Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), Saturday 27 December 1952, page 3


Martin And Lewis

Top U.S. Film Poll

HOLLYWOOD, Dec. 26 (A.A.P.).-Box Office fav-ourites at moving picture theatres in the United States this year were comedians Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis.

In their third year in pic-tures, they topped the annual poll of film exhibitors con-ducted by the trade magazine, "Motion Picture Herald." They were second last year.

The ratings combine the votes of independent and chain theatre exhibitors. The poll is based solely on revenue from ticket sales.

John Wayne, who led in 1950 and 1951, slipped to third place behind Gary Cooper, who appears in the top IO for the 13th time, a record shared with Bing

Crosby. j

Crosby was tourth this year He holds the record of five first places, from 1944 to 1948 inclusive. J

After the first four, in order,1

f

are Bob Hope, James Stewart. Doris Day, Gregory Peck. Susan Hayward, and Ran-

dolph Scott. Miss Hayward

is the sole newcomer.

Most notable absentee is Betty Grrble, who was third last year, but 20th this season. Suspensions by her studio were chiefly responsible.

This was the order of popu-larity after the leading ten: Abbott and Costello, Esther Williams, Cary Grant, Betty Hutton, Jane Wyman, Alan Ladd, Clark Gable, Humphrey Bogart, Stewart Granger, Betty Grable, Red Skelton, Jen Chandler, Mario Lanza, Burt Lancaster. Main and Kil-

bride.

The first ten in the Western

poll were: Roy Rogers (for the 10th time), Gene Autry. Rex Allen, Bill Elliott, Tim Holt, Gabby Hayes. Smiley BurneJte, Charles Starre«, Dale Evans, and William Boyd (more familiar as Hopalong Cassidy).