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

60 THE BUYERS INDEX SECTION OF April 28, 1928 ]>ictare released to date. (Electric theatre, Caldwell, Ean.) One of the best pictures I have ever run. A masterpiece. Should be shown in every theatre in the world. It will bring in a good many i)eople that are not regular showgoers. I lost money on the picture, but that was no fault of the picture. I paid more than my town could stand. (Opera House, Raymond, Minn.) This is the greatest picture of all times. You will get people in on this that never came before. Even if you don't make a dime run it, and stand in the back when they come out, and you will be shaking more hands than your best preacher ever did. (Hippodrome theatre, Crestline, O.) In a class by itself. A most wonderful picture. Broke attendance records. Seventy-five cents admission. (Shastona theatre. Mount Shasta, Cal.) Excellent. The biggest, the cleanest, the best and most wonderful picture made, bar none. I have been an exhibitor for the last 12 years and I can truthfully say this is the greatest of all pictures. (Strand theatre, Griswold, la.) The best yet in the way of screen entertainment. Bad weather — result, poor business. Nevertheless the picture is all there. Should be seen by every man, woman and child in every community. (Lyric theatre, Atkinson, Neb.) We will only add to the praise of the other exhibitors and say that it is the most wonderful picture of its kind ever produced. Don't ever expect to see anything that will excel it. We did about 60 per cent more business on this than we did on "The Big Parade" and made little money for ourselves. (Rex theatre, Colby, Wis.) February 8-9. This marvelous spectacle in a class by itself. Great pictures of this type one of the greatest boosters of the motion picture industry. Although it had been shown in a half dozen houses in the vicinity, people came from as far as thirty miles. (Strand theatre, Paoli, Ind.) February 9-10-11. Our patrons said this was the biggest and best picture ever shown here. No complaints and people came that never had been seen in the place before. The only complaint is that too much rental is asked from towns of this size. (Opera House, Paw Paw, 111.) 100%. January 9-10-11-12. Ten hundred forty-six people, counting the kids, saw this picture out of a ten hundred seventy-eight popular tion. Think this tells its own story. (Sun theatre, Sargent, Neb.) Super Fine, a little better than "The Big Parade" so my box ofRce and patrons say, but I don't believe it ; for me they do not make them better than "The Big Parade." (Washington theatre, Atoka, Okla.) November 28. Great picture, but bought too high and didn't make anything. (Rialto theatre, Franklin, Neb.) 100%. January 25-26. The best of all pictures. Played percentage and made money. (Crystal theatre, Oakman, Ala.) Broke the record in box office receipts, comments to the good and helped the prestige of the show. (Palace theatre, Merkel, Tex.) A better drawing card than "The Big Parade." (Crystal theatre, Watseka, 111.) Played it on percentage and made a few dollars. A great picture. (Electric theatre, Brovsming, Mo.) October 3-4-5. Greatest achievement of the screen to our notion. "Big Parade" not to be classed with it. (Mission theatre, Menard, Tex.) 100%. November 21-22-23-24. A wonderful production in every way, wonderful settings, action and acting. We had a visitor from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer for the entire run and their share of the split didn't pay his expenses by Quite a little. Why couldn't I have that? However, I think that every showman should run this picture because it will build your business if you don't make a dime. (Princess theatre, Lincoln, Kan.) Is much better picture than "The Big Parade." I did more business and not as good dates. (Pastime theatre, Rittman, O.) October 15-16-17. Better than "The Big Parade." Greatest picture ever shown on screen. Made good money on this one and gave my patrons more than expected. (Elite theatre, Laurens, la.) Big picture. Did a record business and did not hear one kick. (Royal theatre, Frankfort, Ean.) 100%. January 5-6. No better entertainment made than this. It is a revelation indeed. (Lyric theatre, Rhome, Tex.) 100%. January 25-26-27. A great production that will please all. This picture has more pull in the small town than "Big Parade," although personally I liked "The Big Parade" better. Should make every exhibitor some money. (Ellinwood theatre, Ellinwood, Kan.) 80%. November 18-19. I think the finest picture on the screen up to the present time. If you haven't played it do so if you don't make a dollar. Metro charges the little town too much for this one and "The Big Parade." (Lincoln theatre, Bunker Hill, 111.) If you can't make some money on this one you had better close your play house. (Crystal theatre, Peru, Neb.) 75%. October 5-6-7-8. A wonderful production and a good drawing card but the manner in which this and "The Big Parade" are sold proves too much of a handicap for a small town. (American theatre, Wautoma, Wis.) 100%. March 14-15. Just simply great. 100 per cent picture. (Silver Family theatre, Greenville, Mich.) 100%. January 16-17-18. "This picture is the biggest and best picture that has ever played in this town," as my patrons said. And believe me it has the drawing power, too. However, the rental is a little high on this picture, but we made a little money at that. (Le Comte theatre, Sevierville, Tenn.) BEWARE OF WIDOWS, V, Laura LaPlante, Bryant Washburn, 6. — 85%. September 25-26. This show will go over good any place as it is a clean laughable comedy. (Scenic theatre, Holstein, la.) 41%. September 23. Very good comedy. Pleased generally. (Grand theatre. Rainier, Ore.) 50%. October 12. This is an extra good program picture. (Silver Family theatre, Greenville, Mich.) A light farce that pleased fairly well. Not as big as Universal clatma it to be. (Althea theatre, Dunseith, N. D.) December 6. Any picture that has Otis Harlan in it is not a total loss and this is no exception. A light frothy comedy drama that will not give you a headache trying to dope it out, and neither will it leave you with a bad taste in your mouth. In other words it's a pretty fair little picture. (Sun theatre, Kansas City, Mo.) 10%. December 14. Fair program entertainment and where they like Laura real well, should do good business. (Royal theatre, Kimball, S. D.) It is a fairly good comedy, pretty much slapstick but it gets the laughs. (Royal theatre, Frankfort, Kan.) December 25. Like all Miss La Plante's pictures, this was 100 per cent entertainment. Personally, we do not think it is quite as good as "Her Big Night," but we want to tell you that it is good and should be played by all exhibitors. (Columbia theatre, Morganza, La.) This title hit me in the eye but when it came time to put it over I got cold feet. I'm a bachelor and this is a small town. Laura is sure clever and Bryant Washburn ideal support. Business fair. (Princess theatre, Seaforth, Ont., Can.) January 25-26. First three reels are pretty good but it certainly gets terrible after that, too silly for words. (Photoplay theatre, Ashland, Kan.) 23%. December 11-12. Just fair. (Pastime theatre. Mason, Mich.) January 2-3. A very clever little picture that seemed to please more than usual. (Twilight theatre, Greensburg, Kan.) 60%. November 1. Dandy little comedy drama which failed to draw very good for some unknown reason. (Rex theatre, Joplin, Mo.) BIG CITY, THE, MGM, Lon Chaney, Marceline Day, James Murray, Betty Compson, Mathew Betz. John George, Virginia Pearson, Walter Percival, 7. — March 3-4. Lon Chaney at his best. In our estimation, Chaney is the most wonderful character actor in the business and this shows him at his best, also entire cast do very well. But it is an unpleasant theme. One crook stealing from another isn't the kind of stuff we like to show our youngsters as entertainment ; for adults who appreciate acting, it's wonderful. We absolutely cannot put Chaney over in our town. (Rex theatre, Colby, Wis.) A crook drama that holds the interest to the finish with a plot on the order of the "Miracle Man." Would rate this above the average program picture. (Cozy theatre, Medford, Wis.) BIG PARADE, THE, MGM, John GUbert, Renee Adoree, Karl Dane, Tom O'Brien, 12. — 90%. October 11-12-13-14. Needless to say this is wonderful. Fact is, I feel it better from a great many angles than "Ben Hur." The people were unanimous in their vote, yes. (Royal theatre, Le Mars, la.) 65%. October 10-11-12-13. Personally, I enjoyed this and could overlook the mistakes, but my patrons were divided on the picture. Some people will tell you it was wonderful, others that it was not so good. Ex-service men will pan the battle scenes because of the glaring mistakes. I advertised this whole county and did not take in the guaranteed split figure. Buy it, but be careful. (Princess theatre, Lincoln, Kan.) 65%. O. K. Good business considering picture's second time in town. (Capitol theatre, Middletown, Conn.) A splendid picture. Would not recommend paying for It on basis of Metro's "formula." It would be an impossible undertaking in eofar as making money. (Amuse-U theatre, Monticello, Ark.) September 30-October 1-2. Very good picture. Had good crowd if we did have one rainy night. I don't see why John Gilbert can't keep on playing in good pictures like this. (Auditorium theatre, Nehawka, Neb.) 95%. December 29-30. A splendid picture, worthy of being shown in any theatre. (Lyric theatre, Rhome, Tex.) February 15-16. FVom an entertaining as well as from a production standpoint I can only emphasize the fact that all that has been said about this picture was true. (Community theatre. Red Granite, Wis.) Wonderful, wonderful picture. King Vidor directs a masterpiece. I saw it four times and enjoyed it more every time. Business good. Comments fine. Percentage denied me a just profit. (Rex theatre, Salmon, Idaho.) December 14-15-16. This is a good picture but it is too long and high priced for a small town. Didn't make anything on account of having to pay so much for It. (Theatorium theatre, Emienton, Pa.) Great picture. Will make small exhibitor money if he can buy it right. Comedy keeps the audience in an uproar all the time. (Pastime theatre, Rittman, O.) September 15-16-17. Big picture. Play it. Broke all house records to date. (Elite theatre, Laurens, la.) Good war picture with wonderful stars. Good box office attraction but "Ben Hur" beats it. (Arvada theatre, Arvada, Col.) Big and good but overestimated by Metro. Worth about half that much Metro is asking. (Cozy theatre, Wagner, S. D.) Played four days and made expenses. Picture does not merit the price asked. Expected a lot of comments and praise, but did not receive a single one. (Liberty theatre, Dayton, Wash.) One of the big pictures and an extra good one. It cost you most of your box office receipts to play it, but you can't afford to miss it. (Crystal theatre, Peru, Neb.) September 12-16. You all know the picture and what it will . do, so if you haven't played it yet arrange for special music and score as it is big help. (Strand theatre, Wadsworth, O.) September 7-8-9-10. A very fine production. It did a flop for me. Think the basis Metro has figured out for the sale of the two big productions is all wet for smaller situations. (ESmprees theatre, Akron, la.) This giant superspecial that is known throughout the land, caused a ferocious rent in our bank account, for rental requirements, but only temijorarily. We played it four nights early in October and it brought in more profit than any picture we have previously run. (B. B. theatre, Ashland, Neb.) 75%. December 27-28-29. A wonderful picture with superb acting by Gilbert, Dane and Adoree. Drew a fairly good crowd in very cold weather. Play it by all means. (Ellinwood theatre, Ellinwood, Kan.) Very good but worth about half of "Ben Hur" prices. Too many war pictures took the edge off its drawing power. (Postville theatre, Postville, la.) The greatest picture ever made. Everyone pleased. Price high but play it, you will not lose. (Liberty theatre, Delavan, 111.) November 14-15-16-17. This picture with orchestra and effects will go over big. Without, it's a big gamble. I'm afraid it's overly advertised from an exchange viewpoint. We have all seen the same thing in other pictures, and the war shots are practically the same that were in "Flashes of Action." I lost money on it. The only way to play is 50-50 on the first dollar. (Lyric theatre, Atkinson, Neb.) March 4-5-6-7. Bought right and made some money. (Pinegrove theatre. Port Huron, Mich.) One of the best war pictures I have ever run, although war pictures do not pull for me. Rating 100 per cent. (Opera House, Raymond, Minn.) November 6-7-8-9. A great picture. Would have made some money on this if Metro-Goldwyn hadn't wanted it all. (Diamond theatre. Lake Odessa, Mich.) Played three nights. A wonderful picture, but we lost money. Paid too much for a small town. (Opera House, Paw Paw, 111.) November 11-14. The greatest war picture ever made. It's too bad that we couldn't all of us have seen "The Big Parade" before we were all fed up on would-be, and try-to-be war pictures like we have -been the last couple of years. It would have made a greater impression on the public than it did. We did not do much on it although the weather gave us a terrible licking. We played it on a percentage and the Metro checker took back the magnificent sum of $8.50 for their share of the split. We are glad we played it though, only wish more of our people could have seen it. (Rex theatre, Colby, Wis.) January 18-19-20-21. This is a great war picture all right, but it barely made expenses here. Played it four nights, and could have got them all in in one night. Many favorable comments. (Pastime theatre. Mason, Mich.) January 16-17. It must have been a big picture, as I booked it for two successive nights without realizing how fast the time passed. I forgot time when looking at this feature. It is a big picture, but not the biggest ever made in my opinion. Appeal one hundred per cent. (Green Lantern theatre, Claymont, Del.) Best war picture I have ever run. They ask a mighty big price but are getting right now and if you can get it right you can make the dough on the same, your patrons will come to see it. (Washington theatre, Atoka, Okla.) January 4-5. Good picture that pleased everyone. Made money for me. (Crystal theatre, Oakman, Ala.) October 24. I was one of the first in this part of the country to buy "The Big Parade" and "Ben Hur" with promise of the first fe run them. Paid Metro's price and then was last to run. (Rialto theatre, Franklin, Neb.) Nothing from me need be said in regard to those two gems ("Big Parade" and "Ben Hur") as their praises have been sung so long and loud that I need not emphasize the fact that all that has been said was true. (Liberty theatre, Harrisvdlle, Mich.) Went over fairly well. Some liked it and others did not. It's a good show. (Royal theatre, Frankfort, Kan.) January 18-19. Owing to bad weather, the fact that every other town in the vicinity had already shown it, and that people here can't afford to pay a 50 cent admission, this masterpiece of the cinema art drew only a fair business. (Strand theatre, Paoli, Ind.) 75%. November 22-23-24. About the best picture of this type ever produced. We have to pay too much for pictures of this type and the result is the company carries away the biggest end of the profit. If we could have played this picture about the same time that it played in other towns around here we could have increased our business at least 50 per cent. (Para