Exhibitors Herald (1927)

March 26, 1927 EXHIBITORS HERALD 47 “What the Picture Did For Me** VERDICTS ON FILMS IN LANGUAGE OF EXHIBITOR Copyright, 1926 This is the original exhibitors’ reports department, established October 14, 1916. Beware of cheap, misleading imitations. “What the Picture Did for Me” is the one genuine source of exhibitor-written box office information. Address: “What the Picture Did for Me,” EXHIBITORS HERALD, 407 South Dearborn Street, Chicago, III. F. B. 0. THE MAGIC GARDEN: Special cast — 98%. March 2. Here is a picture. Leo Meehan has created a masterpiece, in casting’, acting, and scenically. We had a packed house and the picture pleased all. The childhood scenes were so interesting and cute that most everyone expressed themselves as disappointed when the children grew up. Excellent photography and print. Here is one to show. Advertise the story. Gene Stratton Porter’s name is a big drawing power and the director doesn’t murder her stuff, as so many directors do. Margaret Morris does her part in a highly creditable manner. She seems to be the wholesome, refined, beautiful girl that the pai’t calls for. She is ably supported by Raymond Keane. You can’t go wrong, for this is the dearest, most entertaining picture we have had the pleasure of showing in a long time. Seven reels. — Wm. C. Griffith, Accola’s Bonham thatre, Prairie du Sac, Wis. — Small town patronage. THE MAGIC GARDEN: Special cast— 60%. March 6-7. Another fine production from a Gene Stratton Porter story. Satisfied and did a very nice business. Seven reels, — J. C. Kennedy, Empress theatre, Akron, la. — ^General patronage. THE RIDING STREAK; Bob Custer— 10%. March 1. Good little Western for small town. Bob was very good. Five reels. — R. Duba, Royal theatre, Kimball, So. Dak. — General patronage. THE RIDING STREAK: Bob Custer— 40%. Nice little Western. Very poor fake rescue ; good fight in last reel ; very poor ending. Good print out of Omaha. Five reels. — R. J. Williams, Pastime theatre, Johnson, Nebr. — General patronage. KOSHER KITTY KELLY: Viola Dana— 47%. Febimary 12-13. About an average program picture, one of the Gold Bonds, but I have played as good a picture for half the price. Pleased about 75%. Not big enough to boost the price. Cannot be compared with “Cohens and Kellys.” Seven reels. — F, W. Jutil, Alex theatre. Alexandria, S. D. — General patronage. KOSHER KITTY KELLY: Viola Dana— 78%. March 5-7. I class this as a romantic comedy drama. K. K. K. is the latest Hebrew-Hibernian comedy fiesta. Put out special cards advertising on this. At a glance one would think that it was K. K. K. This picture pleased every one and I believe it as good as “The Cohens and Kellys,” only less comedy. Ten reels. — Perry G. Walker, Amusu theatre, Satesboro, Ga. — General patronage. LADDIE: John Bowers — 61%, February 24. A satisfying program picture. The audience api>eal was almost 100% and several commented on the original story, — E. D. Miller, Y. M. C. A. theatre, Morenci, Ariz. — General patronage LADDIE: Special cast — February 21-22-23. One of the best there is on the mai’ket for all ages and classes, and yes, it’s clean. Eight reels. — A. J. Steggal, Cozy theatre, Fayette, la. — General patronage. ONE MINUTE TO PLAY: Red Grange— 31%. March 16. Well, boys, here is a good enough picture, but I want to be square with Red as well as Richard Dix and I want to tell you it’s not as good as “The Quarterback.” Although I broke even on this one, and lost money on “The Quarterback,” ‘‘One Minute to Play” is good for one night where “Quarterback” is good for two or three and will please better. More action and lots more excitement. Then let this be your guide ; if you didn’t play them yet, play them both, but promise not too much on Red and Editor’s Note Percentage ratings given by exhibitors in reports to this department are obtained in the following manner: Average daily gross of picture reported is divided by average daily gross of picture holding house record to determine relative box office value in terms of percentage. EXAMPLE: $75 (average daily gross of picture reported) divided by $100 (average daily gross of picture holding house record) equals .75 (percentage rating given picture in report) . When a picture has received percentage ratings in 10 reports it is entered in THE BOX OFFICE TICKER with its current gross average indicating relative attraction values of pictures listed therein. THE BOX OFFICE TICKER appears this week on page 45. step on the gas on “The Quarterback.” Eight reels. — R. Duba, Royal itheatre, Kimball, S. Dak. — General patronage. ONE MINUTE TO PLAY: Red Grang^Feb. 23. An extra good play that pleases all high school students and most all the grown-ups. Eight reels. — Grafton Nutter, Royal theatre. Republic, Kans. A REGULAR SCOUT: Fred Thomson— 70%. March 8-9. Here is in my estimation the finest Fred Thomson to date. The Boy Scout element makes it easy to exploit and should do a wonderful business. Seven reels. — Homer P. Morley, Princess theatre, Buchanan, Mich.— Small town patronage. A REGULAR SCOUT: Fred Thomson — Good The “Ticker” Ticks T ISTEN to “The Box Office Ticker” ' tick off the recortl. You hear it! Every week the reels turn round and round in the magazines — the wheels of exhibition grind swiftly, if sometimes “exceeding small” — the pictures demonstrate their drawing power or lark of it. The “Ticker” gives you weekly quotations. If you’re interested in them — write your quotations (your percentage ratings) into your reports. Western, but did not think it was as good as “Lone Hand Saunders.” Six reels. — J. B. Carter, Electric theatre. Browning, Mo. — ^General patronage. GOING THE LIMIT: George O’Hara— 60%. February 28. Another nice offering from F. B. O. Six reels. — Homer P. Morley, Princess theatre, Buchanan, Mich. — Small town patronage. MOTHER: Belle Bennett— 2.5%. March 4-5. Played this premier showing in Middle West, due to a last minute substitution. It is a very fine production. It satisfied my audience very much. Seven reels. — J. C. Kennedy, Empress theatre, Akron, la. — General patronage. THE MERRY CAVALIER: Richard Talmadge — 60%. February 26. Stay in there, Dick — you are going strong. Richard sure struts his stuff in this picture. Five reels. — C. A. Kelley. Rex theatre, Custer, Okla. — Small town patronage. THE TOUGH GUY: Fred Thomson— 80%, December. 25. A very good Western picture. Pleased very well. Fred is always good and we can get them at a price we can get by, not to say make any money. This is out of the question nowadays, but it is worth something to run a picture that pleases and don’t cost you more than you can take in. Six reels. — James A. Banks, Lyric theatre. Saratoga, Wyo. — Small town patronage. THE MASQUERADE BANDIT: Tom Tyler— 60%. February 5. Good average Western that pleased my Saturday business. Tyler is a good star for me and his pals help him get the business. Five reels. — E. D. Luna, Cozy theatre. Wagoner, Okla. — Small town patronage. THE TWO GUN MAN: Fred Thomson— 85%. A clean Western whose locale was laid about 100 miles from us. Although Westerns ai-e not always strong here, Thomson is well liked. This is his best, with the exception of “All Around Prying Pan,’’ which had comedy to relieve the tension. Fred is a clean actor with a real personality.— E. D. Miller, Y. M. C. A. theatre, Morenci, Ariz. — General patronage THE FIGHTING BOOB: Bob Custer— 15%. December 12. This is a fair one, but not up to a good many of the other Western ipietures. It might go good in some places, but the trouble with so many of the Westerns is they are too much put on. The people out here know too much about the Western life to grab all of that. Six reels. — James A. Banks, Lyric theati’e, Saratoga. Wyo. — Small town patronage. THE WALL STREET WHIZZ: Richard Talmadge— 50%. February 16. If it is action you’re after, book all of these Talmadges. This boy holds one’s interest from start to finish. Good print out of Omaha. Five reels. — R. J. Williams, Pastime theatre, Johnson, Nebr. — General patronage. BORN TO BATTLE: Tom Tyler— 30%. January 9. This is a very good picture and a real bunch of stars. They always like the little stars and their pets and Tom isn’t slow, himself. He has built up a good rep for him and his boy and dog here. Give us all there is of them, and we will get by. Six reels. — James A. Banks. Lyric theatre, Saratoga, Wyo. — Small town patronage. FLAMING FURY: Ranger^0%. March 8. Pleasing dog feature with some beautiful north woods shots. Business light. Six reels. — E. M. Biddle, Strand theatre, Paoli, Ind. — Small town patronage. THE MIDNIGHT FLYER: Cullen Landis—