Exhibitors Herald (Mar-Apr 1924)

62 EXHIBITORS HERALD April 5, 1924 nial theatre, Sioux Falls, S. D. — General patronage. Douglas Fairbanks in Robin Hood. — A wonderful production. Played it for High School band benefit. Twelve reels. — Joe Winniger, Davidson theatre, Waupun, Wis. Orphans of the Storm, a D. AV. Griffith production. — Very good picture, but failed to draw. Poor business three days at 50c. Just about broke even. Never made a cent on a United Artists picture. Price much too high for my town. Twelve reels. — Raymond Pfeiffer, Princess theatre, Chilton, Wis, — Small town patronage. The Man Who Played God, with George Arliss. — A picture above the average for real acting and directing. Not a big drawing card, but it will please all who come to see it. Six reels. — B. C. Brown, Temple theatre, Viroqua, Wis. The Man Who Played God, with George Arliss. — This picture pleased about 50 per cent. Personally I think it is a real good picture. Some good acting in this. — C. L. Brown. Paramount theatre, Elizabeth, La. — Small town patronage. The Birth of a Nation, a D. W. Griffith production. — Let the Klan know you have this coming, then clear the way and watch 'em come. N. B. — Don't try to sell it to the G. A. R. or the colored people. Twelve reels. — Roy W. Adams, Pastime theatre, Mason, Mich. — Small town patronage. The Mollycoddle, with Douglas Fairbanks.— For houses wanting a picture with action and plenty of comedy, this is a whiz bang. It was made in 1920. but will please the present day audiences. Nothing in it to make it look old. It is mostly of a western asmosphere and makes them yell. Six reels. — Al. Powell, Highland theatre, Guthrie, Okla. — General patronage. Universal Breathless Moments, with William Desmond.— Crook story in which hero reforms and helps an old storekeeper pay off mortgage on store, and in return is given half interest in business and also the hand of the old boy's daughter. A nice pleasing little comedy-drama. Six reels. — W. A. Clark. Jr.. Castle theatre, Havana, 111. — General patronage. Breathless Moments, with William Desmond.— Better than the average Universal program picture. — Henry W. Gauding, Lincoln theatre, Pittsburgh. Pa. — Neighborhood patronage. Stolen Secrets, with Herbert Rawlinson. — Ran this one hot off the bat, advertised it well and took in $16.50. Although I know that Herbert is not a wonderful star, the picture deserved to get more money than that. I never make any money on Universal product any more, though. Even Hoot is not going well here since they have been putting him in just any kind of picture. He is a real western star, so why do they do him like that? Five reels. — A. C. Allen. Allen's theatre, Hull, Tex. Sporting Youth, with Reginald Penny. — Here is a real picture with a pull like a mustard plaster. Operators can't stop watching to change reels. Auto race is real and will make time stand still. The company doubled price when they found out themselves what it was. but we beat them to it. Business good. — Judge & Woolsey, Iris theatre, Wheatland, Wyo. — Small town patronage. Sporting Youth, with Reginald Denny. — ■ Oh, what a race picture. Just screened it and bought it. It's a winner. Will keep you on the edge of your seat. — Harry Van Noy, Riviera theatre, Anderson, Ind. — General patronage. The Hunchback of Notre Dame, with Lon Chaney. — Great. Used five piece "orchestra. Charged $1.65 top. Grossed nearly $600.00. Failed to make any money, account paying orchestra, but glad I had it. Personally think it greatest picture I ever saw. The best people in the community stopped and thanked me for giving it to them. Lon Chaney's acting is unbeatable. Ernest Torrence and Patsy Ruth Miller do fine work. Picture as a whole unsurpassed. Twelve reels. — B. B. Benfleld, Idle Hour theatre, Marion, S. C. — Small town patronage. The Hunchback of Notre Dame, with Lon Chaney. — Wonderful picture. Chaney' work will stand for all time, and he does not do it all. Too heavy for audience picture. Comments by patrons divided. Some thought it marvelous, and some panned it. Stormy weather, but business fair. — Judge & Woolsey. Iris theatre, Wheatland, Wyo. — Small town patronage. The Man from Wyoming, with Jack Hoxie. — Very good program picture. Fair patronage. Five reels. — G. Strasser Sons, Emblem theatre, Buffalo, New York. A Lady of Quality, with Virginia Valli. — This is a wonderful story. Very elaborate scenes and will please those who come, but it's a costume play and that kills it. I would be glad if some producer would tell us ignorant exhibitors why they continue to make costume plays when every report knocks them? The American audience simply walk past your house when you play them. Eight reels. — Jack Cairns, Brooklyn theatre, Detroit, Mich. — General patronage. A Lady of Quality, with Virginia Valli. — A beautifully produced and well acted picture, but as for the story ! Comments are all unfavorable and business was very bad for four days. — John W. Hawkins, State theatre. New Bedford, Mass.— General patronage. A Lady of Quality, with Virginia Valli. — Here is a piece of cheese for the small town. This came the nearest to slow-motion photography of any picture we have ever played. About five reels of drinking, two reels of costume and fine building display, half reel of action and one and onehalf reels of film — just film. We only lost $30.00 on this. This may be a knockout in some high-brow theatre, but the small town has no business trying to show it. This Universal-Super-Jewel established a boxoffice record here for the smallest attendance. Milton Sills fits his role about as well as Bull Montana would go as Penrod. Eight reels. — Neec'ham & Mattingly, DeLuxe theatre, Moline, Kans.— 'Neighborhood patronage. Pure Grit, with Roy Stewart. — Good western drama that went over well. Action story with Stewart at his best. — Ben L. Morris. Olympic theatre, Bellaire, O. Pure Gr^t, with Roy Stewart. — Just fair. Roy Stewart is getting too old to take the parts he does. Five reels. — Peck's theatre, LaSalle, 111.— -General patronage. Fure Grit, with Roy Stewart. — This proved to be a very good picture. Everyone liked it and said so. If you can find a policeman, you better have this kid Verne Winter arrested for stealing the picture, for we all think he is "drum" good. — A. F. Jenkins, Community theatre, David City, Neb. The Whispsred Name, with a special cast. — It pleased. Print good. — J. S. Walker, Alamo theatre, Moody, Texas. — Small town patronage. The Whisperjd Name, with a special cast. — This was a very good picture of a big newspaper scandal, but the name doesn't mean anything to the picture. Some liked it and some didn't. Some went out. — A. F. Jenkins. Community theatre, David City, Neb. Hook and Ladder, with Hoot Gibson. — ■ A good picture, but Gibson's pictures should not have an advanced price. As I see it, they are no better than the westerns he made when we had the crowds. Muddy roads cause of no profit on this one, together with a great deal of sickness. Will have to have a better price or quit them. Film in good shape. Six reels. — C. V. Anderson, Oak theatre, Oakdale, Neb. Hook and Ladder, with Hoot Gibson. — "The bread and butter star." Right up to the mark and the fire stuff does not subordinate the comedy and western interest. This one is' better than his last two or three and drew extra business, delighting his many followers. — Ben L. Morris, Olympic theatre, Bellaire, O. Hook and Ladder, with Hoot Gibson. — Just another average Hoot Gibson picture and it played to the average Gibson crowd. Why not put Gibson back in pictures where he belongs? He is a western star and the audience wants to see him in pictures like "The Ramblin' Kid." — Fred McCoy, Jefferson theatre, Springfield, Mo. The Wild Party, with Gladys Walton.— Our first Walton and it certainly has action and pleased a fair house. Print fine. — C. H. Thompson, Opera House, Plattsburg, Mo. — Neighborhood patronage. The Wild Party, with Gladys Walton. — ■ A good pleasing little picture that will go over good with the average audience. — Fred McCoy, Jefferson theatre, Springfield, Mo. Thundering Dawn, with J. Warren Kerrigan.— This one drew a good business for us and seemed to satisfy. Therefore, it must be good. Story and acting are all that could be desired. — Wm. H. Creal, Suburban theatre, Omaha, Neb. — Neighborhood patronage. Thundering Dawn, with J. Warren Kerrigan.— Falls short of advance notices. Contains considerable blah. Story not there. Typhoon scenes pleased. That's all. — Henry W. Gauding, Lincoln, Pittsburgh, Pa. — Neighborhood patronage. Thundering Dawn, with J. Warren Kerrigan.— Fair story and lots' of storm. Kerrigan is in the cast, but that's about all he gets to do. Not much entertainment to this. Just broke even at ten and thirtyfive cents. Seven reels.. — Needham & Mattingly, De Luxe theatre, Moline, Kans. — Neighborhood patronage. Drifting, with Priscilla Dean. — Not much to it. Very draggy — the actors just stand around and talk to each other while your audience gaps and snores. Good fire scene at the end, but no one but myself and operator saw it. Even the ticket seller went home. — Carl Veseth, Palace theatre, Malta, Mont. — Neighborhood patronage. Drifting, with Priscilla Dean. — Consider this the best Dean has appeared in since "Under Two Flags." Good. Used it on Sunday and pleased all. Seven reels. — M. J. Babin, Fairyland theatre, White Castle, La. The Darling of New York, with Baby Peggy. — This is the kind of picture patrons want to see Peggy in. 5,900 ft. — G. Strasser Sons, Emblem theatre, Buffalo, N. Y. His Mystery Girl, with Herbert Rawlinson.— A fair Rawlinson subject. Pleased the majority. Five reels. — Hugh G. Martin, American theatre, Columbus, Ga. — General patronage. The Thrill Chaser, with Hoot Gibson. — ■ Gibson not in his class, picture was O. K., but disappointing to those who came to see his usual western stuff. Five reels. — M. J. Babin, Fairyland theatre, White Castle, La. The Thrill Chaser, with Hoot Gibson. — This picture is not what I would call bad, but tlje public seems to have tired of seeing him in boob stuff. Consequently we did not do as well on this one as we have on several of his westerns. Please take this as a hint, Mr. Laemmle, and put him back in strictly western plays, where he belongs. Six reels. — Wm. H. Creal, Suburban theatre, Omaha, Neb. — Neighborhood patronage. Crooked Alley, with Laura La Plante. — Story fair. Ordinary crook drama. Nothing strong about the cast of the story. Would class it as a very light program. Print fair. Average adv. poster and newspaper.— M. R. Blair, Regent theatre. Cedar Falls, la. The Red Warning, with Jack Hoxie. — Jack Hoxie is good in this picture, but nothing more than a typical western. Hope he doesn't take a notion to do society stuff. — Carl Veseth, Palace theatre, Malta, Mont. — Neighborhood patronage. The Red Warning, with Jack Hoxie. — An exceptional picture. Class Al western. Nothing rough. Several real punches throughout the picture. Whirlwind climax. Booked it on the strength of the "Herald's" reports. Was not sorry. Paper good. Fair business, due to bad weather. — M. R. Blair. Regent theatre, Cedar Falls, la. The Love Brand, with Roy Stewart. — Seemed to go over all right. Print good. Five reels. — J. S. Walker, Alamo theatre. Moody, Texas'. — Small town patronage. Merry Go Round, with Mary Philbin. — Good picture. One of the best in a long time. Pleased two days and believe me it was a pleasure to hear our patrons remark as they went out "that was a good picture." Ten reels. — George J. Kress, Hudson theatre, Rochester, N. Y. — Neighborhood patronage. The Ramblin' Kid," with Hoot Gibson. — This one is a dandy. Best Gibson I ever had. So far ahead of "Blinky" there is no comparison. If "The Thrill Chaser" and "Hook and Ladder" come anywhere near this one, I will be satisfied. "Blinky" was the rot. Six reels. — E. C. Dettman, Imperial theatre, Imperial, Neb. — Small town patronage. Where Is This West, with Jack Hoxie. —