Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World (Apr-Jun 1929)

April 28, 1928 EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD 57 BOX OFFICE RECORD An Authoritative Compilation of Exhibitors' Reports from EXHIBITORS HERALD AND MOVING PICTURE WOKLD's Department, "WHAT THE PICTURE DID FOR ME," Published Semi^ Annually. Y^ ADAM AND EVIL, MGM, Lew Cody, Alleen PrinEle, Gwen Lee, Gertrude Short, Hedda Hopper, 7. — NoTember 3. Very Kood comedy that pleased a £Ood crowd. Better than "Tea for Three." (Majestic theatre. Perry, 111.) We ran this the same week as "Naughty but Nice" and had far more favorable comment on this. The title is against this, but it is a very clever comedy and should please any audience. (Rex theatre, Colby, Wis.) September 11. Titla interests them, so step out just a little more but -don't promise them too much. It will please the averaere audience. (Strand theatre, Wadsworth, O.) ■•5%. A clean comedy which pleased. A well told screen story of married life. (Home theatre, Eddyville, la.) 36%. Above the average program picture. They will go out with a smile after seeing this one. (Palace theatre, McGehee, Ark.) September 27. This is one of the best comedies we have ever run. Book it and tell your patrons a good one is coming. (Cresco theatre, Cresco, la.) 70%. September 28-29. A story that seemed to please the majority. (Royal theatre, Le Mars, la.) Good comedy picture. (Auditorium theatre, Nehawka, Neb.) Good com«dy. Teamed with vaudeville made a well balanced program. (Capitol theatre, Middletown, Conn.) What the ladies term "an awfully cute picture," for a program picture. We highly recommend it. (Amuse-U theatre, Monticello, Ark.) This went over big at our theatre. It is snappy, but nothing that you can pan. (Movies theatre. Brocket, N. D.) October 17-18. Just a mighty good entertainment that everyone enjoyed. (Electric theatre, Caldwell, Kan.) December 4-5. A very clever, somewhat spicy, sophisticated comedy drama that got a number of laughs and ai)parently pleased. (Sun theatre, Kansas City, Mo.) This picture suited me better than any of its type played in years. Boys, they will all like it. (Liberty theatre, Delavan, 111.) 70%. January 8-9. A very good comedy drama of a marital mix-up. Drew good business. (Princess theatre, Chilton, Wis.) A snappy little comedy-society drama with just enough spice to put it over, did good business and pleased all. (Elite theatre, Greenleaf, Kan.) January 9-10. Ifighty good comedy drama. (Photoplay theatre, Ashland, Kan.) A dandy good comedy drama, some very clever situations that kept the house in a good humor. Very good business. (Tvrilight theatre, Greensburg, Kan.) Clever little comedy. The two principals were fine but their support weak in spots. Had many favorable comments from patrons. (Eagle theatre, Leubec, Me.) February 11. This feature drew well, and was very favorably commented on by many of our patrons. (Green Lantern theatre, Claymont, Del.) Just a fair comedy. Have seen lots better. Did no extra business. (Diamond theatre. Lake Odessa, Mich.) 25%. Kept our crowd laughing and very favorable comments. Only a program picture here. (Strand theatre, Paris, Ark.) 20%. This is very good of the comedy-drama type and will please. Isn't a drawing card at all but ■worth program price. We hit a cold spell and for that reason can't say just what it is worth at box office. (Rialto theatre, Knoxville, Tenn.) Lots of sood comments on this picture. Boost it. it will J>lease. (Cozy theatre, Medford, Wis.) One of the best I have shown and will stand the advertising. Lots of good comments. (Palace theatre, Merkel, Tex.) 22%. December 12-13. A good comedy that flopped at the box office. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's pictures are good but they sure flop at box office. (Tivoli theatre, Knoxville, 111.) 100%. November 1. This is one of the best ever.. Buy it and advertise it and all your show patrons will go home happy. (Crystal theatre, Peru, Neb.) ALIAS THE DEACON, U, Jean Hcrsholt, June Marlawe, 7. — 65%. December 31. A very good picture. Had a good crowd on one of the worst nights Key to A bbreviations Columbia (Col) FBO (FBO) First National (FN) Fox (Fox) Gotham (G) Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) Paramount (Par) Pathe (P) Rayart (Ray) Tiffany-Stahl (T) United Artists (UA) Universal (U) Warner Brothers ( W) Numerals indicate length of picture in reels. The dates are those on which pictures were played, while the percentages represent gross business as compared with the record gross of the house. of the year. (Community theatre, Woodbury, Conn.) This is an entertaining comedy drama of the reformed crook who does a lot of good with his crookedness and who is clever in his doing it so the entire crowd enjoys the show even if it is the type of story that has been done these many years. I rank It as very good entertainment. (Grand theatre, Pierre, S. D.) A mighty clever picture. Hersholt steals the show throughout but the support is good. We call it far above the average program picture. (Twilight theatre, Greensburg, Kan.) This picture was enjoyed by all our patrons. A good story and well directed. It was sponsored by the Woman's Club of Moline and had many favorable comments on it. (Bio theatre, Moline, 111.) ALIAS THE LONE WOLF, CoL Bert Lytell, Lois Wilson, William V. Mong, Paulette Duval, 6. — 90%. A real good picture. Is sure to please. (Opera House theatre, Raymond, Minn.) March 15-16-17. It's good all the way. Customers liked it and told us so, and we did a nice busine;*. (Palace theatre, Ashland, O.) AFLAME IN THE SKY, FBO, Sharon Lynn, Jack Ludcn, William Humphreys, Robert McKim, Bill Scott, Charles A. Stevenson, 6. — 80%. This picture is real good. (Miere theatre, Schoharie, N. Y.) 36%. March 9-10. Plenty of thrills here for Saturday night. (Pastime theatre. Mason. Mich.) 40%. Good little picture. Western and aeroplane story combined. Pleased all who saw it. (Cozy theatre. Wagoner, Okla.) February 2-1-25. This is excellent and a decided novelty. It's a mixture of Western and aviation, packed with action and many unusual situations. Drew excellent business for this time of the year. (Strand theatre, Paoli, Ind.) AMERICAN BEAUTY, FN, Billie Dove, Lloyd Hughes, Walter McGrail, Margaret Livingston, Ludcn Prival, Edytho Chapman. Alice White, Yola d'Avril, 6. — Here is another knockout for Billie Dove. She Is superb in this one. Billie Dove is there right now and the women folks come flocking in to tee how she does it. "American Beauty" should please all, but more particularly the women. (Cory theatre, Winchaster. Ind.) 50%. This la a real good one. Billie Dove can sure wear the clothes and the Indioa like her, and so do some of the men. (Adair theatre, Adair, la.) A very interesting story and well acted. This star is building in this town with each pictora shown. (Lonet theatre, Wellington, O.) January IL A very pleasing picture, but as yet she is no drawing card with me. (Reel Joy theatre. King City, Cal.) 45%. January 30. My patrons liked this and so did I. First National wants Corinne Griffith prices for Billie and they should get it. More of a drawing card, better looking and a better actress than Corinna by the proverbial mile. (Central theatre, Selkirk, Manitoba, Can.) Played on Christmas Ere, so can't report on its drawing power. Personally thought it a very thin plot, bolstered up by Billie Dove wearing a lot of pretty clothes in some scenes and not bo many in other scenes. Would only class it aa a program picture. Not for family nights. (Sun theatre, Kansas City, Mo.) ANGEL OF BROADWAY. P, Leatrlce Joy, Victor Varconi, May Robson, Alice Lake, Elaie Bartlett, Ivan Lebcdeff, Jane Keckley, Clarence Burton, 7. — November 2. Boys, if you wish to give your patron* a real treat, something true to life, with a real moral, that was directed as "we" would have directed it — Thanks to Lois Weber — and with photography and acting of the very best, give your friends "The Angel of Broadway." Yes, it will leave that desired effect and when your show is over, for once, unless I am a fish, you will be somewhere near your doorway. Just for once forget to crab about that bunk. "The Box Office," and give your folks a real show. (Auditorium theatre, Glendale, Ore.) October 27. The producers and reviewers think this sort of hokum if bread to the small town element, because they force a moral at the close of the picture. They are dead wrong, this mixture of religion and night clubs ha* no place on the screen and folks resent it even though they might not be members of the church or regular attendants. Keep religion off the screen, that is what I say about it. This picture did not please because of the mixture of night club life and faking religion. (Regent theatre, Indianola. Miss.) 66%. November 6. Leatrice Joy does some nice work as a Salvation lassie in disguise. It's not a big picture but good for average houses. (Argonne theatre, Akron. Ind.) I can't rate this one very good : first, the photography is too dark and then the story lacks popular Interest. It drags terribly, lacks the eom^ thing that makes an audience picture. I was all hopped up over it too. I had seen some good criticisms on it and I know after running it they were all wet. Too bad — they had a real cast with Joy, Varconi and the balance, usually we look for an outstanding picture with such names but it is i>oor audience entertainment. (Columbia theatre, Columbia City, Ind.) December 5. Poor program picture here. No comments. (Rialto theatre, Franklin, Neb.) December 31. Leatrice Joy plays the part of a Salvation lassie In disguise and does her part very well. Somehow, it lacks heart appeal. Did not go over with us very well on account of the star's deceiving part. (Community theatre, Redgranlte. WT«.) ANNIE LAIRIE. MGM. LillUn GUh, Norman Kerry, 9. — October 2-3. An excellent historical drama. Plenty of action and no drasKT moments for a picture as long as this one. Business good and comments good. (Cresco theatre. Cresco, la.) 80%. A good clean picture with fair drawing poirsr. (Home theatre, Eddyville. la.) 20%. This Is a very well produced picture with gxxxl cast and acting. However, for a special at a special price. It's a mighty bad bet. Absolutely no good for a second run. \VIU please higher cln.-ss patronage. (Rialto theatre. Enoxville. Tenn.) This is a splendid historical drama. Special praiiio Is duo Norman Korry and really all are cxccptionnlly well cast. Should do well anywher«, eKpccinlly this side of the lino, or in a Scotch or English community. (Liberty theatre. Amheretbarc. Ont., Canada.) January 20-21. This we coiMlder