The rankings come from Quigley Publishing Co.'s annual list (since 1932) of top money making stars, which based on a poll of hundreds of theater executives. The list does not rank stars only on how much cash their films made, but on what theater owners say about who attracts audiences on their star power alone.
1.
Shirley Temple
(1936 films: Stowaway, Dimples, Poor Little Rich Girl, Captain January)
2.
Clark Gable
(San Francisco, Wife Vs. Secretary, Cain and Mabel, Love on the Run)
3.
Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers
(1936 films: Follow the Fleet, Swing Time)
4.
Robert Taylor
(1936 films: Small Town Girl, Private Number, His Brother's Wife, The Gorgeous Hussey, Camille)
5.
Joe E. Brown
(1936 films: Polo Joe, Sons O Guns, Earthworm Tractors)
6.
Dick Powell
(Colleen, Hearts Divided, Stage Struck, Gold Diggers of 1937)
7.
Joan Crawford
(1936 films: The Gorgeous Hussy, Love on the Run)
8.
Claudette Colbert
(1936 films: Under Two Flags)
9.
Jeanette MacDonald
(1936 films: Rose Marie, San Francisco)
10.
Cary Cooper
(The Plainsman, Desire, The General Died at Dawn, Mr. Deeds Goes to Town)
Wow, it's really surprising to see Joe E. Brown on this list!
ReplyDeleteI know, but he doesn't make the top 10 in 1937.
ReplyDeleteI was surprised to see Joe E. Brown on the list, too. For being such a big draw that year, I'm surprised he didn't make the top 10 in '37
ReplyDeleteI have never heard of, Jeanette MacDonald. I will have to look her up.
ReplyDelete@ Amanda, I know. I'm thinking he was on the decline in popularity at that point. The only movie I saw with him in the lead is "Alibi Ike" (I think from '35) and it's hilarious!
ReplyDelete@ Dawn, there is a neat blog devoted to her that you have to check out: http://jeanettemacdonald.blogspot.com/
Thank you for sharing these! They're very interesting!
ReplyDelete