Exhibitors Herald (Jul-Sep 1922)

56 EXHIBITORS HERALD July 22, 1922 LETTERS From Readers A forum at which the exhibitor is invited to express his opinion on matters of current interest. Brevity adds forcefulness to any statement. Unsigned letters will not be printed. Still 3,000 Miles Apart EXETER, N. H.— To the Editor: Just read the letter of Mr. Blaschke, Wapato, Wash., in your recent issue, and as it seems to require an answer, here goes. Now my dear Mr. Blaschke, I have used nearly all of the pictures you name and a great many of them at a financial loss. The majority of those you name are specials and sold to us at a special price, the price nearly always above the value of the picture. You say "What's wrong with these pictures?" and then give a long list. And I say nothing is wrong with them, except the price, and I claim that you can get other pictures as good at considerable less rental (that is, if they ask the same prices there as here). I don't consider "More Deadly Than the Male" out of the ordinary. "Forbidden Fruit" was an exceptionally good one, but outside of this one I do not see any really wonderful pictures in your whole list (except the three or four big specials of United Artists that you name) and of these "Way Down East," without an orchestra that could play the music would have been no better than some other features I have used. Universal went them one better than their much-talked-of "ice scene" when they gave us the "flood scene" in "Wild Honey" and without the music I would put "Wild Honey" against it any time. "Little Lord Fauntleroy" I have not used as I have never considered it worth the money they ask for it. It has been far from a "world beater" around here. As for "The Toll Gate," "The Whistle," "Three Word Brand," "Grim Game," "Paris Green," "The Lottery Man," "Too Much Speed," "Told in the Hills," "The Tree of Knowledge," "Wild Goose," "The Prince Chap," "On With the Dance," "Behind the Door," "The Fighting Chance," "The Teeth of the Tiger," "Sowing the Wind," "Playthings of Destiny," "Peck's Bad Boy," these are only ordinary pictures and I can get just as good from most of the other producers at about half the rental price of these. I would advise you to go to the city when you can get a chance and see some "real pictures." You speak of "On With the Dance." Book "Peacock Alley" and "Fascination," which I will guarantee you can buy for less than you paid for "On With the Dance" and give your patrons a treat with a couple of good pictures. Try Goldwyn's "Old Nest." You ask me "where is my quality" and I am telling you that it is not in the list that you have picked out. You have named 41 pictures as wonders and, with the exception of 15 of them, I consider them no better than a lot of program pictures, and the 15 that I have made an exception of were every one released as specials and were sold at a special price and for each one of these I can pick just as good pictures of other producers at about half the price they asked me for these. The United Artists ask me $350 for "The Three Musketeers," "Fauntleroy" and "Way Down East" for two days in a town of a little over 4,000 people, and I can buy the "Old Nest," "Peacock Alley" and others of equal value (except "Way Down East") for less than one-seventh of that price. You may think I am asleep but if so I hope I never will wake up to pay those prices. By careful selection I can equal any picture that Paramount or First National produces at less money from the other producers. I have no great fault to find with the list of pictures you have named, as the most of them are good, but I did and still do claim that I can get equally as good at a less price. Neither have I any fault to find with Paramount or First National pictures. The fault is the price and if I can get equally as good from the others at a less price it is "me for the others." — G. W. Yf.aton, Ioka Theatre, Exeter, N. H. Starts a New Policy MASON CITY, MICH.— To the Editor: I have just started a new policy for the season, and would like to know how it compares with that of other exhibitors in towns of 2,000 or less around the country. On Monday I run a program feature and two-reel comedy; will soon replace the comedy with "King of the Circus" serial, as Polo is a sure bet here. Tuesday and Wednesday a fea*ure and "Stanley in Africa" serial, also "Movie Chats." Have booked "Robinson Crusoe" to follow "Stanley." Admission on these nights ten and twenty cents, including tax. Thursday is a poor night for pictures, so I open the stage for the boxing club, unless I have a benefit picture for some local lodge or organization. For instance, next week I show "School Days" for a girls' class of the M. E. Sunday school, on a guarantee of all my expenses and a flat rental for the night, and a fifty-fifty split if their share exceeds my rental estimate. They sell all the tickets and I do the advertising. Friday and Saturday for the balance of the season I have booked Universal Jewels, Paramount specials, United Artists pictures and Fox's Mix, Farnum and Jones features, which I class as specials, because that's the way they draw here. I raise the price to fifteen and twenty-five cents on these nights, and so far have gotten by with it nicely. With six reels or less I run a one or two reel comedy, with seven reels or over I give them the feature alone. Sunday the house is dark. Sunday pictures proved a very poor policy for my predecessor here. When I opened three years ago I was promised the support of the churches if I would lay off from the Sunday opening proposition, and I have never regretted the bargain as they have been as good as their word, collectively and individually. Some of the strictest church members are my best fans and boosters. Until last winter I had two hundred seats in a store building on the main business street. Then a hardware firm bought the place, and I had to move. I bought an old opera house building just around the corner, remodeled the entrance and exits to comply with the state fire laws, painted the interior, built a booth of concrete plaster on metal, moved in four weeks, with the loss of two nights showing. Now I have 400 seats on the main floor and 150 in the gallery, and a big stage with a full equipment of scenery, so that stock companies, lecture courses, etc., pay me rental instead of competing with me. I see where some of the exhibitors complain of being oversold. Most of the Detroit exchanges are now organized on the Hoy plan, and will not sell on open booking unless you give them dates for every picture on the contract, so if you haven't got the, dates they won't overload you. — Roy W. Adams, Pastime Theajre, Mason, Michigan. FILM LAUGHS FROM TOPICS TH& SELECTED BY TIMELY FILMS INC. Flaherty — Mr. Chairman, Oi move thot— Chairman — The gentleman is out of order. Flaherty— Ye're a liar! Oi niver felt bether in me loife. — Boston Transcript * * * "How'd you get the black eye?" "Well, a girl told me she kissed." "Yes." "Being doubtful, I thought I would see if she lied." "Well?" "She did." — Octopus. * * * Mrs. Harrigan — And are yer on callin' terms wit' yer neighbor, Mrs. O'Toole? Mrs. O'Toole— That I am ! I called her a liar the other day and she called me another.— "Topics of the Day" Films. * * * George Lobster — Who cut down my favorite seaweed? Little George— I cannot tell a lie, father, I did it with my little pincers. — Hudson Observer. * * * Hub— I haven't saved a dollar since I married you. Wife — Oh, what a lie! You've saved nearly half of what you had in the bank at that time. — Boston Transcript. * * * A conductor and a brakeman on a railroad differ as to the proper pronunciation of a station named Eurelia. The conductor calls — You're a liar! You're a liar! The brakeman yells — You really are! You really are ! And the train passengers look in vain for a fight. — "Topics of the Day" Films. * * * "How'd you ever get that paint on your dress, Mrs. Mingus?" "I was leaning over Sandy's fence." "But Sandy has a sign up — 'WET PAINT.*" "Yes, I saw that ; but everybody knows what a liar he is." — Schenectady UnionStar. * * * "Dear," she said wistfully, "did you ever love another girl ?" "Why, Mary," he began — "No !" she shrieked. "Lie to me. Jacklie to me and keep me happy !" — Richmond Times-Dispatch. * * * I sought a prescription Of liquid description. The old family doctor called I, Around him I hovered And then he discovered He'd used up his whole month's supply. — New York Evening World. * * * "But why did the speaker make such pointed remarks?" "Had to, to get his meaning through their heads, I suppose." — Vaudeville News. Nigh Will Direct Four Weber and North Films William Nigh, director in the independent field, has signed up with Weber and North to direct and present four productions for the coming season. Weber and North will extend unlimited facilities for the success of Nigh's future output, they announce. The quartette of coming features will be made in the East. Announcement of the initial picture will be made in the near future.