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Looking Back

October 1932

Step back in time to see what our movie palaces were presenting in October 1932. Also included is interesting history about other area movie theaters. Film titles are linked to the Internet Movie Database.

"The Publix-Century and Publix-Redford theaters will re-open Friday for the first time in four months," read a small article in the Oct. 5, 1932 Detroit News. "The Century's first screen attraction is to be 'War Correspondent,' starring Jack Holt and Ralph Graves, and at the Redford, Charles Farrell and Janet Gaynor will be seen in 'The First Year'."

At that Oct. 7th re-opening of the Redford, patrons also enjoyed an Our Gang comedy and an S. S. Van Dine mystery. The Redford also had a more prominent newspaper ad in the general theater listings, instead of a small corner of the display ad for all Publix theaters. Extra information included ticket prices (adults 20 cents until 6 p.m. on Saturdays and until 4 p.m. on Sundays).

Ann Arbor Daily News "Stage and Screen" columnist Allison Ind continued her support for the Saturday morning children's shows at the Michigan. "These morning shows not only have pictures of action type without objectionable elements, but also are shown to (children) at the right time of day so as not to interfere with their night sleep," wrote Ind on Oct. 25, 1932.

A report by the Motion Picture Producers of America classified recent movies as family-type; for adults and young people; or for adults-only (The Detroit News, Oct. 25, 1932). These movies included these October offerings at the Redford and Michigan:

• Family - Down to Earth (Redford), The First Year (R), Hold 'Em Jail (Michigan), Horse Feathers (R), Mr. Robinson Crusoe (M), A Successful Calamity (M)
• Adults/Young People - Guilty as Hell (R), The Night of June 13th (M), 70,000 Witnesses (M), Smilin' Through (M), Speak Easily (R)
• Adults - As You Desire Me (R), The Washington Masquerade (R)

"This pert, appealing little blond creature is Bette Davis, who is getting somewhere—and rapidly—in the screen world," read a picture caption in the Oct. 9, 1932 Detroit News. "Her latest assignment, opposite Richard Barthelmess in "The Cabin in the Cotton" [which played at the Michigan theaters in Detroit and Ann Arbor]...is accepted as her best to date."

That Oct. 9 News also mentioned that "The Michigan Film Review reports that 15 [movie] houses last week broke the ban on double billing on Sundays." The article added that "The Allied Theater Owners Association is not using the whip on these violators, but is appealing to them on the basis of fairness and of ceasing the practice for their own good."

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