Exhibitor's Trade Review (Mar-May 1925)

April 4t 1925 Page 57 hibitor who has any wisdom and a keen eye to business will go to some pains to get hold of the entire series. It is the love storv of two nightingales, told with real charm and most artistically presented. If there is any one who thinks that a bird romance' is a pretty poor subject for screen presentation, he will change his mind when he sees "The Voice of the Nightingale" or we miss our guess. There is no theatre where this reel will not meet with favor. "Hodge Podge" Educational 1 reel It would be hard to find more diversified entertainment than Lyman H. Howe's "Hodge Podge." Little events of interest garnered from all corners of the world, this _ particular release shows among other things the Rainbow Falls in Hawaii, a pig-head mountain in Colorado, spearing fish in British Guiana, a wedding in Holland, harvesting in Saskatchewan, rowing practice aboard a ship, the hydraulic method of getting gold from gravel in Oregon and many other "shots" of interest. This reel is particularly well presented for it is not an easy task to collect so many jumbled sequences and make them into a film with any kind of smoothness and clearness, yet this is just what Mr. Howe has done. It will provide entertainment on any program that is novel as well as instructive. ♦ ♦ 'The Mellow Quartette" Educational 1 reel One of the Earl Hurd pen and ink sketches, "The Mellow Quartette" is a pleasing offering which has to do with a "props" boy who is rushed in to take the place of the fourth member of a male quartette. He has the good judgment to carry out his part of the act behind a screen and the deluge of vegetables with which the singers are showered is sufficient to provide all hands with a steaming vegetable stew. Altogether "The Mellow Quartette" is a diverting and entertaining little novelty which should prove a good filler on most any bill. "Shakespeare in Memoriam" Red Seal 300 ft. This reel deals with a few scenes from the birth place of Shakespeare at Stratford-on-Avon and the places closely associated with the life of the spot. The birthday of the immortal Shakespeare is celebrated on April 23, so this release has an especial value during the month of April. The scenes associated the Bard-on-Avon are reproduced most beautifully, and it is small wonder that with such an enchanted back "Hair Cartoon" Red Seal 1 reel Here is another of the animated cartoons from the facile pen of the cartoonist Marcus of the New York Times that has an especial timeliness at this season of the year when the cry of "Play ball !" is in the air. In issue "P" of the series the artist has selected Christy Mathewson, John McGraw and Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis. The transition of George Bernard Shaw to Judge Landis is particularly clever, and the novelty in general is of a nature that should find favor in any type of theatre. For any exhibitor who has not booked any of this animated hair series we would suggest that he start with this release. * * * j*r> "At the Zoo" Pathe 1 reel It is truly remarkable that Cartoonist Paul Terry never runs out of ideas. Supplying, as he does, a fable a week, it would not be surprising if now and then he became a trifle dull. But such is not the case. One release possesses as much originality and ingenuity as its predecessor, and is quite as pleasing. All of the pen animals have a part in "At The Zoo." They are shot into the choice seats by the elephant's trunk which makes a splendid usher. The reel is good entertainment and quite up to the high standard set in previous releases. Spring is here and the summer girls are coming! A group of the Century comedy girls who are appearing in Century comedies released through Universal. ground, he turned out such glorious literature. The grammar school where he received his education is shown, some delightful shots of the Avon River, the house where he was born and Trinity Church where the great dramatist sleeps his last sleep. In a glimpse of Trinity, the ghosts of some of Shakespeare's most famous characters are reproduced most beautifully, and it is small and through double exposure, the figures of Shylock and Portia, Romeo and Juliet are seen to wander among the tombstones. An altogether charming and enlightening offering, this reel should find a welcome place on any program. REAL SERVICE The value of shorts cannot be overestimated. Every exhibitor knows that a weak feature may be bolstered up by a strong program of short subjects. EXHIBITORS TRADE REVIEW is co-onerating to the fullest extent in guiding exhibitors in the selecton of such films. Read the twenty reviews in this issue to assist you in your choice. In no other trade journal will you find such a complete service guide. Twenty reviews-is a record no other trade magazine has ever equalled. This is real exhibitor service. Arizona's Grand Canyon An Iris Novelty 1 reel Here is color photography that has reached the apex of film production. Portraying Arizona's Grand Canyon, fitly named "one of the seven wonders of the world," this feature brings out most of its natural beauty. The vast expanse of rock formation, two hundred miles long and a dozen miles wide, with its myriads of fresh water springs, its streams, its cliffs and gullies, is filmed in natural colors. To see this Iris achievement is equivalent to a trip through the Canyon. Filmed at a time of day when the sun's rays cast their evening shadows over the great Arizona area, the photographers, together with their newest color accessories, brought out the most picturesque scenes that have been discussed by archeologists and reproduced in museums. The beautful panaroma unfolds to the eye, perhaps for the first time, with the aid of photography, a glimpse of nature's greatest amphi-theatre, of secenic wonders. * * * "Film Facts" Red Seal 1 reel Issue "E" in this series of magazine reels offers a most diversified though badly jubmled collection of scenes. Some of the subjects assembled in this film are a few glimpses of the Catalina Islands off the cost of California, and atrip through the waters off the shore in a glass-bottomed boat. Then there are views of Kentucky during the Fair week, with some unusual sights and freaks that invariably gather at an event of this kind, it appears that some of these views are pretty old, and there is nothing in the reel that provides anything either unusual or new, which after all is the only excuse for a magazine novelty of this kind. We would not go out of our way to secure this one. "Alice Solves the Puzzle" Winkler 1 reel Alice grows sleepy seeking in vain for the proper word to complete her cross-word puzzle. She dozes off and in dreamland meets her pal the cartoon cat. They have lots of fun together until the arrival of a villainous bootlegging bear. The cat saves Alice from the bear, and she wakes up having thought ot the missing word. Here is another of the delightful Alice comedies. It will prove an asset to any showman wishing to spice up his program, as the combination of cartoon and photography is constantly gaining popularity. The little girl who plays Alice is an extremely appealing youngster, and the cartoon characters are always good for a laugh. Such situations as the bootlegging bear who smuggles whiskey past the twelve mile limit in the pouch of his pet pelican are always good for a laugh, and in this comedy the antics of the cartoon cat after being kicked bv bootleg "licker" are highly amusing. Exhibitors won't go wrong in booking this one. Pathe Review No. 14 Pathe 1 reel The principal subject in Pathe Review No. 14 is a chapter on the "Secret of Nature" series in which deep-sea crabs play the starring role. Produced with the cooperation of the Natural History Museum, London, thrpicture reveals how the crab protects itself through camouflage. Another interesting subject in the Review is the novelty photographing of "Magic Minnie," the Javanese love bird. The Review closes with scenes of the interesting points in the city of Indianapolis in Pathecolor. Then there are some delightful shots of Indianapolis, in the "Visiting Our Own Americ'a" series, showing some of the scenic splendor of this city. The photography is a page from nature, the general tone and color being a thing of beauty. It is an exceptionally good release.