Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World (Apr-Jun 1930)

56 EXHIBITORS HERALD-WORLD April 5, 1950 body made a bad mistake here. Don’t know who, but I see that the leading: lady is suing for plenty. Just a misfire in all directions. Eight reels. — Henry Reeve, Mission theatre, Menard, Tex. — Small town patronage. PEACOCK ALLEY (AT): Mae Murray— February 23. My crowd did not like it at all. The story, what little there is to it, is just a little questionable. The picture runs only one hour and three minutes, which is too short for a feature picture. The recording is not clear. They used a lot of jabber and music in the background while the dialog was on, which killed the dialog. Mae herself is good, but her dances were not liked. The one reel of natural color seems to have been added later. I had dozens of walkouts on the picture, which seldom happens here. — M. W. Larmour, National theatre, Graham, Tex. — General patronage. PEACOCK ALLEY (AT) : Mae Murray — This is the poorest excuse of a picture I have run in my theatre for a long time. Poor recording and poor story. Could hardly understand it at all, and it’s not the fault of our equipment as other companies’ products register excellent on it. Seven reels. — C. E. Mosher, Orpheum theatre, Rockford, la. — Small town patronage. PAINTED FACES (AT) : Joe Brown — Joe Brown does a very creditable piece of character stuff in this picture. But of course the dialect is hard to get any may cause some unfavorable comments relative to the thing. However, it is mighty well done. Has some weak spots, but will get over if you have good disc talking equipment. — W. H. Brenner, Cozy theatre, Winchester, Ind. — General patronage. PAINTED FACES (AT) : Joe E. Brown— March 19. Recording on disc terrible. Could not understand two-thirds of the picture. If recording had been good it would have been a fair program attraction. Eight reels. — C. E. Mosher, Orpheum theatre, Rockford, la. — Small town patronage. COLLEGE DAYS: Marceline Day — A fairly good entertaining picture, despite the fact that it was at least four years old. By no means a special, but will please if you don’t promise too much. Print in excellent condition for an old picture. Eight reels.— Marion F. Bodwell, Paramount theatre, Wyoming, 111. —Small town patronage. WOMAN TO WOMAN (AT) : Betty Compson — Betty Compson the only redeeming feature. Again we must say the recording is terrible. No continuity to the story. A few more of these poor recordings and we will have to quit as people sure hate to pay for something they can’t understand. This picture is worth about half the price paid for it. Eight reels. — C. E. Mosher, Orpheum theatre, Rockford, la. — Small town patronage. THE TOILERS: Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. — A very good entertaining picture. Good for Saturday especially. Nine reels. — Marion F. Bodwell, Paramount theatre, Wyoming, 111. — Small town patronage. THE CAVAUER: Richard Talmadge— Used this one as a 10 cent bargain special, and it was very entertaining. Plenty of action, with a few laughs, now and then. A3 good as you could expect in silent entertainment. Print in good condition for an old picture. Seven reels. — Marion F. Bodwell, Paramount theatre, Wyoming, 111. — Small town patronage. LOST ZEPPELIN (AT) : Conway Tearle — Good picture. Good talk on disc. Good novelty attraction. Played Friday and Saturday here. Should please in any town on any day of week. Eight reels.— Henry Reeve, Mission theatre, Menard, Tex. — Small town patronage. United Artists ALIBI: Special cast— March 17-18-19. The best crook story. Very good. Nine reels. — Benjamin Shnitka, Royal theatre, Innisfail, Alta, Canada.— Small town patronage. STEAM BOAT BILL, JR. : Buster Keaton — Good. Seven reels. — Julius Schmidt, Grand theatre, Breese, 111.. — General patronage. RAMONA : Dolores Del Rio — The title draws, but not so much of a 6how. It’s good but no special. Eight reels. — Julius W. Schmidt, Grand theatre, Breese, 111. — General patronage. Universal THE LONG, LONG TRAIL (AT): Hoot GibsonPleased Hoot’s fans. Recording not 60 good, but patrons just take it for granted that these cheaper Westerns are not supposed to be the best, so therefore no complaints. — Austin Childs, Rex theatre, Hanover. Kan. — Small town patronage. THE LONG, LONG TRAIL (AT): Hoot Gibson— February 22. A fair Western, but lots of Hoot’s 6ilent Westerns have been better. It runs only one hour which is too short for a feature picture. The recording could be much better. All talking. — M. W. Larmour, National theatre, Graham, Tex. — General patronage. HELL’S HEROES (AT) : Special cast — Another special gone wrong. Pleased the majority because it’s different. No love story in it. Quite a bit of humor that an evil minded person might take wrong. But it could happen nevertheless. This pulled the poorest Sunday crowd since I put in talkies. Tried to make it as big as the “Covered Wagon” by advertising it big, but couldn’t interest them, because you have to have the pictures. — Austin Childs, Rex theatre, Hanover, Kan. — Small town patronage. HELL’S HEROES (AT) : Special cast — A real talking picture. The recording on disc was the best we have had. Photography was brilliantly clear. Story entertained all classes from start to finish. There was no music blaring out to drown the talking. The advertising accessories are good. What more could a fellow want in one picture. — M. W. Larmour, National theatre, Graham, Tex. — General patronage. LUCKY LARKIN (ME) : Ken Maynard — After advertising this as an all-talking picture, it was disappointing to find that it was only synchronized with music and sound effects. Nevertheless it was a good Western melodrama, with plenty of action, and the usual amount of thrills that always takes place in a Maynard picture. Maynard is, without a doubt, the best Western star on the screen. Seven reels. — Marion F. Bodwell, Paramount theatre, Wyoming, 111. — Small town patronage. LUCKY LARKIN (ME): Ken Maynard— This picture doesn’t speak a word. Musical score and a little sound effects. It drew pretty good, but it didn’t please as good. Played on a Saturday to a full house.. — R. A. Preuss, Golden Gem theatre. Golden, Col. — Small town patronage. TONIGHT AT TWELVE (AT): Special cast—. March 13-14-15. Nothing to it except lots of swearing. Very poor sound recording on film. Eight reels. — Arvid G. Wiklund, State theatre. New England, N. D. — General patronage. TONIGHT AT TWELVE (AT): Special cast— Not a bad picture at all. Recording is good. My crowd thought it a little better than the average program picture. — M. W. Larmour, National theatre, Graham. Tex. — General patronage. THE DRAKE CASE: Special cast— March 15. Held the attention and interest of our patrons all the way through. Good production. — George Lodge, Green Lantern theatre, Claymont, Del. — General patronage. SHANNONS OF BROADWAY (AT) : The Gleasons — The worst disappointment in talkies yet. Fell flat. Advertised heavily, but after first day matinee they told their friends how poor it was, and it cut my Sunday night's receipts in two. Universal lacks something or lots of things. Too much Gleasons, and then they fail to produce. Don’t play it as a special and it will, no doubt, get by. But when one advertises a picture to the skies they expect something.— Austin Childs, Rex theatre, Hanover, Kan. — Small town patronage. SENOR AMERICANO (TME) : Ken Maynard— All talking but the first reel. Comedian in this good, also a fair singer. Kathryn Crawford was hard to understand and the villain was terrible. Wish these Westerns were recorded like the “Great Divide,” they would be the best drawing cards possible. — Austin Childs, Rex theatre, Hanover, Kan. — -Small town patronage. THE WAGON MASTER (TME): Ken MaynardWell liked by Western fans. Recording way below Vitaphone standard, but got by here. Ken’s voice good, but most of the characters hard to understand. If some of you exhibitors, where Westerns draw good, can buy them without taking all the rest of their film. I’d say buy them. But you have to have pictures that will draw now more than ever. — Austin Childs, Rex theatre, Hanover, Kan. — Small town patronage. BARNUM WAS RIGHT: Glenn Tryon— March 11. Good comedy. Better than his usual features. Usually he is entirely too exaggerated in his actions. — George Lodge, Green Lantern theatre, Claymont, Del. — General patronage. THE LARIAT KID: Hoot Gibson— March 1. A good clean Western that the Saturday night fans will eat up. A good silent picture. Six reels. — H. Beebe, Rialto theatre, Nelson, Neb. — General patronage. MOUNTED STRANGER (AT): Hoot Gibsonrecording on disc was excellent on this picture, but the entertainment value was not so good. Just the same it will pass and please the majority. Patrons seem to take to these talking Westerns. Seven reels. — Marion F. Bodwell, Paramount theatre, Wyoming. 111. — Small town patronage. HOLD YOUR MAN (AT): Laura LaPlante— This is an unusually good comedy drama. My folks liked it far better than lots of the so called specials we get. The recording is unusually clear, and the story is clean. — M. W. Larmour, National theatre, Graham, Tex. — General patronage. HOLD YOUR MAN (AT) : Laura La Plante — Pleasing comedy. No one very enthused about it. Recording fair. Can be understood okay, but when you run a Vitaphone right after it there’s lots of difference. — Austin Childs. Rex theatre, Hanover, Kan. — Small town patronage. SHOW BOAT (TME): Special cast— Well liked here. Made a little money on this one, although many had seen it. Had to work hard to get them out for those that had seen it, heard it on a poor outfit in a nearby town last fall. After the opening night I got out a special bill, and did better the last two nights of the run than the first. Recording very good. Even up to Vitaphone standard. Last reel is great with the colored singer crooning. No kicks on just part talking. Play this one if you haven’t already. — Austin Childs, Rex theatre, Hanover, Kan. — Small town patronage. DAMES AHOY (AT): Glenn Tryon— March 14-15. Recording fair. Seven reels. — L. P. Charles, Grand Opera House, Chetek, Wis. — -General patronage. DAMES AHOY (AT) : Special cast — A real laugh show, and a money maker, too. This clicked and then some. This and “Embarrassing Moments” are two of Universal’6 late good comedy dramas. Good film recording.— R. A. Preuss, Golden Gem theatre. Golden, Col. — Small town patronage. Warner Brothers SHE COULDN’T SAY NO (AT) : Winnie Lightner — A very good picture for the small towns. Winnie sings a couple of good songs that the audience eats up. However, may I suggest that she lose fifteen or twenty pounds? Recording on disc excellent. Seven reels. — Warren L. Weber, Ellinwood theatre, Ellinwood, Kan. — Small town patronage. SHE COULDN’T SAY NO (AT) : Winnie Lightner — A nice picture, with a star that is made after you play the “Gold Diggers of Broadway.” But it is hard to get them in with anything nowadays, so cannot say this star will not draw when times are good. Seven reels. — W. Burr, Orpheum theatre, Lancaster, Wis. — Small town patronage. GENERAL CRACK (AT) : John Barrymore — This was a costume picture of the eighteenth century, but it was thoroughly enjoyed by the few patrons that came. Eleven reels. — W. Burr, Orpheum theatre, Lancaster, Wis. — General patronage. THE HOTTENTOT (AT): Edward Everett Horton — A little better than a program class picture. Classed as a special by Warners, but sold at more than a fair road show price. It’s funny, but it did not draw at all for some reason. Possibly the following remark by one of the patrons, who looked over the posters and walked away, will explain the bad business. “I don’t want to see that. It’s just an old picture with some talk added. ” — M. W. Larmour, National theatre, Graham, Tex. — General patronage. GOLD DIGGERS OF BROADWAY (MC) : Special cast — February 17-18. About once every few years I get a picture that makes me glad I picked the show' business for my profession. This is -the picture that made me happy. It is, without a doubt, the most entertaining, the most beautiful, the best directed, the best recorded, and the best cast picture I have ever had the pleasure of presenting. Winnie Lightner is a knockout. She made my crowd rock with laughter every time she appeared. Nancy Welford deserves special mention. She is a great little actress and put over the hardest part in the show with a bang. Nick Lucas has a beautiful voice that recorded perfectly. The picture is entirely in color. It is sharp, bright, and clear. The recording in the entire picture is the best we have received to date. About a dozen people hunted me up and stated that my new talking picture machine was wonderful, and the best talker they had ever heard any place. It was the same old machine, played in the same old way, but given a chance to do its stuff with some good recording. Please, oh please, Mr. Producers, give us a few more pictures just half as good as “The Gold Diggers of Broadway,” and we will have a fighting chance. And best of all in this day of forty-five to sixty minute pictures, "Gold Diggers of Broadway” is long enough to make the people feel that they are getting their money’s worth.— M. W. Larmour, National theatre, Graham, Tex. — General patronage. CAUGHT IN THE FOG: Special cast— March 10-11-12. Just a program picture. Six reels. — Benjamin Shnitka, Royal theatre, Innisfail, Alta., Canada. — Small town patronage. HOME TOWNERS: Special cast— March 4-5. Long, slow picture without any interest in silent print. The sound print might be good. Six reels. — Benjamin Shnitka, Royal theatre, Innisfail, Alta., Canada. — Small town patronage. THE LITTLE WILDCAT (AT) : Audrey Ferris— February 20. This is only part talking, but a pretty good comedy program picture. The recording is not quite as good as it could be. It runs one hour and about five minutes, which is almost long enough for a feature picture. Pictures should run at least seventy-five minutes or the audience feels that they have been cheated into coming to see a short subject instead of a feature. And the exhibitor is cheated for he pays a big price for a short subject and then has to buy some short subjects to build up a show long enough to satisfy his patrons. — M. W. Larmour, National theatre, Graham, Tex. — General patronage. Miscelloneou9 CIRCUS KID (F B O) : Special cast — Average program offering. Seven reels. — Parkside theatre, Clinton. Ia. — General patronage. HEY RUBE (F B 0) : Special cast— Just a fair circus story. — Julius W. Schmidt, Grand theatre, Breese, 111. — General patronage. HEROES OF THE WILD (State Rights): Jack Hoxie — This Western serial went okay for me, so I call it good.— Julius W. Schmidt, Grand theatre, Breese, 111. — General patronage. HEADING FOR DANGER (FBO): Bob Steele— Bob Steele pictures are always good, as he puts everything he has in them. Six reels.— Julius W. Schmidt, Grand theatre, Breese, 111. — General patronage. NORTH OF 49 DEGREES (TME): Special cast— An independent Western that went over here in good shape. Good rodeo action. Music score fine. Talk a bit bow-wow at first, but okay most of the picture. Well worth running on a Saturday. Allied Film Exchange handles it in Dallas. No knockout, but you won’t have to pay for a knockout either. Recording on product, of these independents, has surprised us here on disc. Not all-talking, but no kicks the way it is handled. Six reels. — Henry Reeve, Mission theatre, Menard, Tex. — Small town patronage. Serials BLAKE OF SCOTLAND YARD (Universal) : Special cast — Don’t know what I am running this for. No drawing card. Very little talking, and what there is, is poor. I don’t advertise it but just run it to make my Friday and Saturday show seem longer. Wish I could dream that Uncle Carl would tell me I didn’t have to play my C. S. C. contract out and it would come true. It’s my only real worry. Have been a Universal booster for years but can’t 6ay I am now. — Austin Childs, Rex theatre, Hanover, Kan. — Small town patronage.