Exhibitors Herald World (Oct-Dec 1929)

October 5, 1929 EXHIBITORS HERALD-WORLD WHAT THE PICTURE DID FOR ME Verdicts on Films in Language of Exhibitor Copyright, 1929 AT — All Talking; T — Talking Sequences; M — Music (synchronous) ; E — Sound Effects. (Example: ATM, means the picture is all-talking and has a synchronized musical score. In the same way all other symbols may he combined.) Columbia SUBMARINE: Jack Holt— September 14. Very good production and pleased. Nine reels. — C. A. Swircinsky, Majestic theatre, Washington, Kan. — General patronage. COURT MARTIAL: Jack Holt— September 5-6-7. This is purely American, but it pleased here which just goes to show that Canada is just as interested in America as America is in Canada. A page from American history, partly in technicolor, plenty of action and a good story. Seven reels. — S. B. Kennedy, Central theatre, Selkirk, Man., Canada. — General patronage. BEHIND CLOSED DOORS: Special cast— September 9-10-11. Can't say much for this. A rather slow, draggy affair that will not interest present day patrons. Seven reels. — S. B. Kennedy, Central theatre, Selkirk, Man., Canada. — General patronage. THE BACHELOR GIRL (TME) : Special castSeptember 5-6-7. A nice little picture. Not a special. — M. W. Mattecheck, Lark theatre, McMinnville, Ore. — Local patronage. First National THE LAWLESS LEGION: Ken Maynard— September 14. Good Ken Maynard picture, and while we thought it not quite so good as some of his others, many said it was very good indeed. I have never seen a Ken Maynard picture that was not good. Of course, some are better than others. This picture was too dark. Wish they would make some of them light. This seems to be a general fault. Six reels. — R. D. Carter, Fairfax theatre, Kilmarnock, Va. — General patronage. THE SQUALL (TME) : Myrna Loy— September 11-12-13. Too long. Slow action and tiresome. Just a picture. — M. W. Mattecheck, Lark theatre, McMinnville, Ore. — Local patronage. CHEYENNE: Ken Maynard— September 13-14. A mighty good Western with plenty of rodeo scenes, and you can tell 'em that my crowd likes to see the action. Buy this and give it a big bally, then sit back and cash in. It will more than please and I consider it as one of the best Westerns that I have played this year. Six reels. — Ray W. Musselman, Princess theatre, Lincoln, Kan. — General patronage. TWO WEEKS OFF: Mulhall-Mackaill— September 2-3. A fair picture with a lot of wise cracks and subtitles. Seven reels. — Orris F. Collins, Palace theatre, Rector, Ark.— Small town patronage. THE UPLAND RrVER: Ken Maynard— September 14. This is one of the best Westerns I ever played from any company. It will please the kids and make the old folks come out smiling. The cross country race is quite thrilling. Print in good condition. — James L. Sears, Liberty theatre, Humansville, Mo. — Small town patronage. CHILDREN OF THE RITZ: Mulhall-Mackaill — September 5-6. A very good picture, lots of good comedy and a good story. Will please in any house. — Page & Goetz, Gem theatre, Canton, Mo. — Small town patronage. HOT STUFF (TME): Alice White— September 18-19. Very little talking, but a very good picture. Good sound and effects gave general satisfaction. — Bert Silver, Silver Family theatre, Greenville, Mich. — General patronage. THE BARKER (ME): Milton Sills— August 26-27-28. Good carnival picture. While a little rough, you forget this because it is so very well done, so interesting. Milton Sills — well, he's just fine in every way, voice extra good, and how he can "bark" ! Indeed all the cast is good. A little dark because of so many night scenes. Business off be FALL IS HERE FALL is here — and that reminds us that just the other day we wrote in this same place another little piece entitled, "Spring is Here." At least, it seems as though it were just the other day, although, of course, it must have been quite a few months ago. We expect some criticism for not being able to think up another kind of title, and doubtless we deserve some. It certainly is not our desire to be monotonous. But in speaking of the seasons, some monotony is bound to creep into one's statements. Do not the seasons repeat themselves? And how more accurately can one announce the latest arrival of one of the old familiar seasons than by merely saying that it is here? To merely announce the coming of fall, however, is not our purpose. We assume, despite our introduction, that our readers have noted the turning of the leaves and fhe death of September on the calendar. We feel, moreover, that there are more important things about fall than the botanical and astronomical evidence of its arrival. We feel, for instance, that the advent of fall should mean an increase in the number of reports. Summertime is vacation time, and no one expects anyone else to do more than he has to. If the contributor who regularly sends in reports on about a dozen pictures in winter, allows his contributions to slough off to four or five in summer, the loss must be accepted and charged to seasonal expense. But in fall, winter and spring, there can be no very good excuses, can there? And every report counts — there should be no holes in the record to which so many exhibitors refer for guidance in the operation of their theatres. It is as Brother Shnitka says on another page: when one gets help, one feels like giving help. And that is why we make this unnecessary announcement that fall is here. Its coming should bring all contributors back to the habit of reporting on all the pictures they play. For doing so, we thank you, and in thanking you, voice, we know, the gratitude of all concerned. —GEORGE SCHUTZ. cause of a tent show nearby. Eight reels. — R. D. Carter, Fairfax theatre, Kilmarnock, Va. — General patronage. BROADWAY/ BABIES: Alice White— September 9-10. A whizz of a good picture. Will stand plenty of advertising and a raise at the box office. Eight reels. — Orris F. Collins, Palace theatre, Rector, Ark. — Small town patronage. CHINATOWN CHARLIE: Special cast— September 16. This is not a picture to rave over, but it is good enough for any exhibitor to buy without being ashamed to 6how it. Still having crowded houses on Monday night, our serial night. "Tarzan the Mighty" still drawing strong. Six reels. — H. B. Griee, Aiken Mills theatre, Bath, S. C. — Small town patronage. OUTCAST: Special cast— August 26. Quite a letdown from "Heart to Heart" to "The Outcast." Two extremes of entertainment. The first great, the second poor. Not received well here at all. No comedy. Worst side of society shown. Drags. Just a flop for us. May please in the cities, but I doubt it. Eight reels. — H. B. Grice, Aiken Mills theatre, Bath, S. C— Small town patronage. SCARLET SEAS (ME): Special east— September 13-14. A very good picture. Both stars. As always, in any picture they make, it is a good one. No talking in it, but has good music and sound effects and makes a good entertainment. — Bert Silver, Silver Family theatre, Greenville, Mich. — General patronage. THREE RING MARRIAGE: Special cast— September 9. Anyone who enjoys a circus (and who doesn't?) will enjoy this picture immensely. The two midgets are the real stars and sure produce the laughs. Also showed the tenth episode of "Tarzan the Mighty" to more people than any of the previous episodes, taking in 90 per cent of the house record. At this rate it will break the record before the end. Six reels. — H. B. Grice, Aiken Mills theatre, Bath, S. C. — Small town patronage. FLYING ROMEOS: Special cast— September 2. Now here's a picture to our liking. We laughed and laughed. Six reels. — H. B. Grice, Aiken Mills theatre, Bath, S. C. — Small town patronage. SHEPHERD OF THE HILLS: Richard Barthelmess — I am sorry to report that the condition of this print was terrible. I have been a constant user of F N products, but they certainly played me a dirty trick in sending me a print of this kind, after my paying them a fancy price for it. The picture would have been a great picture if we had gotten all of it, but we didn't. Eight reels. — W. J. Shoup, DeLuxe theatre, Spearville, Kan. — General patronage. Fox GIRLS GONE WILD: Sue Carol— September 17. Better picture than the title would indicate and business just fair. Six reels.— C. A. Swircinsky, Majestic theatre, Washington, Kan. — General patronage. WIN THAT GIRL: Special cast— September 16. A very good little school picture which took very good here, as we had it for the opening day of our college. Six reels. — Page & Goetz, Gem theatre. Canton, Mo. — Small town patronage. M-G-M DESERT NIGHTS: John Gilbert — September 6-7. Another hit from Metro. Neared the house record for a two-day picture in this town. Gilbert is very popular here. Am sorry I do not have some more of his pictures. Seven reels. — G. H» Wright, Jr., Star theatre, Wendell, N. C— Small town patronage. CIRCUS ROOKIES: Dane-Arthur— This was ■ little below their standard of pictures. While it is good from a comedy angle, it is not as good as their other pictures. Print was in very bad shape. Its ending was entirely gone — it just jumped off into' space and stopped with a jar and a groan from the audience, which sat still for a moment waiting for the balance of the picture to appear, until they could realize that it was all over. There were a number of other scenes that were cut short or cut out entirely. Six reels. — W. J. Shoup, DeLuxe theatre, Spearville, Kan. — General patronage.