Exhibitors Herald (Sep 1923)

80 EXHIBITORS HERALD September 22, 1923 theatre, Reinbeck. Iowa. — Small town patronage. Back Home and Broke, with Thomas Meighan. — 1 thought when we showed A Bachelor Daddy with this star that we would never have anything better. I was mistaken. They can always be better and this is no exception. Wonderful picture. — C. W. Langacher. New Glarus theatre. New Glarus, Wis. — General patronage. Back Home and Broke, with Thomas Meighan. — Eight reels. You can stand in our lobby and you won't be able to handle all the bouquets they will throw at you on this one. You know our patrons like to see a smile on your face once in a while, so play it and show them your smile. — J. Koopman, Amenia Opera House, Amenia, N. Y. — Small town patronage. A Daughter of Luxury, with Agnes Ayres— Five reels. Very fair program picture. For some reason drew very good Friday and Saturday business and pleased them all, which is what we want. — George Vaughan, Grand theatre, Dunnville, Ont, Can. — General patronage. The White Flower, with Betty Compson.— Six reels. A mighty good program picture. Nothing about it to be considered a special. — D. E. Fitton, Lyric theatre, Harrison. Ark. — Small town patronage. Thirty Days, with Wallace Reid. — Five reels. Very good picture. Wallace Reid draws well here and this picture was no exception. Good Business. — George Vaughan, Grand theatre, Dunnville, Ont.. Can. — General patronage. Clarence, with Wallace Reid. — This is a stage production rather difficult of interpretation on the screen. A good job has been done of it, however, and it is worth while entertainment of its type (comedy). Due to a previous presentation on the stage, as a class play, it drew business considerably above the average, especially the first night. Business fair the second night, though it drew but 60 per cent of opening night's receipts. — Fred Hinds, Cresco theatre, Cresco, Iowa. — Neighborhood patronage. Kick In, with a special cast. — Very good. Lytell and Miss Compson make a good team. Ran two days and drew little better than the average. A cracker jack of a crook story. Don't be afraid of it. It will please the majority. — C. H. Powers, Strand theatre, Dunsmuir, Cal. — Railroad town patronage. Manslaughter, a Cecil B. DeMille production.— Ten reels. A real box office bet. House filled up in fifteen minutes after doors were opened. Stood them out two nights. First night they stampeded my theatre front, breaking photo frames. This is a real picture with big settings and a wonderful story. — C. B. Marks, Rex theatre, Albion, Nebr. — General patronage. Manslaughter, a Cecil B. DeMille production.— It's sure a great picture and if opinions count this will take the top rung on the ladder of the "pictures my patrons liked best." Business poor. — C. W. Langacher, New Glarus theatre, New Glarus. Wis. — General patronage. Manslaughter, a Cecil B. DeMille production.— A wonderful DeMille creation. A great ten-reel American drama of modern life. Comparable to The Four Horsemen in interest. Advertised this by all known methods with extra fine music and did well at fifty and twenty-five cents on a Sunday-Monday showing. (For the small town exhibitor who has not played it yet) — This will please all classes. De Mille has raised an elaborate, costly, magnificent superstructure on a simple heart appealing drama. Miss Joy's acting is very fine. A young house maid (Lois Wilson) is sent to prison for stealing a ring from her young mistress (Leatrice Joy), by the District Attorney (Thomas Meighan). Later the young mistress of the fast new rich type speeds away from a motorcycle cop, blocks his way by turning her car sideways across the narrowroad and he striking her car is thrown completely over it and dies. The young mistress is arrested and tried by the District Attorney who is madly in love with her. She is sent to prison. The District Attorney resigns and in his remorse takes to drink. All three learn through bitter experience that happiness consists in doing for others. De Mille, through lavish pictures, compares the present-day riotous living to the immoral days of Rome before its fall. The picture is worth a thousand sermons and should be shown everywhere. — Philip Rand, Rex theatre, Salmon, Idaho. — General patronage. When Knighthood Was In Flower, with Marion Davies. — Surely is a wonderful picture, but it did not go over here at all. My people simply don't want that stuff and you can't give it to them in any form. — C. W. Langacher, New Glarus theatre, New Glarus, Wis. — General patronage. When Knighthood Was In Flower, with Marion Davies. — The only picture I ever ran that made me real money. Book it, brother exhibitors, and do likewise. I advertised it far and near and charged ten and thirty-three cents. — Mrs. C. C. Alquire. Coloma theatre, Coloma, Mich. — Small town patronage. When Knighthood Was In Flower, with Marion Davies. — A great picture. — Elmer M. Record, Auditorium theatre, Osmund, Nebr. — General patronage. To Have and to Hold, with a special cast. — Seven and one-half reels. This I believe ranks the third best of the 41. Manslaughter and The Old Homestead alone excepted. It is two reels too long, that much footage being required to get it started, but as a whole, it will satisfy the most critical. We made a special of it, raised admission a nickel and packed them in both nights. Good weather and no competition, August 20-21. Made us the biggest profit we've had in six weeks (exclusive of Saturday). Costume stuff, but it's American history. Popularity of the novel brought them the first night. The excellent production brought as many the second night. Lytell very good. Compson miscast. — Fred Hinds, Cresco theatre, Cresco, Iowa. — General patronage. A Bachelor Daddy, with Thomas Meighan. — Seven reels. I agree with all other exhibitors that this is one of the most pleasing pictures ever made. Give us more like it. Showed to one of the best crowds for years. — F. M. Robinson. Comfy theatre, Comfrey. Minn. — General patronage The Man Unconquerable, with Jack Holt. — Ran this on Saturday to good house. Not one complaint, so must have pleased. A little rough in places, but ray patrons seem to fall for such. Good print. — O. E. Parks, Do Drop In theatre, Perry, Ga. — General patronage. Paramount's "39." — Mr. B. P. McCormick, Liberty theatre. Florence, Colo. — This report is directed to you because of your report on the same productions in the issue of September 1. I not only concur in your opinion of this group but I do not believe you made it strong enough. But why on earth are you kicking? You've run them and are through, or nearly so. Think of the poor cusses like myself who are just starting to try and set them in where they will do the least harm. Man, you're lucky. Those of us who have them to run are now entitled to all the sympathy. I bought the 41 and the 39 before any of the latter were released, trusting to the usual Paramount policy. Heretofore my Paramount service has been worth something like what I've paid. After looking at the pictures, then the prices on my contract, it makes me exclaim, "Et tu, Brute." You are right, painfully right, they are the poorest pictures ever released by this company, and it looks as if this policy is to be continued during the new season. — Fred C. Hind, Cresc© theatre, Cresco, Iowa. At the End of the World, with Betty Compson. Six reels. A good picture with splendid settings. An outdoor story. — Elmer M. Record, Auditorium theatre. Osmond, Nebr. — Small town patronage. Exit the Vamp, with Ethel Clayton. — Fair program picture. Film in good shape. Could be put in two reels. — R. N. Rounds, Scenic theatre, Kadoka, S. D. — Neighborhood patronage. While Satan Sleeps, with Jack Holt. — Fair program picture. Nothing extra. — C. W. Langacher, New Glarus theatre. New Glarus, Wis. — General patronage. While Satan Sleeps, with Jack Holt — Six reels. Jack Holt is one of the best players we have — to keep them away. Those he didn't drive elsewhere the title did. Imagine calling a well known novel such as "The Parson of Pantiment" such a thing. This title is well known. While Satan Sleeps is Paramount's idea of drawing them in. This is really an excellent program picture, but the public would never guess it. Lost money on it. — Fred Hinds. Cresco theatre, Cresco, Iowa. — Neighborhood patronage. Across the Continent, with Wallace Reid. — My patrons still flock to see Reid and this one pleased 90 per cent. Advertised to give photo of star to first 100 ladies, but they didn't fall for it. Gave out only twenty-fi%-e during the run. Said they wanted to see him on the screen only. I have about 200 more on hand and can't give them away. — O. E. Parks, Do-Drop-In theatre, Perry, Ga. — General patronage. Blood and Sand, with Rodolph Valentino.— Eight reels. Very good picture. Pleased everybody. Rental was right for small town. — J. Koopman, Amenia Opera House, Amenia, N. Y.— Small town patronage. Blood and Sand, with Rodolph Valentino.— Did not do as well for us as the three preceding program pictures we ran. Not much good for small towns. It is a waste of money and play date to play such pictures as this one. Not worth over $10.00 to any small town exhibitor. Pleased 75 per cent. Print in good condition.— Miller Stanton, Pictureland theatre, Cohocton, N. Y. — Small town patronage. The Crimson Challenge, with Dorothy Dalton. — Just fair Western. Pleased about 50 per cent. — R. E. Irwin, Bijou theatre, Keswick. Iowa. — Neighborhood patronage. For the Defense, with Ethel Clayton. — A fine program picture that will please. ZaSu Pitts is the real actress of the picture, though. Print good. — Needham & Mattingly, De Luxe theatre, Moline, Kans. — Neighborhood patronage. Three Word Brand, with William S. Hart. — Seven reels. Best Hart picture I have shown yet. Liked it better than The Whistles-more to it. — Floyd Wolfe. Velda theatre, Lynch, Nebr. — Small town patronage. Saturday Night, a Cecil B. De Mille production. — Good picture and a lot of