Exhibitors Herald (Dec 1924-Mar 1925)

174 EXHIBITORS HERALD December 27, 1924 True Talk No. 22 By John B. Rock General Manager, Vitagraph, Inc. Galveston, Texas December 27 — I stopped off at this great southern gulf port on my way north after visiting the branch offices of Vitagraph in Atlanta, New Orleans and Dallas. It was just about a quarter of a century ago that Galveston was stricken by the only great tidal wave that ever thrashed the American shores. Albert E. Smith, president of Vitagraph, armed with a camera took the first fast train for the South when news of that disaster reached New York. By personality and wit he obtained permission of the government troops — martial law had been laid over the devastated district — and took the first motion picture of the wreckage of Galveston. Those pictures were rushed back to New York and the first great world news beat in moving pictures was scored by Albert E. Smith. Today Albert E. Smith directs the destiny of Vitagraph — he no longer turns a crank — but frorn what I know of Albert E. Smith if it were necessary for him to take a camera on location, he’d take it. That’s why the entire industry takes off its hat to such productions as “Captain Blood” — the knockout smash of the year. It is a picture beat ! It is Albert E. Smith at his best ! True words, my friends, D. Frier, Star theatre, Portland, Ore. — Neighborhood patronage. BETWEEN FRIENDS, with a special cast. — Vitagraph here of late are second to none. If they keep going the way they are they will be the leaders. I have never seen such a decided pick up in production. A real show. — George Osborne. New Star theatre. Westminster, Md. — General patronage. PIONEER TRAILS, with Cullen Landis.— A very good Western and pleased very much. I did not raise admission and was glad. After the first reel or two as others have said, it is just a real good Western. You can’t go wrong booking this subject if you are showing Westerns, but don’t get the idea that you have a second "Covered Wagon.” Those exhibitors that have so reported are away off, but I suppose we all make mistakes and see things differently. Seven reels. — H. J. Eagan, American theatre, Wautoma, Wis. — Small town patronage. CODE OF THE WILDERNESS, with a special cast. — Still they come. This for me was 100 per cent. Saturday show. — George Osborne. New Star theatre, Westminster, Md. — General patronage. SMASHING BARRIERS, with William Duncan. — A six reel serial. Six reels. — Don Wilcox, Colome theati'e, Colome, So. Dak. — General patronage. THE MIDNIGHT ALARM, with special cast. — This is not the great picture that Vitagraph would have you think. It is not a beginning to “Third Alarm’’ put out by F. B. O. Just a fair program picture with fire scenes very mild. — ■ George C. Starkey. Opera House, Montour Falls, N. Y. THE LEAVENWORTH CASE, with Seena Owen. — A good pi'Ogram of the mystery type. Six reels. — Don Wilcox, Colome theatre, Colome, So. Dak. — General patronage. THE LOVE BANDIT, with Victor Sutherland. — My patrons liked this picture. Sutherland especially good. Six reels.— Don Wilcox, Colome theatre, Colome, So. Dak. — General patronage. TOO MUCH BUSINESS, with a special cast.— An average comedy drama-getter in five reels. — Don Wilcox, Colome theatre, Colome. So. Dak. — General patronage. Warner Brothers THREE WOMEN, with special cast. — This was a good picture. Good photography, acting and everything, but flopped. Weather not very good. Seven reels. — A. F. Jenkins, Community theatre. David City, Nebr. THREE WOMEN, with a special cast. — I did not see this picture personally, but heard that it was a high class production. Business was way off due to first snow and cold snap of the season. Eight reels. — Howard Varing, Royal theatre. Spirit Lake. la. — General patronage. THREE WOMEN, with a special cast. — Nothing to rave about, so don’t go out on the street, pulling your hair, foaming at the mouth, and telling the people you have a great big picture. If you do, you’re wrong. In rating this on the scale of poor, fair, good and big, you can rate it halfway between fair and good. — Russell Armentrout, K. P. theatre. Pittsfield, III. — General patronage. THE LOVER OF CAMILLE, with Monte Blue. — If you are running a high class house, by all means run this picture as it is wonderful. The wops and rough necks may not care for it. but the better class of people will say it is wonderful. — Russell Armentrout, K. P. theatre, Pittsfield, III. — General patronage. HOW TO EDUCATE A WIFE, with Monte Blue. — Excellent picture. Sufficient comedy to keep them happy with a good story and moral to balance. Cast is perfect. Marie Prevost is splendid and Claude Gillingwater does his best work in this picture. Six reels. — J. L. Greenwood, Orpheum theatre, Weleetka, Okla. — Small town patronage . HOW TO EDUCATE A WIFE, with Monte Blue. — Just a simple little sex picture. Pleases the better class, but not a good small town picture. Well done and good cast. — Clifford L. Niles, Grand theatre, Anamosa, la. — General patronage. LOVERS LANE, with a special cast. — Can’t give this a thing, it falls flat. I have fallen so flat with Warner Bros, that I passed them up this year. — George Osborne, New Star theatre, Westminster. Md. — General patronage. WHERE THE NORTH BEGINS, with Rin Tin Tin.^ — Played this on Thanksgiving night to a full house. Certainly the best dog acting my house has seen yet. A fine Northern picture that my crowd liked. Eight reels. — H. E. Partrick, Palace theatre. North Rose, N. Y. — Small town patronage. WHERE THE NORTH BEGINS, with Rin Tin Tin. — A splendid picture that cost me much less than "Scaramouche,” “The Hunchback of Notre Dame’’ and others and did better business and pleased more people. I believe it best to give my patrons what they want and not trying by extensive exploitation to force them to see something that won’t please them. Six reels. — Adolph Kohn, Pastime theatre, Granville, N. Y. — Small town patronage. FIND YOUR MAN, with Rin Tin Tin.— The best dog picture on the market or that has ever been made. Perfect print. — Russell Armentrout, K. P. theatre, Pittsfield, 111. — General patronage. THE MARRIAGE CIRCLE, with Monte Blue.— A little on the silly order but will get by if your people are looking for something light. Beats a costume picture a mile at that. Eight reels. — P. R. Matson, Crystal theater, Flandreau, So. Dak. — General patronage. THE MARRIAGE CIRCLE, with Monte Blue. Good picture, but less than nothing as a box office atttraction. — O. V. Kelly, Badger theatre, Reedsburg, Wis. — Neighborhood patronage. DADDIES, with Harry Meyers. — Did they like it ? Did they yell ? Did they smile 7 Did they cry ? Boy 1 I’ll tell the world they did, and that is not all. You have heard of that picture that is supposed to please 100 per cent, but you have never found it. Have you ? Well, here it is. If this doesn’t please, 100 per cent, I am a cross-eyed liar. — Russell Armentrout, K. P. theatre, Pittsfield, 111. — General patronage. DADDIES, with Harry Myers. — Good picture, but failed to get them in. Unable to determine why. Suitable for Sunday. — J. L. Greenwood, Orpheum theatre, Weleetka, Okla. — Small town patronage. MAIN STREET, with a special cast. — This is an extra good picture. Rather old now but will please just the same. I got a good print. — Geo. C. Starkey, Opera House, Montour Falls, N. Y. — General patronage. BABBIT, with a special cast.— Personally we would not rate this very highly, but it seemed to please our people, so what difference does it make if it did not suit us 7 Eight reels. — P. R. Matson, Crystal theatre, Flandreau, So. Dak. — General patronage. BEAU BRUMMELL, with John Barrymore. — The best Barrymore picture I ever had the pleasure of showing my audience. Every real picture fan will swamp you with praise after running it. Ten reels. — G. E. Mathews, Granada theatre, Portland, Ore. — General patronage. THE TIE THAT BINDS, with a special cast.— Slow and draggy and uninteresting. No one seemed to care much for it. Seven reels. — -B. C. Brown, Temple theatre, Viroqua, Wis. — General patronage. GEORGE WASHINGTON, JR., with Wesley Barry. — Good kid picture and entertaining for grown-ups, but business for me was below par for Barry’s stuff. Eight Reels. — Geo. E. Mathews, Granada theatre, Portland, Ore. — General patronage. GEORGE WASHINGTON, JR., with Wesley Barry. — Everyone liked it. Wesley as a gawky half grown boy is as funny as when he was a kid. Our folks like Wesley, and his young lady cousin and her young man furnished the necessary romance. Seven reels. — Dinsmore & Son, Majestic theatre, Weiner, Ark. — Small town paf> ronage. CONDUCTOR NO. 1492, with Johnny Hines.— A comical Irish story. Story or a picture to make them laugh. It will please them. Made me no money. The rental high for my theatre. Seven reels. — A. Catalano, Victory theatre, Rossiter, Pa. — General patronage. THE COUNTRY KID, with Wesley Barry.— Nothing to this. Fell flat. — -George Osborne, New Star theatre, Westminster, Md. — General patronage. State Rights CALIBRE 45, with Franklyn Farnum. — This is lacking very materially in entertainment value. Five reels. — Howard Varing, Royal theatre. Spirit Lake, la. — General patronage. BROKEN SILENCE, with Zcna Keefe.— A fine Northern picture. Star new here so did not pull much business. Star and cast good though. Six reels. — J. W. Andresen, Rialto theatre, Cozad, Nebr. COME ON COW BOY, with Dick Hatton.— Here is a good Western brim full of action and romance. This is his new series and is good. Beverley, the horse, is line also and does some