Exhibitors Herald (Dec 1921 - Mar 1922)

February 25, 1922 EXHIBITORS HERALD 71 "What the Picture Did For Me" VERDICTS ON FILMS IN LANGUAGE OF EXHIBITOR Copyright, 1922 You are especially invited to contribute regularly to this department. It is a co-operative service FOR THE BENEFIT OF EXHIBITORS. TELL US WHAT THE PICTURE DID FOR YOU and read in the HERALD every week what the picture did for the other fellow, thereby getting the only possible guide to box office values. Address "What The Picture Did For Me,"' EXHIBITORS HERALD, 417 S. Dearborn St. Chicago. Associated Exhibitors The Rider of King Log, with a special cast. — A very good picture, but did not do much. Weather too cold. — Shelby & Windbeil, Orpheum theatre, Amsterdam, N. Y. — Transient patronage. The Road to London, with Bryant Washburn. — Quite good as a scenic picture but there is no story, and five reels is too long for a scenic. However, we heard no complaints. — W. H. Creal, Sr., Suburban theatre, Omaha, Xeb. — Xeighborhood patronage. Women Who Wait, with a special cast. —Only fair— Shelby & Windbeil, Orpheum theatre, Amsterdam, X. Y. — Transient patronage. First National My Boy, with Jackie Coogan. — One of the three biggest box office attractions played here in a year, the other two being The Kid and Peck's Bad Boy. Perhaps it is a coincidence. Played a full week to capacity every day. A dandy picture enjoyed by every man, woman and child. — Frank L. Browne, Liberty theatre, Long Beach, Cal. The Lotus Eater, with John Barrymore. — No business, title poor. Excellent cast, improbable story. Not up to the standard set by Xeilan in Go and Get It, Dinty and The River's End.— Chas. H. Ryan, Garfield theatre, 2844 Madison St., Chicago, 111. — General patronage. The Wonderful Thing, with Norma Talmadge. — The star's best picture. Three . days to good business considering present conditions. — A. H. West, Babcock theatre, Billings, Mont. — Neighborhood patronage. The Beautiful Liar, with Katherine MacDonald. — About the poorest picture beautiful Kathryn has ever made, for she generally is well cast, but they sure failed in this scenario. — J. Carbonell. Monroe theatre. Key West, Fla. — Neighborhood patronage. Bits of Life, a Marshall Neilan production.— Very disappointing. More complaints on this picture than any we have shown for months. — P. R. Matson, Crystal theatre, Flandreau, S. D. Hail the Woman, a Thomas H. Ince production—If you want to fill your theatre, and satisfy your patrons, book this. I cannot impress upon you too strongly the necessity of proper exploitation and advertising this remarkable production. — M. Davitts, Dixie theatre, Winona, Miss. — Neighborhood patronage. Molly O, with Mabel Normand.— A good picture, but not nearly as big a picture as the producer thinks it is. Raised the price, but didn't do much.— Donald W. Knapp. Strand theatre, San Bernardino, Cal. — Downtown patronage. AH For a Woman, with a special cast. Good piece of work but picture will not go in the states. American pictures are nreferred. Exhibitors are sure getting a dose of these European productions of poor value. — J. Carbonell, Monroe theatre, Key West, Fla. — Neighborhood patronage. Two Minutes to Go, with Charles Ray. — Not Ray's best, but very satisfactory. — P. R. Matson, Crystal theatre, Flandreau, S. D. Molly O, with Mabel Xormand. — A remarkable production. Played two days at advanced admission. Don't fail to book this. — M. Davitts. Dixie theatre, \\ inona, Miss. — Neighborhood patronage. Molly O, with Mabel Normand. — Don't miss it. It is a magnet at the box office. All who saw it were pleased. On a par with The Shiek for getting business. — Newspaper Waits for "Herald C. T. McCLURE of McClure & Faulkner, Comique theatre, Jamesport, Mo., lays aside the daily newspaper to read the HERALD when it arrives. One of those whose support of this department dates from its inception, Mr. McClure writes of the present and future as follows: "Here is the guy that reads the HERALD from cover to cover every week and could not run his house without doing so. The daily newspaper is laid aside until we look over the HERALD, especially the 'What the Picture Did for Me' columns. "We have been in the game eight years and like it better all the time. Though it is not so remunerative now as in former years, yet today is no time to quit. Do more thinking, work harder to build up lost patronage, and the reward will be to the faithful in the end. "Here's wishing the HERALD unbounded success in the years to come and every exhibitor better business in 1922 than we had in 1921. "Thank you." Chas. H. Ryan, Garfield theatre, 2844 Madison St., Chicago, 111. — General patronage. Love, Honor and Behave, a Mack Sennett production. — Far better than Married Life. Acting of Charley Murray very funny. This brought out all the kids, but did not draw the older ones. — Philip Rand, Rex theatre, Salmon, Ida. — Small town patronage. The Child Thou Gavest Me, with a special cast. — A picture of unusual merit. It is lavishly set. Direction and lighting 100 percent. Barbara Castleton has your sympathy from the beginning and Lewis Stone shows up as a finished actor hard to equal. The feeling expressed by Barbara Castleton when her little boy is returned to her is as fine a portrayal of this kind that I have ever seen. Dickey Headrick wins praise from everyone. — W. H. Brenner, Cozy theatre, Winchester, Ind. MOLLY O, a Mack Sennett production. — The first picture ever booked for four days, last night being the first night. Pleased 100 per cent and every seat was filled 25 minutes after doors were open. Looking for better business the balance of the run. Used store windows, heralds (tied on doorknobs) and newspapers. Seating capacity 1,100. You will not go wrong by booking this picture. — Feess Bros., Best theatre, Parsons, Kan. The Lotus Eater, with John Barrymore. — A novel entertaining picture. My people seemed to like it very much. — Donald W. Knapp, Strand theatre, San Bernardino, Cal. — Downtown patronage. The Old Swimmin' Hole, with Charles Ray. — Patrons were divided on the picture. Some liked it well, others did not. I think it a clever picture. Lost me money. — L. H. Gerrard, Gem theatre, Spur, Tex. — Neighborhood patronage. The Love Expert, with Constance Talmadge.— Best comedy ever run at this place. Connie pleases always. The exhibitor who has never run First National don't know pictures. — H. D. Tawney, Dixie theatre, Lilbourn, Mo. — Small town patronage. One Arabian Night, with Pola Negri. — Good production and cast. Star wonderful. Box office stuffy. No draft. — A. H. West, Babcock theatre, Billings, Mont. — Neighborhood patronage. The Silent Call, with a special cast. — Really about the best audience picture I have ever run. Went over big. — Donald W. Knapp, Strand theatre, San Bernardino, Cal. — Downtown patronage. Mamma's Affair, with Constance Talmadge.— Just fair. No business at all. — Philip Rand, Rex theatre, Salmon, Ida. — Small town patronage. A Broken Doll, an Allan Dwan production.— A picture that my patrons all liked, although there is not much to it, but there is a way and he seems to know how