Harrison's Reports
Encyclopedia
Harrison’s Reports was a New York City
-based motion picture trade journal published weekly from 1919 to 1962. The typical issue was four letter-size pages sent to subscribers under a second-class mail permit. Its founder, editor and publisher was P. S. Harrison
(1880-1966), who previously had been a reviewer for Motion Picture News
, in which his column was titled Harrison’s Exhibitor Reviews.
The first issue, dated 5 July 1919, stated that film advertising would not be accepted. A year’s subscription cost $10. For more than a year, the type was set by a typewriter. The issue of 4 December 1920 and all subsequent issues were professionally typeset. The masthead of 1 January 1921 proclaimed itself
In later years, that slogan was changed to
Since most movie theaters in the United States prior to the 1940s were owned and operated by movie studios as outlets for the exhibition of those studios’ movies, independently-owned theaters were the principal subscription base of Harrison’s Reports and the publication’s editorials consequently addressed the interests of independent theaters.
During its 44 calendar years of operation, more than 2,200 issues of Harrison’s Reports were published. Approximately 17,000 feature films were reviewed; shorts were not reviewed, although their titles were listed in the indexes published several times a year.
(1919) to its last year of publication, Harrison’s Reports unyieldingly opposed product placement
in movies. Other films criticized for brand name products appearing on screen include
The issue of 18 July 1959 showed Harrison’s name on the masthead as “Founder” (the previous week he had been “Editor”), and David Martin was the new Editor. The issue of 25 July 1959 mentioned Harrison’s retirement.
David Martin’s name disappeared from the masthead with the issue of 6 February 1960. Wynn Loewenthal was the new Editor.
The masthead of 8 July 1961 showed a $2 increase in the price of a yearly subscription to $17.
The first article of 5 August 1961 was titled Editorial Transition, stating there would be a new editor; nobody’s name appeared on the masthead of that issue. On 12 August 1961, Martin Starr became Editor.
On 30 June 1962 there was a brief mention that P.S. Harrison was publishing film reviews independently of Harrison’s Reports.
The last issue was a two-page sheet dated 1 September 1962. It was headlined MAYBE, IT'S NOT YET "30". It lamented the financial woes of exhibitors in general. It also expressed hope that funding could be found to continue Harrison’s Reports.
(1919-1962)
Two other significant English-language periodicals with 10,000 or more film reviews have appeared reprinted in book form:
For Variety and The New York Times, film reviews continued after the dates of the last reprints.
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
-based motion picture trade journal published weekly from 1919 to 1962. The typical issue was four letter-size pages sent to subscribers under a second-class mail permit. Its founder, editor and publisher was P. S. Harrison
P. S. Harrison
P.S. Harrison , known popularly as Pete Harrison, founded the motion picture trade journal, Harrison's Reports, which was published weekly from 5 July 1919 until 11 August 1962. Until 1959, he was the publisher and chief reviewer.-Journal founder:In 1919, he founded Harrison's Reports...
(1880-1966), who previously had been a reviewer for Motion Picture News
Motion Picture News
The Motion Picture News was an American film industry trade paper published from 1913 to 1930.The publication was created through the 1913 merger of the Moving Picture News founded in 1908 and the The Exhibitors' Times, founded only earlier in 1913.After being acquired by Martin Quigley in 1930,...
, in which his column was titled Harrison’s Exhibitor Reviews.
The first issue, dated 5 July 1919, stated that film advertising would not be accepted. A year’s subscription cost $10. For more than a year, the type was set by a typewriter. The issue of 4 December 1920 and all subsequent issues were professionally typeset. The masthead of 1 January 1921 proclaimed itself
-
- FREE FROM THE INFLUENCE OF ADVERTISING
- FREE FROM THE INFLUENCE OF ADVERTISING
In later years, that slogan was changed to
-
- A REVIEWING SERVICE FREE FROM THE INFLUENCE OF FILM ADVERTISING
Since most movie theaters in the United States prior to the 1940s were owned and operated by movie studios as outlets for the exhibition of those studios’ movies, independently-owned theaters were the principal subscription base of Harrison’s Reports and the publication’s editorials consequently addressed the interests of independent theaters.
During its 44 calendar years of operation, more than 2,200 issues of Harrison’s Reports were published. Approximately 17,000 feature films were reviewed; shorts were not reviewed, although their titles were listed in the indexes published several times a year.
Subscription base
Prior to the 1940s, most movie theaters in the United States were owned and operated by movie studios as outlets for the exhibition of those studios’ movies. Since the management of those theaters had little choice as to what movies they played, they had little or no use for Harrison’s Reports. Independently-owned theaters were consequently the principle subscription base of Harrison’s Reports and the publication’s editorials addressed the interests of independent theaters. In 1937 there were approximately 3,000 subscribers at $15 per year.Opposition to product placement
From its review of The GarageThe Garage (film)
The Garage is a 1920 American short comedy film starring Buster Keaton and Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle. It was directed by Arbuckle himself. The film was also known as Fire Chief. This was the fourteenth film starring the duo...
(1919) to its last year of publication, Harrison’s Reports unyieldingly opposed product placement
Product placement
Product placement, or embedded marketing, is a form of advertisement, where branded goods or services are placed in a context usually devoid of ads, such as movies, music videos, the story line of television shows, or news programs. The product placement is often not disclosed at the time that the...
in movies. Other films criticized for brand name products appearing on screen include
- The Lost WorldThe Lost World (1925 film)The Lost World is a 1925 silent film adaptation of Arthur Conan Doyle's 1912 novel of the same name. The movie was produced by First National Pictures, a large Hollywood studio at the time, and stars Wallace Beery as Professor Challenger. This version was directed by Harry O...
(1925) - Palmy DaysPalmy DaysPalmy Days is a 1931 musical comedy written by Eddie Cantor, Morrie Ryskind, and David Freedman, directed by A. Edward Sutherland, and choreographed by Busby Berkeley...
(1931) - ImpactImpact (1949 film)Impact is a 1949 film noir starring Brian Donlevy and Ella Raines. It was filmed entirely in California and included scenes at San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf. The film was based on a story by film noir writer Jay Dratler.-Plot:...
(1949) - Love HappyLove HappyLove Happy was the 14th and last starring feature for the Marx Brothers. The film stars Harpo Marx, Chico Marx, and, in a smaller role than usual, Groucho Marx, plus Ilona Massey, Vera-Ellen, Paul Valentine, Marion Hutton, Raymond Burr, Bruce Gordon , and Eric Blore, with a walk-on by Marilyn Monroe...
(1949)
Management changes
The 10 March 1956 issue printed the first appearance of a name other than P.S. Harrison on the masthead, Al Picoult, Managing Editor.The issue of 18 July 1959 showed Harrison’s name on the masthead as “Founder” (the previous week he had been “Editor”), and David Martin was the new Editor. The issue of 25 July 1959 mentioned Harrison’s retirement.
David Martin’s name disappeared from the masthead with the issue of 6 February 1960. Wynn Loewenthal was the new Editor.
The masthead of 8 July 1961 showed a $2 increase in the price of a yearly subscription to $17.
The first article of 5 August 1961 was titled Editorial Transition, stating there would be a new editor; nobody’s name appeared on the masthead of that issue. On 12 August 1961, Martin Starr became Editor.
On 30 June 1962 there was a brief mention that P.S. Harrison was publishing film reviews independently of Harrison’s Reports.
Final issues
The issue of 11 August 1962 was the last to carry editorials and reviews.The last issue was a two-page sheet dated 1 September 1962. It was headlined MAYBE, IT'S NOT YET "30". It lamented the financial woes of exhibitors in general. It also expressed hope that funding could be found to continue Harrison’s Reports.
Reprints
The entire run of Harrison's Reports has been reprinted in a 15-volume set of library-bound hardcover books, including an index of titles. The series is titled Harrison's Reports and Film ReviewsHarrison's Reports and Film Reviews
Harrison's Reports and Film Reviews is the 15-volume reprint of the complete run of the weekly magazine Harrison's Reports from its founding in 1919 to its demise in 1962. Volumes 1 through 14 are facsimile reprints of the more than 2,000 weekly issues. The reprints were edited by D...
(1919-1962)
Two other significant English-language periodicals with 10,000 or more film reviews have appeared reprinted in book form:
- VarietyVariety (magazine)Variety is an American weekly entertainment-trade magazine founded in New York City, New York, in 1905 by Sime Silverman. With the rise of the importance of the motion-picture industry, Daily Variety, a daily edition based in Los Angeles, California, was founded by Silverman in 1933. In 1998, the...
, as Variety Film ReviewsVariety Film ReviewsVariety Film Reviews is the 24-volume hardcover reprint of feature film reviews by the weekly entertainment tabloid-size magazine Variety from 1907 to 1996...
(1907-1996) in 24 volumes. - The New York TimesThe New York TimesThe New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
, as The New York Times Film Reviews (1913-2000) in 22 volumes.
For Variety and The New York Times, film reviews continued after the dates of the last reprints.