Exhibitors Herald (1927)

March 19, 1927 EXHIBITORS HERALD 49 DEAR HERALD: NELIGH, NEB., March 6, 1927. Back again to the old home nest, With my coat all wrinkled, likewise my vest. With my pants all “haggy” at the knees And my elbows out to the cold north breeze. That’s just the condition I’m in today And I don’t know yet just how long I’ll stay. But speaking of my wife’s buckwheat cakes — but then I mentioned something about those in my last week’s column. Anyhow, at the dinner table yesterday I happened to mention that when I started out rambling again I thought I’d head for Utah, and my wife spoke up, kinda snappy like, and said, “No you don’t head for Utah, not on your life, I know you too well; when you start for Utah I start for Reno. Don’t forget that.” And I said, “Wliy Reno? Why not Hollywood? Out there they grind ’em out faster and no questions asked.” That’s just the way it goes. Every time I get a chance to go somewhere where I can step out a little she always pours water in the gasoline tank. Doggone the luck, I never did have half a chance anyway. My son-in-law, Walt Bradley, played M-G-M’s “Taxi Dancer,” and I sat through two showings, the first time to be entertained and the second to see if I could discover any good reasons for making it. I couldn’t. It contains a bed-room scene that makes the bed-room scene in “Kiki” look like an old ladies’ quilting bee. Directors seem to ignore exhibitors’ protests and still cling to the theory that smut in a picture makes for good entertainment. Some four years ago it was reported that producers put a clause in their contracts with directors to the effect that if they directed a picture containing any suggestive or objectional scenes it would automatically annul the contract. This must not have been a “uniform contract.” “Taxi Dancer” will draw money, but no applause. That’s the way I saw “Taxi Dancer.” I was sober, hut I might have been goofy. * * Milton Sills in “Men of Steel” is good entertainment. It has everything that an audience wants, and besides that it has Doris Kenyon, George Fawcett and May Allison, and we all know that with a cast like that it is bound to be good entertainment. George Fawcett is always funny, he’d be funny at a prayer meeting, and May Allison — well, we all remember May in “Fair and Warmer,” and now if “Photoplay” doesn’t rob the screen of her services the industry ought to move along on high. Here’s hoping she stays with us. I met Jay Hatfield on the street yesterday and I said, “Well, Jay, how you coming?” and he replied, “Oh, just fine, Jenks, just fine; I’m getting three square meals a day now and Gosh, you ought to hear me sleep.” ^ * Every once-in-a-while some Nebraskan breaks forth with a wise suggestion, the latest being from Harry G. Selk of the Selk theatre at Scotia. Mr. Selk comes out with the suggestion that we have another “Popular Star Contest” and he nominates Miss June Marlowe as his candidate and forthwith forwards her picture for publication, which appeared in last week’s issue. We will have to admit that June is handsome, there is no getting away from that, and we will have to congratulate Selk on his good judgment, but — ■ The HERALD man relishes a contest. He just dotes on ’em, and he has a candidate to offer that will make all other entries of secondary consideration, one who has no peer in stardom; who flits across the etheral heavens like a shooting meteor, and whose beauty and grace outshines the sun, moon and stars. Gentlemen, your hats off to my candidate. Miss Clara Bow. * * * When one gets home after rambling around over the frozen roads and through the snow and mud for two months and Geneve and Ruth chewing the rag about where they will go this summer and our wife out in the kitchen rattling pans and kettles preparing a birthday dinner of liver smothered, etc., it is mighty hard to think of anything to write about. That’s the way I am fixed right now, and I am hoping that T. O. Service will take pity on me and lengthen out his “Service Talks” and help fill up the space I am supposed to fill. I can’t call on “R. M.,” for since that Wampas ball he is in nubibus non est inventus, and that’s pretty tough, but anyhow — The HERALD fills a want none others do. This fact is very plain to me and you. If you’ll read it every day You’ll agree with what I say That THE HERALD FILLS A WANT NONE OTHERS DO. J. C. JENKINS, (The HERALD Man.) Wlske, Community theatre, Redgranite, Wis. — Small town patronage. McFADDEN’S FLATS: Special cast — -Here is a real comedy drama. It will do you good to play it. They will all like it. — Ed O. Keene, Oxford theatre, Oxford, Ohio. — General patronage. THE OVERLAND STAGE: Ken Maynard— In this picture Ken Maynard does the trick riding which he was supposed to do in the three First National pictures which preceded it. The boy is developing fast and "The Overland Stage” is by far his best bet. His riding is worthy of mention. Don’t hesitate to step on this attraction. It is head and shoulders above the average Western and tops many so-called specials. Seven reels. — L. E. Bremer, Hamly theatre, Paul’s Valley, Okla. — General patronage. THE TALKER: Special cast — This is very good. Seven reels.— Julius Schmidt, Grand theatre, Breese, 111. — General patronage. THE SILENT LOVER: Milton Sills— February 18-19. Good program picture. Not a special. Seven reels. — Leslie Hables, Reel Joy theatre. King City, Cal. — ^General patronage. CLASSIFIED: Corinne Griffith — February 27. One of the best pictures we have played of Corinne. Any small town exhibitor can’t go wrong by showing this picture. — D. D. Purcell, Muse-U theatre, Cortez, Colo. — ^General patronage. A PERFECT SAP: Ben Lyon— This is a good program picture. Bennie does some good work. — Ed O. Keene, Oxford theatre, Oxford, Ohio. — General patronage. WE MODERNS: Colleen Moore — This seemed to please a good crowd, so I would call it good entertainment. Seven reels. — Julius Schmidt, Grand theatre, Breese, 111. — -General patronage. THE WHITE BLACK SHEEP: Richard Barthelmess — February 7-8. Not anything to write home about. His pictures do not click at my box office. Will get by where he is liked. Eight reels. — Leslie Hables, Reel Joy theatre. King City, Cal. — General patronage. JUST ANOTHER BLONDE: Jack Mulhall— Another pleasing one from First National, as nice a little evening’s entertainment as you could get. Six reels. — Leslie Hables, Reel Joy theatre. King City, Cal. — General patronage. LADIES AT PLAY : Special cast — February 14-15. A very good comedy. Title is a hard one to get them in on, but the picture is there. Eight reels. — Leelie Hables, Reel Joy theatre. King City, Cal. — General patronage. THE SPLENDID ROAD: Anna Q. Nilsson— February 25-26. This is a real picture, that is, for our town. Everybody like it and several took the trouble to stop and tell us. Box office receipts better than they had been for several weeks, so we are pleased twice. — Mrs. Frank Ober, Boynton, Boynton, Okla. — General patronage. RAINBOW RILEY: Johnny Jones— February 24-25. A dandy little picture. Opens with a laugh and closes with a laugh, and with plenty of laughs and action in between. ’This should please. Seven reels. — Wm. E. Tragsdorf, Trags theatre, Neillsville, Wis. — Small town patronage. ABRAHAM LINCOLN: George Billings— A wonderful picture that pleased practically everyone that saw it, and we had very fair crowds for two nights. Played at regular price, 10-20. The old time scenes and hardships depicted will never be forgotten. Has just enough war and romance to make it interesting. — W. A. Hillhouse, Lyric theatre, Glasco, Kans. — General patronage. THE SPORTING LOVER: Conway Tearle— Not much. — G. J. Ritter, Regent theatre, Bogota, N. J. — General patronage. INTO HER KINGDOM: Special cast — A fairly good picture. Pleased 60%. Seven reels. — A. J. Paul, Royal theatre. Gallon, Ohio. — General patronage. THE WISE GUY : James Kirkwood — Some picture! Title very misleading, and still, after you see the picture, it fits perfectly. This had to be boosted and it’s worth it. — ^G. J. Ritter, Regent theatre, Bogota, N. J. — General patronage. Fox THE COUNTRY BEYOND: Olive Borden— 60%. February 17-18. By James Oliver Curwood. A good picture that was played in a snow storm. The few that saw it liked it. Paper on this is excellent. Fox paper is usually good. Wish other exchanges would get hep and get paper that an exhibitor enjoys putting out. Six reels. — Mrs. Richard A. Preuss. Arvada theatre, Arvada, Colo. — Small town patronage. THE COUNTRY BEYOND: Special cast— Pleased our crowd. Played this before Fox had a chance to change it’s name. Clean amusement, though. Seven reels. — G. Carey, Strand theatre, Paris, Ark. — General patronage. THE FLYING HORSEMAN: Buck Jones-45%. February 18-19. Good picture. Jones is getting better all the time. Say, Bill Fox your heralds are terrible this year. You had some good ones last year, but they sure look awful now. There is nothing that will get the business like a good herald. I’m sorry to see you making poor paper. — S. H. Rich, Rich theatre, Montpelier, Idaho. — General patronage. THE FLYING HORSEMAN: Buck Jones— A fine Western picture and will please everyone. A great show for Friday and Saturday. Buck Jones is a good drawing card here. Five reels. — A. J. Paul, Royal theatre. Gallon, Ohio. — General patronage. WINGS OF THE STORM: Thunder— 75%. February 24-25. A very good picture for dog lovers. This picture is produced like Fox’s