Saint Anne (U-D—Ann Blyth,
Edmund Gwenn. John Mclntire. Some of the
titles that they give these motion pictures
are very confusing and that's what happened
to our crowd on this picture. Ann Blyth
should be given some kind of an award for
her acting in this film. It was excellent.
Everyone who came to see the picture told
us so, but they were very few. I feel producers
should make nothing but "A" product.
But at present we do very little even with an
"A" film. Played Sun., Mon. Weather: Warm.
—Jerry B. Walden, Crest Theatre, Seagoville,
Tex. Small-town and rural patronage.
Week End With Father (U-D—Van HefUn,
Patricia Neal, Gigi Perreau. This is an entertaining
little picture that drew a fair crowd
and pleased everyone who saw it. I would say
it is an ideal small-town feature. Played
Thurs., Fri., Sat. Weather: Fair and warm.—
Norman Barker, Lorimor Theatre, Lorimor,
Iowa. Small-town and rural patronage.
Willie and Joe in Back at the Front (U-I)
Tom Ewell, Harvey Lembeck, Mari Blanchard.
Star Joan Crawford Shines
Bright for Showman
OUDDEN FEAR (RKO)—Joan Crawford,
Jack Palance, Gloria Grahame. "Feair"
is one of the best of the year so far as suspense
goes. Don't fail to play it. Joan
Crawford is a motion picture symbol to
me. It seems that every time we need a
lift—there she is. Doubled this with "The
First Time" (Col) to good business. Played
Fri. to Mon. Weather: Clear and warm.
—Al Hatoff, Park Theatre, Brooklyn, N. Y.
Neighborhood patronage.
There was an almost constant ripple of
laughter during this film. Ex-army boys all
seemed to know someone just like Willie or
Joe. This did business and left them laughing.
We even enjoyed it! Played Sun., Mon., Tues.
Weather: Cool.—R. J. Taylor, El Lago Theatre,
Rice Lake, Wis. City and rural patronage.
World in His Anns, The (U-I)—Gregory
Peck, Ann Blyth, Anthony Quinn. Very, very
good picture. Plenty of sea-story action and
adventure. The schooner race is worth the
price of the picture. Business was average. I
wonder here again if the title was the right
one. I believe if the title played up the sea
and the sailing schooner angle Universal
would have a good money-maker. Played
Tues., Wed., Thurs. Weather: Cool.—Bill
Myers, Rena Theatre, Kellogg, Idaho. Minetown
patronage.
Wyoming Mail (U-I)—Stephen McNally,
Alexis Smith, Howard DaSylva. If your customers
like superwesterns you will not go
wrong in booldng tius one. It was thoroughly
enjoyed by my folks. Played Wed., Thurs.
Weather: Fair.—R. D. Gibbons, Mars Theatre,
Falkville, Ala. Rural patronage.
You Never Can Tell (U-I)—Dick Powell,
Peggy Dow, Charles Drake. The trailer arrived
four days late so I took to the stage
and gave the patrons a rundown on the story
every night, I must have been good for we did
outstanding business. Doubled this with
"Smugglers Island" (U-I) which is a mighty
colorful adventure tale that will prove popular
with most audiences. Played Sun., Mon , Tues.
Weather: Mild.—Bob Walker, Uintah Tlieatre,
Pruita. Colo. Small-town and rural patronage.
WARNER BROS.
Dodge City (WB)—Reissue. Errol Flynn,
Olivia DeHavilland, Ann Sheridan. This is
a darn good reissue. The photography and
.sound are excellent. It was nice to see so
many of the oldtimers.—Frank E. Sabin,
Majestic Theatre, Eureka, Mont. Small-town
and rural patronage.
Flame and the Arrow, The (WB) —Burt
Lancaster. Virginia Mayo, Robert Douglas.
This is a very good picture. It is well worUf
your playing time.—Harland Rankin, Beai
Theatre, Belle River, Ontario. SmaU-towi;
and rural patronage.
I'll See You in My Dreams (WB)—^Dann
Thomas, Doris Day, Frank Lovejoy. Musical
are always below average at the boxofficj
We run them for ourselves and a select grou
only. Mr. A. said "The only show that
didn't get tired of running." Played Sun., Moi
Weather: Warm.—Mr. and Mrs. K. R. Altl-
Bunceton Theatre, Bunceton, Mo. Small
town and rural patronage.
Jack and the Beanstalk (WB)—Bud Abbot
Lou Costello, Dorothy Ford. It is a kids pic
ture but on this one you get more adults tha:
on a Disney. It did average business and tha
is more than I expected after the panning i
took from those "in the know." Which jut
goes to prove that you loiow more about you
business than anyone else. (This may dis
appoint some film salesmen.) It is as good a
any Abbott and Costello; so, if your tow:
goes for them, they will like this one. Playe
Thurs., Fri., Sat. Weather: Pleasant.—Dwigb
Hanson, Valley Theatre, Eddyville, lowf
Small-town and rural patronage.
Room for One More (WB)—Gary Gran'
Betsy Drake, Lurene Tuttle. This is a screai
and a honey of a family pictm-e. The corned
is light and gay and certainly delighted everj i
one. Played Wed., Thurs. Weather: CooL-j
G. J. Forhan jr., Montcalm Theatre, Hulj
Que. Neigliborliood patronage.
San Francisco Story (WB)—Joel McCret
Yvonne DeCarlo, Sidney Blackmer. A stor
of the early San Francisco days which playe
to an average crowd. Should do all right i
action houses. This should have been playe
on the weekend. Played Tues., Wed. Weathei
Cool and rain.—Harold Bell, Opera Hous
Theatre, Coaticook, Quebec. Small-town an
rural patronage.
She's Working Her Way Through CoUeg
(WB)—Virginia Mayo, Ronald Reagan, Gen
Nelson. From all angles Vii'ginia Mayo look
good to my small-town trade, with even tb
farmers putting in a plug for her. Boy
if you ai-e looking for fine entertainment, th:
is it. But I wouldn't advise you to invite Oa
local ministers out to this one as they miglget
the wrong idea. Played Sun.. Mm
Weather: Fine autumn.—I. Roche, Vemo
Theatre, Vernon, Fla. Small-town and run
patronage.
Starlift I WB)—Doris Day, Ruth Romaii
Dick Wesson. A very entertaining musical
comedy that should do good business in arl i
theatre. Dick Wesson, in my opinion, sto!!
the show. He does an excellent impersom
tion of James Cagney. The trailer, which ea]
phasizes the all-star cast, will bring the cuj; 1
tomers in. Warners should have Roy Dj
Ruth direct more of their pictures.—Harol
Robinson, Brox Theatre, Broxton. Ga. Smal
town and rural patronage.
Streetcar Named Desire, A (WB)—Vivie
Leigh, Marlon Brando, Kim Hunter. Bigge'
night here in a long time was, chalked up Ij
this cla.ssic. Well enjoyed by family trw,
as well