Exhibitors Herald (Dec 1924-Mar 1925)

EXHIBITORS HERALD 61 January 31, 1925 WESTBOUND LIMITED, with Ralph Lewis.— A thrilling melodrama of good box office value. Old, but good. — C. R. McHenry, Rose win theatre, Dallas, Tex. — Neighborhood patronage. WESTBOUND LIMITED, with Ralph Lewis.— Our patrons considered this a very high-class melodrama. Like about all Emory Johnson’s productions, it was very carefully directed and no details were overlooked to make it realistic and correct. Ralph Lewis as the engineer did a brilliant piece of work. Every small town should play it. Seven reels. — C. E. Johnson, Paramount theatre. Gibbon, Neb. — General patronage. WONDERS OF THE SEA, with a special cast. — Pleased about half. Some people thought this was a story. However, this is good for a change. Some beautiful under sea photography. Six reels. — C. L. Brown, Dreamland theatre, Fullerton, La. — Small town patronage. STORMSWEPT, with a special cast. — A sea story which we did not like very well, but it seemed to please our patrons. Many favorable comments on picture. Film condition fair. Five reels. — W. T. Davis & Son, Rialto theatre, Sharon, Wis. — General patronage. THE MIRACLE BABY, with Harry Carey. — -A nice little program feature. Good attendance for this, but they have been ice-bound and I guess they were glad to get out. Five reels. — A. C. Betts, Powers theatre. Red Creek, N. Y. — Small town patronage. THE CANYON OF THE FOOLS, with Harry Carey. — Good Western picture and probably the best of Carey’s we have played. Should go over anywhere where Westerns are played. Film condition fair. Six reels. — W. T. Davis & Son, Rialto theatre, Sharon, Wis. — General patronage. THE RIGHT OF THE STRONGEST, with E. K. Lincoln. — Old picture with some real live fist fights in it. Also most of the film fist fighters in it. Box office value about 80 per cent. — C. R. McHenry, Rosewin theatre, Dallas, Tex. — Neighborhood patronage. First National THE SILENT WATCHER, with Glenn Hunter. — Mr. John McCormack of New York bought himself a new radio and on New Year’s night he decided to try out his voice on it. For ten years. New Year’s night has always been one of the best nights of the whole year with me. Always counted on capacity business, and, with no local opposition to speak of, I expected to do the same this year. Here is where John got in his dirty work. Actual count: I had thirty-two adults, two kids and one dog to see the above picture. When a guy in New York can get eight million people to squat around a radio to hear him sing, I’m saying it’s pretty stiff competition. This bird isn’t satisfied to get all the way from six to fifteen dollars per ticket to hear him on the stage, but he wants to spoil the best holiday of the year for every small town picture show. And the end is not yet. I am told that it’s only a question of a short white when the farmer can go out and sit down on his wood-pile and watch a perfectly good picture being projected on the side of his barn. I quit when it reaches that stage. “The Silent Watcher” is a fine picture and will please any kind of audience. Acting of Glenn Hunter and Bessie Love is unusually good. Seven reels. — R. W. Hickman, Lyric theatre. Greenville, 111. — General patronage. THE ONLY WOMAN, with Normal Talmadge. — Nice picture that pleased here. Norma always draws well here. Seven reels. — G. P. Miller, Regent theatre, St. Marys, O. — General patronage. BORN RICH, with Bert Lytell. — Society drama, well acted and mounted. Pleased 50-50. We got rained out on this, so don’t know its drawing power, but do not think it a small town card. Print new. Seven reels. — A. G. Witwer, Grand theatre, Ranier, Ore. — Small town patronage. CLASSMATES, with Richard Barthelmess. — A splendid picture and attraction. The only fault one might find is that the finish comes too sudden, with several things left to the imagination. Dick has a dandy role. A week’s enjoyment to very good business. Lige Conley in “Midnight Blues” on same bill. A great comedy. Seven reels. — Frank L. Browne, Liberty theatre. Long Beach, Cal. — General patronage. SUNDOWN, with a special cast. — A mighty epoch of the great cattle country, and makes fine entertainment. The picture, from standpoint of production, is good and details are carried out in the finest sort of way. Whether or not this picture will do business will depend largely on local conditions and the public desire for this class of offering. However, if you are successful The Contributor’s Column J, C. Jenkins Quits the Business Governor Adam McMullen has appointed our old friend John C. Jenkins State Game Warden of Nebraska. All J. C.’s old friends in these parts are jubilant over the appointment. Mr. Jenkins has disposed of the Auditorium theatre at Neligh to Bradley & Monscett, of Neligh, who will operate the house in the future. F. J. O’HARA, Community theatre, Elgin, Nebraska. Ss * * And now you know why J. C. hasn’t been doing his inimitable stuff in these pages lately and why he’ll not be doing it for some time to come. (We depend, of course, upon habit and the thrill of the theatre to bring him back into the fold sooner or later. Hang it all, he’s got to come back.) John Curtis Jenkins (yes, that is his name; he uses it on his published writings) began writing to this department way back in the days when it contained an average, of 50 reports a week. He never lagged behind, he always boosted a good suggestion, he campaigned for the idea and kicked the then formidable opposition promptly and plentifully when occasion arose. And always his contributions reflected a good-natured, kindly and unfailingly just outlook upon matters of permanent or passing importance. We’ve never figured on Jenkins quitting the business. Somehow, maybe because he was so typically the theatreman, it just seemed a matter of course that the Auditorium, Neligh, Neb. (how many times have we written that?), would go on and on like Tennyson’s brook. (But we mustn’t get sentimental.) Best o’ luck, J. C. Now you can indulge that fishin’ hobby of yours to heart’s content — and get paid for it — and maybe you’ll find time to write us a fish story once in a while anyway. Do. — W. R. W. McHenry Back in Active List I enclose herewith 170 reports on pictures played between April 1924 and January 1925. I regret that we have not been able to make these reports regularly as the pictures were played and feel like I have been neglecting my duty to other exhibitors, because I read every report that is made to the HERALD and I have found that these reports are worth much money to me in buying pictures. There was a real good reason why I did not report regularly throughout the year and I promise in future to report promptly on all pictures, for I do not think that any exhibitor should profit from the other fellows’ reports and not give the department his reports. In reporting I always try to be fair to all exchanges and give the other exhibitor an idea of the kind of picture it is. I do not pan any picture just because it loses me money. I feel that a good picture should be reported as a good picture and I also realize that if all exhibitors reporting would report more fully on the pictures and state the type and quality of the picture it would help other exhibitors who play the picture later to advertise the pictures in such a way that they could get the money. I have lost money on a number of pictures because I did not know the kind of pictures they were and could not get the information from the press sheet and did not have time to screen the picture. Count on me for 100 per cent cooperation this year. C. R. McHENRY, • Rosewin theatre, Dallas, Tex. COMING c4 FRANK WOODS SPECIAL PRODUCTION -EAUTVa"^ Bad man ^ I PETER B. KYNE Directed by ,yVILLIAM WORTHINGTON TieUased by PROnUCHRS niSTRIRUTING ~ COUP ORATION