Exhibitors Herald (Dec 1924-Mar 1925)

EXHIBITORS HERALD 69 February 7, 1925 FOR SALE, with Claire Windsor.— Shopworn theme. Hardly a winner, by any stretch of the most active imagination. Eight reels. — L. F. Wolcott, Grand theatre, Eldora, la. — Small town patronage. THE HOTTENTOT, with Douglas MacLean. — I can only voice what other exhibitors have said: this is the funniest comedy I ever saw. It should be played in every house where the manager is looking for the best pictures made. You will have to tighten up all your seats after you have played this one. Nothing funnier ever happened. Douglas MacLean reached his high water mark here in this picture. Six reels. — Donald H. Dorchester, Community Center theatre, Southbury, Conn.Rural patronage. BLACK OXEN, with Corrine Griffith.— Went over good for a Monday night, as that night is weak here. Best Monday night in a long time. — Jack Greene, New Geneseo theatre, Geneseo, 111. — Small town patronage. BLACK OXEN, with Corinne Griffith. — Funny ending on this picture, but the audience was certainly interested in the picture. Much disapproval of the ending but it’s a well made picture, very well acted by Corrine Griffith and Conway Tearle, who are distinguished artists. Eight reels. — -Donald H. Dorchester, Community Centre theatre, Southbury, Conn. — Rural patronage. LILIES OF THE FIELD, with Corinne Griffith. Better than ‘‘Black Oxen.” Sumptuous, gorgeously staged and wonderfully acted. Story of the tribulations of a girl misused by her husband, whose life is at last, after many tribulations, redeemed by a great love. Nine reels. — Donald H. Dorchester, Community Centre theatre, Southbury. Conn. — Rural patronage. THE BAD MAN, with Holbrook Blinn. — A splendid bit of character acting with the best sort of subtle humor. Holbrook Blinn certainly is a dandy actor. The knowing ones will enjoy this picture immensely. There is a whole lot to it. I’ll tell you, and it is a worth-while picture in every sense. Eight reels. — Donald H. Dorchester. Community Centre theatre, Southbury. Conn. — Rural patronage. CYTHERIA, with Lewis Stone. — Pretty weak offering which drew a blank at the box office. Eight reels. — L. F. Wolcott, Grand theatre, Eldora, la. — Small town patronage. FLAMING YOUTH,, with Colleen Moore.— This is a good jazz picture that pleased generally. We had a very good business considering that the weather has been extremely bad and cold with a great deal of snow. Nine reels. — W. J. Shoup, DeLuxe theatre, Spearville, Kan. — Small town patronage. FLAMING YOUTH, with Colleen Moore.— Program picture with good drawing power, but is too long. Had one or two walk out after two reels. About one a year like this would be plenty. It would be better for the movie fan if pictures like this were cut out entirely. Nine reels. — ^H. E. Gilman, Club theatre. Weed. Cal. — Neighborhood patronage. FLAMING YOUTH, with Colleen Moore. — Best one on the month’s run but no business, due to bad weather. Did not take in film rental. Nine reels. — M. J. Babin, Fairyland theatre. White Castle, La. — General patronage. SMILIN’ THROUGH, with Norma Talmadge.— A masterpiece that ought to be shown once a year. No one will kick if you show pictures like this. Norma Talmadge beautiful. Just as good as “Secrets.” Perfect print from New Haven. Eight reels. — Donald H. Dorchester. Community Centre theatre, Southbury. Conn. — Rural patronage. THUNDERGATE, with Owen Moore. — Only a fair program picture. Print in good shape. Seven reels. — P. G. Held, Sterling theatre, Fairmont. Neb. — General patronage MIGHTY LAK’ A ROSE, with Dorothy Mackaill. — They ought to keep a perfect print of this one in every exchange in the country for all time. It has a beautiful lesson, just like “Smilin’ Through” and “Boy of Mine.” These types of pictures are in a class all by themselves, having deep moral value. The girl is thrown with a gang of crooks and transforms them into decent fellows. Tender pathos and gentle humor are wonderfully blended and the cast headed by Dorothy Mackaill is perfect and drives home an uplifting lesson. Every exhibitor ought to use this picture. A wonderful picture for the Lenten season. Seven reels. — Donald H. Dorchester. Community Center theatre, Southbury, Conn. — Rural patronage. CHILDREN OF DUST, with a special cast. — Very cold. Not much of a crowd, but no fault of the picture, which is good, although opinions are divided. The first three reels are children and the picture of an old man’s idea as to how he could sneak into Heaven past St. Peter. Every one liked the last four reels showing the children grown up and the boys gone to war, and returned. Shows a wonderful friendship. A well made and well acted picture. No one knocked it, but some said they didn’t care so much for the kid part. Personally we liked it. Kid acting was good. Used “Call a Cop” with it. a Sennett two reel comedy, and it was a good Sunday program. Seven reels. — O. K. Stablein, Star theatre, Alexandria, S. D. — General patronage. THE LONELY ROAD, with Katherine MacDonald.— Honestly speaking, this picture is as rotten as could be put on the screen. No plot, no acting, not much of a climax, practically nothing but a bunch of junk. Pass this one up or lay it on the shelf. Star has lost her following here on account of her last three pictures. Six reels. — O. R. Oates, Bridge theatre, Petersburg. W. Va. — • Small town patronage. PONJOLA, with Anna Q. Nillson. — Ordinary business and no comments. Would not consider this a special. Work of Kirkwood good and Anna has a real hair cut to play the boy part. Seven reels. — A. D. Brawner, Jewel theatre. Hooker, Okla. — Small town patronage. PONJOLA, with Anna Q. Nillson. — A very pleasing picture, well enjoyed by 80 per cent. As we had read the story, we were looking forward to it and were not disappointed. Seven reels. — J. A. Anderson, Idyl Hour theatre. Edson, Alberta, Canada. — Railroad Divisional Point. BOY OF MINE, with Ben Alexander.— A very good offering that held up well for two days and seemed to please everyone. — Lincoln theatre. Rochester, N. Y. — General patronage. OLIVER TWIST, with Jackie Coogan. — My patrons did not care for this one. They told me it was not a good picture for children to see — too much torture and killing in it. Print No. 1. Eight reels. — P. G Held, Sterling theatre, Fairmont, Neb. — General patronage. THE MEANEST MAN IN THE WORLD, with Bert Lytell. — Very ordinary. Lyteil fans expected a much better picture and were very much disappointed. An old story worked to death many times before. Seven reels. — H. J. Eagan. American theatre, Wautoma, Wis. — Small town patronage. CIRCUS DAYS, with Jackie Coogan. — Good picture. Pleased old and young. Many said it was better than “Long Live the King” or “Boy of Flanders,” but personally I like “Circus Days.” — G. K., Halfway theatre. Halfway, Mich. — -General patronage. ASHES OF VENGEANCE, with Norma Talmadge.— I have seen lots of unfavorable criticisms on this one. I got a perfect print and people crowded to see it and asked me when I was going to have Norma Taimadge again. I did not hear one unfavorable comment. It is a costume picture, but exteremly interesting. It ranks with “To Have and To Hold” as one of the most interesting costume pictures ever made. Conway Tearle appears to wonderful advantage in this picture and his swordsmanship is fine indeed. Not a bit too long. Ten reels. — Donald H. Dorchester, Community Centre theatre. Southbury, Conn. — Rural patronage. TOL’ABLE DAVID, with Richard Barthelmess. — This is a little old, but it is a real picture and a wonderful story. This class of picture makes a reputation for your theatre. — J. E. Hubbell, Palace theatre, Worthington, Ind. — General patronage. CHASTITY, with Katherine McDonald. — Best yet, but no business. Six reels. — Crosby Bros. Lily theatre, Buffalo, N. Y. — Neighborhood patronage. CHASTITY, with Katherine MacDonald. — Only a fair program picture. Print good. Six reels. — P. G. Held, Sterling theatre, Fairmont, Neb. — General patronage. BOY OF MINE, with Ben Alexander. — Ben Alexander does the best work so far in this picture. It beats “Penrod and Sam.” Every father in the country ought to see this picture. This boy is a real American boy and all boys will enjoy him. Every manager ought to play this picture. It is a fine picture for Lent. Six reels. — Donald H. Dorchester, Community Centre theatre. Southbury, Conn. — Rural patronage. Fox THE DEADWOOD COACH, with Tom Mix.— Ran it on Thursday to a very good business. Pictures of this sort are life savers for us little fellows. At this time of the year, when business is all shot to H — 1, it’s some relief, after running at a loss all week, to get a picture that will pull you out of the hole. Buy it, boost it, and it will make money for you. Seven reels. — P. W. Quinlin. Ideal theatre. Chateaugay, N. Y. — Small town patronage WINNER TAKE ALL, with Buck Jones.— Good program picture. Drew fairly good Saturday business. Little too much prize fighting in it, but went over good. Six reeis. — E. D. Luna, Cozy theatre. Wagoner, Okla. — Small town patronage. HEARTS OF OAK, with a special cast. — Can’t see how anyone can pan this excellent production. Weather conditions were unfavorable but those who saw it were loud in their praises. Fox specials have been good so far. but owing to cold and sleet, attendance not what they deserve. Six reels. — Oscar Reinert, Elite theatre. Humboldt, Kan. — Small town patronage. HEARTS OF OAK, with a special cast. — Expected more. Not nearly as good as stage play. Pleased the majority. — L. A. Goux, Antlers theatre, Roseburg, Ore. — High class patronage. THE VAGABOND TRAIL, with Buck Jones. — Would call this a good picture. Gave satisfaction here. Jones would draw better if they would keep him in the cowboy outfit. — Lincoln theatre, Rochester, N. Y. — General patronage. THE LAST OF THE DUANES, with Tom Mix. — Here is the kind my fans want. Tom Mix and a Zane Grey story, and we pack ’em in. Business good. Seven reels. — G. G., Halfway theatre. Halfway, Mich. — General patronage. THE TEMPLE OF VENUS, with Phyllis Haver. — Very spectacular. Interwoven with a fairy tale. Scenes are magnificent. Advertised this feature extensively and did very well with it, though I was personally better pleased with the picture than a great many of my patrons. Seven reels. — Dorothy B. Strauss. Bonita theatre, Copperhiii, Tenn. — Mining town patronage. THE HEART BUSTER, with Tom Mix. — -Good little Saturday night picture. Just the right length and will please the country folks. Five reels. — A. D. Brawner, Jewel theatre. Hooker. Okla. — Small town patronage. THE HEART BUSTER, with Tom Mix. — This is an average good Western. For those who like NATIONAL SCREEN SERVICE Inc. NEW YORK CHICAGO LOS ANGELES NOW BOOKING VifSyd C]0plm /' from Brazil 'wheie the -•X nuts come Ifrom/ Directed by SCOTT SIDNEY CHRISTIE FILM COMPANYinc Ideal Films Ltd Distribtorsfor United Kingdom •'ih'i,/ PR ODUCERS ^DISTRIBUTING ~ CORPORATION