Exhibitors Herald (Dec 1924-Mar 1925)

January 17, 1925 EXHIBITORS HERALD 41 “What the Picture Did For Me” VERDICTS ON FILMS IN LANGUAGE OF EXHIBITOR Copyright, 1924 This is the original exhibitors’ reports department, established October 14, 1916. Beware of cheap, misleading imitations. “W'hat the Picture Did for Me” is the one genuine source of exhibitor-written box office information. Address: ^‘IPhat the Picture Did for Me,” EXHIBITORS HERALD, 407 South Dearborn Street, Chicago, III. Associated Exhibitors THE YANKEE COUNSEL, with Douglas MacLean. — Well, as I said “Going Up" was a good one, I think this is just as good as any he has made. Full of ginger and clean. It suited all and is one of the kind that takes. They all say, “Get more like them.” — F. N. Harris, Amuse theatre. Hart, Mich. — General patronage. NEVER SAY DIE, with Douglas MacLean. — Expected something good, but was sadly dissappointed. Nothing to it. — Mrs. Frank Paul, Marvel theatre, Carlinville, 111. — General patronage. STORMY SEAS, with a special cast. — Not much to this. It was a substitute for another. Had no paper on it. Print fair. Six reels. — W. T. Waugh, Empress theatre, Grundy Center. Iowa. — ■ Small town patronage. HARBOR LIGHTS, with Tom Moore — This is a fairly good picture, but it is too old to please. Some good sea scenes and good acting on the part of Moore, but I can’t say that about the girl that supported him. Did not have the drawing power that pictures should have. Five reeks. — Charles E. Lawrence, Star theatre, Tuckerman, Ark. — General patronage. SILAS MARNER, with a special cast. — This is good for an English picture. We had the English class and teachers from the schools. The ladies of the American Legion took hold of it and made good. It suited them, as it was just what they wanted. — F. N. Harris, Amuse theatre. Hart, Mich. — General patronage. F. B. O. BROKEN LAWS, with a special cast. — It more than lives up to its exploitation. It will win favor with all classes. Rightfully belongs in the class of super productions. Cast is flawless ; likewise production. The clergy of all denominations will be strong for it. — James F. Powers, Bijou theatre. New Haven, Conn. — General patronage. TRIGGER FINGER, with Bob Custer.— The slide and paper and press sheet on this call it “Trigger Fingers.” The title on the picture calls it “Trigger Finger.” The latter seems to have more sense to it and is probably correct. The story is a meller of the Southwest and has to do with rangers, greasers and such like. Bob is a likely looking cuss, but would suggest that in his future releases there be not quite so much killing, strangling and biting in the clinches. This one is good and rough and ought to go over with your bloodthirsty Saturday crowd. Five reels. — Wm E. Tragsdorf, Trags theatre, Neillsville, Wis. — Small town patronage. LAUGHING AT DANGER, with Dick Talmadge. — A picture that is full of "pep” and a good story. Extreme cold weather has kept down my attendance. Six reels. — C. V. Anderson, Oak theatre, Oakdale, Neb. — General patronage. THE AIR HAWK, with A1 Wilson.— Would consider this above the average program picture, due to thrills. Story not so much. Film new, from Sioux Falls. Five reels. — E. W. Kundert, Ryan & Kundert, Empress theatre, Beresford, S. D. — General patronage. LIFE’S GREATEST GAME, with Johnnie Walker. — Very ordinary. — Mrs. Frank Paul, Marvel theatre, Carlinville, 111. — General patronage. THE MILLIONAIRE COWBOY, with Lefty Flynn. — This is the first one of this star’s pictures I have used. It is not unusually good, but has action and the audience seemed pleased with Ticket Sale for Week Is 51.4% Good Business is 51.4% good, according to exhibitors’ box office reports received this week. Lefty. Business slightly off on account of sleet and snow. — Rex P. Barrett, Cozy theatre, Columbia, Mo. — Small town patronage. THUNDERING HOOFS, with Fred Thomson. — This first one of the new series is as good as the best of the last lot. In other words, it’s a beaner. When Fred rushes in and saves Silver King from the wild bull, he brings down the house. Of course, it is filled with alleged hokum and bunk, the same as all Westerns, but it is just what the people want, and just what I am going to give them. Whenever I get foolish enough in the head to give my people "facts,” I set in one of those twelve reel poppycock costume pictures and starve to death. Keep it up, Fred. Five reels.— William E. Tragsdorf, Trags’ theatre, Neillsville, Wis. — Small town patronage. THUNDERING HOOFS, with Fred Thomson.— Advertise the best Western you’ve ever had, and the most realistic bull fight ever filmed, and they’ll come. Many errors in direction and cutting, but still a 100 per cent outdoor picture. — New Wewoka theatre, Wewoka, Okla. — General patronage. THUNDERING HOOFS, with Fred Thomson.— This is sure a dandy picture. Lots of action, and they all came out smiling,-^ telling you that they enjoyed it. Five reels. — John Aden, Rialto theatre, Terril, la. — General patronage. THE SPIRIT OF THE U. S. A., with Johnnie Walker. — Didn’t draw very well. Paid too much for this. It’s very good, and a number told us that it was good. An interesting story. Was surprised at its not drawing, though weather is bad, and, of course, that kept a good many away. But one man said he was tired of war pictures. Eight reels. — E. C. Hoadley, Square Town theatre, Brooklyn, Mich. — Small town patronage. THE SPIRIT OF THE U. S. A., with Johnnie Walker. — This, to my notion, is not as good as “Westbound Limited” and “The Third Alarm.” but the people rather enjoyed it. It did not have as much action as the former two. It will, however, go over where Johnnie Walker is liked. Eight reels. — John Aden. Rialto theatre, Terril, la. — General patronage. STEPPING LIVELY, with Richard Talmadge.— A characteristic Talmadge picture. Plenty of action, seasoned with comedy, good entertainment. Business fair for three days. Two reels. — John W. Hawkins, Capitol theatre. New Bedford. Mass. — ^General patronage. STEPPING LIVELY, with Richard Talmadge. • — This is a picture that starts out rather slow, but, after a while, it gets moving right along, only some of the stunts in it seem to be almost impossible. In fact, heard many of the folks say that there was too much impossible stuff in it. Five reels. — John Aden, Rialto theatre, Terril, la. — General patronage. THE GIRL OF THE LIMBERLOST, with Gloria Grey. — A dandy picture, full of entertainment ; liked by all. Better than most of these so-called specials. If any of you exhibitors have not played this, don’t fail to do so. F. B. O. will sell this right to you. Print in No. 1 shape. Seven reels. — P. G. Held, Sterling theatre, Fairmont. Neb. — Neighborhood patronage. IN FAST COMPANY, with Richard Talmadge. — Dick draws well here. This picture pleased, but it is not as good as some he has made, nor yet is it the worst. Just an average action picture that will get by without arousing the animosity of the audience. — -Rex. P . Barrett, Cozy theatre, Columbia, Mo. — Small town patronage. JUDGMENT OF THE STORM, with a special cast. — A pretty good picture, but a bitter disappointment to those that came to see “Westbound Limited.” F. B. O. substituted this. Had a pretty good house. Six reels. — G. F. Rediske, Star theatre, Ryegate, Mont. — Small town patronage. FOOLS IN THE DARK, with Matt Moore.— I can’t rave over this one like several exhibitors have. It didn’t please here over 50 per cent. Cost as much as a Hines, MacLean or Denny subject, and not half as good. However, it will get by as a program picture, but certainly not worth what I paid for it. The paper on it is absolutely no good. You ean’t tell from the paper that it is a comedy drama at all. Seven reels. H. J. Eagan, American theatre, Wautoma. Wis. Small town patronage. THE SILENT STRANGER, with Fred Thomson.— Another success for this star. Five reels. M. E. Schlichter, Liggett theatre. Madison. Kan. — General patronage. AFTER THE BALL, with a special cast. — A good program picture. The only fault I found with this was too many kissing scenes. I think the producers ought to cut out most all of the kissing scenes in pictures. Print good. Seven reels.— P. G. Held, Sterling theatre, Fairmont, Neb. — Neighborhood patronage. AFTER THE BALL, with a special cast.-^his is a dandy picture. Everyone liked it, and they told you so, too. It is a real human interest story and you can just sit there and enjoy it from start to finish. Seven reels. — John Aden, Rialto theatre. Terril, la. — General patronage. THE KICKBACK, with Harry Carey.— A good Western that seemed to please. — J. C. Borden, Palace theatre, Lawrenceville, 111. — General patronage. GALLOPING GALLAGHER, with Fred Thomson.— A dandy Western picture that pleased 100 per cent. Print in good condition. Five reels. — NATIONAL SCREEN SERVICE /wc. NEW YORK CHICAGO LOS ANGELES