Boxoffice-January.07.1950

EXHIBITOR HAS HIS SAY
—
ABOUT
PICTURES
Juat as the Baroiaeter page thowi first run reports on current pictures, thU
department is devoted ]or the most part to reports on subseguent runs, made
by exhibitors themselves. A one-star contributor is new, two stars means the exhibitor
fias been writing in for six months or kmger, and a three-star contributor
Is a regular of one year or more, who receives a token of our appreciation. AU
exfiibitori toeicoTne. Blue Ribbon jricture* art marked thut U.
COLUMBIA
It Happened One Night cCol) — Reissue.
Clark Gable, Claudette Colbert, Walter Connolly.
We lost heavily on this picture, which
proves that reissues have to be hand-picked
as carefully as the new ones if we are to avoid
losses. We do not believe that this is suitable
material for the average small town. Played
Tues., Wed. Weather: Fair.—E. A. London,
State Theatre, Olivet, Mich. Small town,
rural and college patronage. * •
It Happened One Night (Col) — Reissue.
Clark Gable, Claudette Colbert, Walter Connolly.
This is a very good picture but these
reissues have been flopping for me lately. I
guess they saw too many reissues at the driveins
last summer. I failed to get film rental on
this one. Played Tuesday. Weather: Good.
—E. M. Freiburger, Paramount Theatre,
Dewey, Okla. Small town patronage. *•*
Johnny Allegro (Col)—George Raft, Nina
Pooh, George Macready. This is a fairly entertaining
picture which enjoyed average business
but is just another one where we had no
complaints and no compliments, and broke
even on it. Played Sun., Mon. Weather: Good.
—E. M. Freiburger, Paramount Theatre,
Dewey, Okla. Small town patronage. •**
Knock on Any Door (Col)—Humphrey Bogart,
John Derek, Susan Perry. This has a
severe ending, but inevitable. The kid killed
and punishment was due him. He had us
fooled until the very last. Bogart and the lad
were excellent. Played Fri., Sat., Sun.—Frank
E. Sabin, Majestic Theatre, Eureka, Mont.
Small town patronage. • • •
Last Roundup, The (Col) — Gene Autry,
Champion, Jean Heather. Good old Autry,
the boy who started a new cycle for singing
cowboys! He did all right here. Played Fri.,
Sat. Weather: Cold.—Harland Rankin, Plaza
Theatre, Tilbury, Ont. Small town patronage.
• •
Walking Hills, The (Col)—Randolph Scott,
Ella Raines, Edgar Buchanan. This picture
has an unusual story and our patrons praised
it. It has plenty of action and is practically
all filmed outdoors—therefore is suitable for
weekend dates. Business was down but that
was due to our playing the picture one week
ahead of Christmas. Played Thurs., Fri., Sat.
Weather: Fair.—E. A. London, State Tlieatre,
Olivet, Mich. Small town, rural and college
patronage. * •
EAGLE LION
He Walked by Night (EL)—Richard Basehart,
Scott Brady, Roy Roberts. This has
plenty of action and suspense in it. The
scenes and the sound effect of the chase
through the huge drainage sewers of Los
Angeles is certainly most impressive. Advertise
it plenty and play up the angle that crime
does not pay. The fadeout scene at the close
of the picture will more than prove this.
Played Wed., Thurs. Weather: Fair and cold.
—I. Roche, Vernon and Veil Theatres, Vernon
and Cottondale, Fla. Small town and rural
patronage. • • •
METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER
Courage of Lassie, The (MGM)—Ehzabeth
Taylor, Frank Morgan, Lassie. Not in the
class of "Hills of Home" but our patrons, especially
the small fry, really love this Lassie. Our
boxoffice is a sure success every time we play
a Lassie picture. Played Wed., Thurs. Weather:
Cold and clear.—C. E. McMurchy, Memorial
Hall Theatre, Reston, Man. Rural and
small town patronage.
•
Kissing Bandit, The (MGM)—Prank Sinatra,
Kathryn Grayson, J. Carrol Naish. The
show was okay. The color and music were
fine, but it fell down at the boxoffice. Maybe
it was the title, maybe it was Sinatra. Played
Tues., Wed.—Frank E. Sabin, Majestic Theatre,
Eureka, Mont. Small town patronage.
(MGM)—Red Skel-
Merton of the Movies
ton, Virginia O'Brien, Gloria Grahame. More
stuff here for more people than "Edward, My
Son," which I traded. This one was old
enough to bring back the patrons and pleased
most, billed with another oldie, "Ramrod"
(UA). If Metro's old prints hold out I may
be able to trade off their new "no-boxoffice"
flickers for some of the old entertainment
pieces. Played Tues., Wed., Thurs. Weather:
Clear and cool.—Jim Dunbar, Roxy Theatre,
Wichita, Kas. Second and third downtown
run patronage. • •
Some of the Best (MGM)—Product documentary.
This is a credit to the industry and
Metro is sure on the ball with this. Played
Fri., Sat. Weather: Cold.—Harland Rankin,
Plaza Theatre, Tilbury, Ont. General patronage.
••*
WStratton Story, The (MGM) — James
Stewart, June Allyson, Frank Morgan. If
Hollywood could just get smart and learn that
stories Uke this, well directed and acted, are
boxoffice naturals, we would all be okay and
not be running around pulling our hair and
crying: "What's wrong with show business?"
Played Sun., Mon. Weather: Fair and cold.
—Joe and Mildred Faith, Lirm Theatre, Linn,
Mo. Small town and rural patronage. •*
They Met at Midnight (MGM) — Anna
Neagle, Michael Wilding, Reginald Owen. For
shame, Leo, for shame! Here I brag to the
film salesmen from other companies that you
seldom miss. You should have buried this one
in England where it belongs. I had more
walkouts on this picture than on any other
I've played, and it almost made me sorry I
had stated before that I play everything MGM
puts out. Don't do this to us "Uttle fellas"
again, Leo — please! Played Wed., Thurs.
Time to Close Doors
li This Not Liked
ADVENTURES OF GALLANT BESS,
THE (EL) — Cameron MitcheU, Audrey
Long, Fuzzy Knight. Just about one of
the best horse pictures we have had on
our screen, I'd say. All comments were
from good to excellent. The color is fine
and Bess steals the show. Some of the
scenes are so touching they bring tears to
the eyes. If they don't like this type of
show, then it is time to close the doors
permanently! Played Wed., Thurs.
Weather: Fine.—I. Roche, Vernon and
Veil Theatres, Vernon and Cottondale,
Fla. Small town and rural patronage.
Such Pictures Valuable
For Public Goodwill
IT HAPPENS EVERT SPRING (20th-
Fox) — Ray Milland, Jean Peters, Paul
Douglas. This picture is so unusually
clever and so thoroughly entertaining
that it cannot be praised too much. Pictures
of this caliber are valuable in building
public goodwill for our industry. It
rates preferred playing time but since it
may not be a strong grosser, it should sell
at a reasonable flat rental. Flayed Sun.,
Mon. Weather: Fair.—E. A. London, State
Theatre, Olivet, Mich. Small town, rural
and college patronage. • *
Weather: Fair and cold.—^Fred G. Weppler,
Colonial Theatre, Colfax, lU. Small town and
rural patronage.
*•
Wizard of Oz, The (MGM)—Reissue. Judy
Garland, Ray Bolger, Bert Lahr. Play this
and pack them in like I did. Since I played
it 10 years ago, there is a new crop of kids and
they all came. We had the best business in
months but some of the small fry were scared
by the wicked witch. Don't be afraid to play
this on your best time, as the adults came too.
Profit? Sure. Played Fri., Sat. Weather:
Good.—E. M. Freiburger, Paramount Theatre,
Dewey, Okla. Small town patronage. ***
Wizard of Oz, The (MGM)—Judy Garland,
Ray Bolger, Bert Lahr. We booked this Fri.,
Sat. for a special show for underprivileged
children. Business was only fair subsequently
but it is a wonderful production and well
worth bringing back. It's perfect for kids, and
as the trailer says, "young in heart" aciults.
Some of the gruesome witch scenes actually
scared a few kids out of then- seats into our
lobby. Played Fri., Sat. Weather: Fair.—William
J. Harris, Crown Theatre, Lincoln, Ark.
Rural and small town patronage.
•*
MONOGRAM
«Babe Ruth Story, The (Mono)—William
Bendix, Claire Ti-evor, Charles Bickford. This
seemed not to have the pull a picture needs.
I guess we played it a little too late here.
Played Wed., Thm-s. Weather: Cold.—Harland
Rankin, Plaza Theatre, Tilbury, Ont.
Small town patronage. • » *
Joe Falooka in Winner Take'AU (Mono)—
Joe Kirkwood, Elyse Knox, William Frawley.
No winner here to take anything. Doubled
with "Smart Woman" to a sad 65 per cent.
Why business was off is a question, probably
due to the usual Christmas shopping season
beginning, and to the fact that these are two
far-from-top flickers. Generally the Palooka
series pictures are okay for situations that
like fight films, but "Smart Woman" was a
flop as far as entertainment went. Played
Wed., Thurs. Weather: Clear and warm.^
Jim Dunbar, Roxy Theatre, Wichita, Kas.
Second and third downtown rim patronage.
• *
Shadows of the West (Mono)—Whip Wilson,
Andy Clyde, Riley Hill. Give this boy
Whip Wilson a little more time and he will be
as much in demand as Johnny Mack Brown
and some of the rest of the big timers. We like
the two Whip Wilsons we have used very
much. The comedy angle was much better In
this one and I think up to par. I will recommend
that you give this new star a try.
Played Fri, Sat. Weather: Damp and cold.
—L. E. Wolcott, Quinlan Theatre, Quinlan,
Tex. Rural and small town patronage. *•
PARAMOUNT
CSBIue Skies (Para)—Bing Crosby, Fred
Astaire. This old one still has the power to
bring in the patrons. The color was fine and
BOXOFFICE BookinGuide : : January 7, 1950