Exhibitors Herald (1927)

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46 EXHIBITORS HERALD March 19, 1927 Milwaukee, Alhambra, Presentations The prologue conceived by Fred S. Meyer, managing director of the Alhambra theatre, Milwaukee, as a fitting accompaniment for “The Night of Love” (United Artists), was appropriately atmospheric. The presentation was marked by a Gypsy influence throughout, preserving the general feeling of the picture. The stage became a Gypsy camp in a sylvan glen. Artists were attired in vagabond costumes and each embarked upon his contribution to the entertainment in informal and therefore convincing style. Real greenery, pine trees, firs, and so on, imported from Northern Wisconsin, gave an actual forest touch. Miss Velma Lyon, lyric soprano, sang; Sol Shapiro of the house orchestra exchanged baton for bow, and Lischeron and Hathaway, acrobatic dancers, offered several numbers. The affair moved so harmoniously that many patrons were under the impression it toured as a unit. thing, but keep them clean. I want to tell this brother that one of the best allaround family pictures I ever saw was Bill Rogers in “Just Call Me Jim,” and all his other pictures were entertaining and clean. I don’t remember ever seeing Rogers kiss any girl, and a kiss like some you see has more meaning than words can tell. I have only working people — coal miners— for patrons and Rogers was a good bet with me and I did not have to crawl in the cellar or some other place and hide my face in shame as some brothers report. Now this brother at Cresco, la., and his radio. He don’t think it hurts the picture show. Well, he is mistaken if he includes my town. From his report this must be a new station just opened up, as there were 1019 telephone calls congratulating him, and that is a lot of calls for a town of 3,195 souls. I would like to get a report— 6 months from now. Also, the poor percentage reports in some pictures. Brother exhibitor, that per cent does not interest me one bit. All I want to know is what class of a picture it is and the percentage does not tell me anything about the picture. And a brother exhibitor of Scotia, Neb., wants to start a beauty contest. I don’t see how any one can pick out just one. If it would be a dozen, then I would nominate one, but there are too many to choose from. And about the “photo mooching” craze. I don’t believe in asking any one for their photo, but if I ever do change my mind I will start my list with Jenkins of Nebraska and Rand of Idaho. In closing I want to state I have never had any troubles with exchanges, as what I call trouble is brother Jones’ of Lytton, la., experience. Brother Jones, I sure feel sorry for you and believe you ought to have a motto something like “Look before you leap.” In closing I want to call all brothers’ attention to the new Bill Rogers one reel novelty (I call them). You all must admit he is truthful in his advertising. He says — “not good and not bad just 900 feet of film.” I would like to hear from other exhibitors in the Herald, for it sure is a big money’s worth and Jenkins don’t have to be a salesman to sell that. — Julius Schmidt, Grand theatre, Breese, III. Boosts Complete Service Contract HAVENSVILLE, KANS.— To the Editor: I am just starting in on my second Universal Complete Service Contract. This contract calls for 26 1926 Jewels and 26 1927 Jewels, 52 two-reel comedies, which I select from the various series of Universal comedies, thus insuring a variety, 52 one-reel comedies and four ten-episode serials. I use the feature on Saturday night and a one or two reel comedy, depending on the length of the feature, on Wednesday nights. I use the serial and a feature from some other company. I drop out three weeks between each serial for a breathing spell. About once a month, and always on the last episode of each serial, I drop out the Wednesday night feature and make up an all-comedy circus for Wednesday night, using my surplus comedies. The price I pay for this service I think is reasonable. The town here is small and if the distributors furnished me the films free of charge and paid my overhead I would not get rich at it. I manage to take in enough on Wednesday to pay, or very nearly pay, my weekly expenses, so what I get on Saturday is all gain. I am writing these few lines in hopes they will he of benefit to someone, as I notice where some shows lose money. I am figuring my budget by the week and I always win, even if the town is small. For instance, week ending March 5th : Wednesday, 3rd, “It Must Be Love,” Colleen Moore, two reels of “Fighting With Buffalo Bill,” serial. Weather — snow, very cold and disagreeable. Receipts $18.50. Saturday, March 5th: “Skinner’s Dress Suit,” Reginald Denny, “Snookum’s First Tooth,” comedy. Weather — fair, roads not good. Receipts $29.50. Total for week, $48.00. The show, with me like most all other small town exhibitors, is a sideline, but you can’t even afford a sideline unless it makes a little money. This is not exactly an Universal letter, as any company that has the stuff could work up a Complete Service program. — C. E. Graff, Havensville, Kans. Madge Bellamy His Candidate PFLUGERVILLE, TEX.— To the Editor : I note in this week’s issue Mr. Harry G. Selk suggests another contest. I, too, have been wanting to write the editor of the good old Herald to put on another contest. Our last was a Popular Star contest. If this is to be a beauty contest, I second the motion and again nominate Miss Madge Bellamy, the most beautiful of all screen stars, as my candidate. Now be quick, boys ; don’t give Judge C. Jenkins a chance to pick a winner. — H. H. Pfluger, Pfluger’s theatre, Pflugerville, Tex. Seeking Lost Brother SCARBOROUGH, ENGLAND.— To the Editor: I am writing to ask if you could help me in any way to trace my brother, Mr. Frank Garbutt, projectionist, 201 West 49th St., New York. We last heard of him 2 years ago last November. He was then in New Vork, U. S. A. He was a demonstratxDr for the South African Films Trust, Ltd., and moved about in South Africa for over 8 years, then came to England and, after a stay of several months, sailed for U. S. A. to assist in forming a company for The Bioscope Improvements, Ltd. He was out there in New York about 18 months, when it appears the company wound up, owing to its failure, and the staff was paid off. In one letter my brother told us that he had decided to sail for home (England), yet in the last letter he said that he would go further up country for work. Gn making inquiries at the Cunard Shipping Co., they replied to the effect that he had Ixxiked a second class passage on “The Berengaria,” but did not embark for reasons unknown. He was a bachelor, age 38, and always kept us well posted and we cannot understand why we have not heard from him for over two years. In one letter he complained of his nerves being bad and his health not good, and we think that it may be possible that he is laid in some hospital. A paper called “The Projectionist” has been sent by post from New York every month for over two years, addressed to him at his mother’s address in Scarborough. I wrote to the office of the paper, and they replied suggesting that if I wrote to you, amongst others, you might be able to help in some way to trace him. That is the reason why I have addressed this letter to you. “The American Projectionist” kindly inserted a notice in their monthly paper that he was missing, but so far we have had no news. His mother and family would be very grateful to you if you could render any help to endeavor to trace his whereabouts. Thanking you in anticipation. — George Garbutt, 55 Tennyson Avenue, Scarborough, England.