Exhibitors Herald (Dec 1924-Mar 1925)

EXHIBITORS HERALD 69 February 21, 1925 cent. — H. G. Stettmund, Jr., Odeon theatre. Chandler, Okla. — Small town patronage. MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE: With Rudolph Valentino— A surprise for us after so many contrary reports. A wonderfully pleasing production that pleased a fair audience who came in face of a bad storm. A very beautiful production and Valentino does some splendid acting. Bad weather and roads cutting business. Ten reels.— R. C. Geeting, Lyric theatre, Chappell, Neb. — Small town patronage. MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE: Rudolph Valentino — -Another rotten tomato that will please about seven people in the average town. The remainder if there are any, will go to sleep or go home to the radio. Ten reels. — H. G. Stettmund, Jr., Odeon theatre. Chandler, Okla. — Small town patronage. THE COVERED WAGON: James Cruze— I booked this for a two-day run and made more clear money on it than anything I ever used. It was a fine picture, but the advertising it had was what put it over so well. — Mrs. J. A. Wright, Lone Star theatre, Ovalo, Tex. — Small town patronage. THE COVERED WAGON: James Cruze— Well, it’s just like they all say, good, of course. I did more business than I usually do on four other shows. Ten reels. — E. J. Reynolds, Liberty theatre, Pasco, Wash. — General patronage. THE COVERED WAGON: James Cruze— Second run. Absolutely no interest shown. Just about nobody came to see it. Ten reels. — Don Wilcox, Colome theatre, Colome, S. D. — General patronage. EMPTY HANDS: Jack Holt — A fair program picture that pleased the few who saw it. Seven reels. — R. C. Geeting, Lyric theatre, Chappell, Neb. — Small town patronage. HER LOVE STORY: Gloria Swanson— While this got across, it did not please as well as some of this star’s previous offerings. Seven reels. — Henry W. Gauding, Lincoln theatre, Pittsburgh, Pa. — Neighborhood patronage. HER LOVE STORY : Gloria Swanson — Poorest Swanson we ever ran. Story is not her kind and my people were disappointed. Think she is losing out, as her pictures do not draw for us any more. Seven reels. — A. J. Inks, Crystal theatre, Ligonier, Ind. — Small town patronage. SINNERS IN HEAVEN: Richard Dix— Title seemed to draw them in and many pleasing comments. Bad roads and bad weather cutting business greatly. — R. C. Geeting. Lyric theatre, Chappell, Neb. — Small town patronage. LILY OF THE DUST: Pola Negri— A real director, a great star, and a cast absolutely perfect. An absence of sub-titles gives you a picture which from an artistic standpoint cannot be excelled. Although it may not register at the box office, it is strictly a high class production. — William Croucher, Crescent theatre, Newark, N. Y. — General patronage. " THE CALL OF THE CANYON: Richard Dix— This is much better than Zane Grey’s “To the Last Man,” and it gave satisfaction to extra business. Seven reels. — A. D. Brawner, Jewel theatre. Hooker, Okla. — Small town patronage. THE ENEMY SEX: Betty Compson— We did not expect from another exhibitor’s account that this would please here. But it did. about 80 per cent. Seven reels. — Giacoma Bros., Crystal theatre. Tombstone, Ariz. — General patronage. THE ENEMY SEX: Betty Compson — Personally thought it pretty good, but had numerous complaints on this. The story is of the gold digging type and is filled with scenes which do not appeal to decent people. Could have been Improved if it had been two reels shorter. Eight reels. — Wm. E. Tragsdorf, Trags theatre, Neillsville, Wis. — Small town patronage. HERITAGE OF THE DESERT: Bebe DanielsSplendid picture that will please anyone. Buy it by all means. Six reels. — George C. Starkey, Opera House, Montour Falls, N. Y. — General patronage. THE STRANGER: Betty Compson — Betty Compson draws them out here and after the program I had the first part of the people came out fine to see some more rough stuff. These kind of pictures sure draw them out, but they also draw bad comments. Eight reels. — -Frank Brock, Grand theatre, Okolona, Miss. — Small town patronage. THE STRANGER: Betty Compson — Would rate this as just an average program picture with a story that might give offense to some people. Nothing extra. — Paul B. Hoffman, Legion theatre, Holyrood, Kan. — Small town patronage. THE HUMMING BIRD: Gloria Swanson— My second Swanson and I guess my last. They simply will not come to see her. Not that this is not a good picture ; it is simply great and the war scenes are wonderful. Also Gloria’s acting. Both this and “The Impossible Mrs. Bellow” were very good, but I only had 39 to see the latter and 46 the former. So what’s the use? An exhibitor cannot run a star’s picture when he loses money on them, no matter how good they are. T’would simply be suicide. So here is where I ring off on Gloria. Eight reels. — A. C. Betts, Powers theatre. Red Creek, N. Y. — Small town patronage. THE HUMMING BIRD: Gloria Swanson— A mighty fine picture which is above most of the productions with female stars. Run to fair business in bad weather so could not tell what it would have done if it had a chance. Print fair. Advertising rotten. The paper tells very little of what the picture really is. Eight reels. — C. H. Bills, Opera House, Lenora, Kan. — Small town patronage. ICEBOUND: Richard Dix — Very good program picture, but not a special. Seven reels. — E. D. Luna, Cozy theatre. Wagoner, Okla. — Small town patronage. THE PURPLE HIGHWAY: Madge Kennedy— A good program picture. Star does good work. Seven reels. — Lester N. Leek, Club House theatre, Jackson, Wyo. — General patronage. WEST OF THE WATER TOWER: Glenn Hunter— Very poor picture. Did not please half the audience. Ernest Torrence makes very poor minister. Exhibitors, lay off this one if possible. Eight reels. — Schaghticoke Amusement Assn., I. O. O. F. Hall, Schaghticoke, N. Y. — General patronage. STORY WITHOUT A NAME: Agnes AyresVery good. Lots of action. Ran it Saturday to fair business, but those who saw it liked it. Six leels. — A. J. Inks, Crystal theatre, Ligonier, Ind. — Small town patronage. THE FIGHTING COWARD: Culley Landis— This picture was sent to me as a substitute for “The Call of the Canyon” and I was fighting mad until after the show. It was just fine and my patrons got so interested they forgot all about “The Call of the Canyon.” One man who came in too late to find out it was a substitute, remarked as he went out, “Well, that was a fine picture, but they certainly got away from the story when they made it.” — Mrs. J. A. Wright, Lone Star theatre, Ovalo, Tex. — Small town patronage. TO THE LAST MAN: Richard Dix— Fine picture and drew well. — J. M. Culwell, Strand theatre, Davis, Okla. — Small town patronage. FLAMING BARRIERS: Good program. — A. C. Betts, Powers theatre. Red Creek, N. Y. — Small town patronage. BLUFF: Agnes Ayres — A good little program picture of the comedy drama type. Liked by most of those who saw it. Print good. Paper no good. Six reels. — C. H. Bills, Opera House, Lenora, Kan. — Small town patronage. UNGUARDED WOMEN: Special cast.— Can’t give this one so much. Too draggy and a little gruesome in places. Old story rehashed and not so good at that. Personally thought this an awful bore, and most of my patrons did, too. — L. H. Cox, Pythian theatre, Marshall, 111. — General patronage. WILD BILL HICKOK: William S. Hart— After reading the reports on this I was afraid of it and did not boost it much, but to my surprise it turned out to be a good picture, at least I thought so, and I heard many favorable remarks from the small crowd who came out to see it. — J. A. Wright, Lone Star theatre, Ovalo, Tex. — Small town patronage. WILD BILL HICKOK: William S. Hart— Drew a pretty good crowd on Bill’s back “rep,” but some walked out and those that stayed did not hesitate to tell me that they did not care for it. Seems to be no story. I think the director just went out and shot enough to fill seven spools and let it go at that. Farewell, Bill. Seven reels. — A. D. Brawner, Jewel theatre. Hooker, Okla. — Small town patronage. MERTON OF THE MOVIES: Glenn Hunter— A knockout for me. Everybody pleased and thought Viola Dana exceptionally good. Will gowell where comedy dramas are liked. — L. H. Cox, Pythian theatre, Marshall, 111. — General patronage BACK HOME AND BROKE: Thomas Meighan — This was certainly a fine picture and just the kind to please my fans. They all stopped to tell me how much they enjoyed it. Eight reels. — Mrs. J. A. Wright, Lone Star theatre, Ovalo, Tex. —Small town patronage. THE MAN WHO SAW TOMORROW: Thomas Meighan — Just fair entertainment. It would have been good if it had not been a vision into the future in place of being true to life. This dream stuff always takes the edge off of a story. Seven reels. — J. W. Andresen, Rialto theatre, Cozad, Neb. — General patronage. THE WOMAN WITH FOUR FACES: Betty Compson — This is a fairly good offering. Pleased majority. Six reels. — S. G. Fry, Palace theatre, Omaha, Tex. — Small town patronage. LAWFUL LARCENY: Hope Hampton — Bill Tragsdorf of Neillsville in reporting on this feature stated that the much-touted dance of Gilda Grey failed to show up. Must be I didn’t get the same print that he did because it showed up like a new moon in the film I had. Didn’t get any kicks on it, so I guess it went over all right. It’s a pretty fair show. Six reels. — H. J. Eagan, American theatre, Wautoma, Wis. — Small town patronage. PRODIGAL DAUGHTERS: Gloria Swanson — Good picture that drew well. Had quite a few comments on my week’s program. Be careful friends, and don’t get a program like this in one week: “Six Days,” “Another Scandal, “Prodigal Daughters,” and “The Stranger.” It will certainly bring them out, but the talk the aid societies and preachers will give you will hurt. I had about the best week I have had but more talk on it than in a long time. Eight reels. — Frank Brock, Grand theatre, Okolona, Miss. — Small town patronage. PRODIGAL DAUGHTERS: Gloria Swanson— Gloria well liked here. Drew good business for two nights. — George J. Mahowald, Alhambra theatre, Garrison, N.' D. — General patronage. PRODIGAL DAUGHTERS: Gloria Swanson— This picture contains a good deal of jazz but it carries a good lesson and pleased my crowd. — Mrs. J. A. Wright, Lone Star theatre, Ovalo, Tex. — Small town patronage. THE OLD HOMESTEAD: Theodore Roberts— I bad to put the S. R. O. sign out on this one and everybody was pleased. — Mrs. J. A. Wright, Lone Star theatre, Ovalo, Tex. — Small town patronage. FAIR WEEK: Walter Hiers — They liked it and said so as they went out. Nothing big, but entertaining. Other exhibitors, I have noticed, have had occasion to knock this picture, but their patronage must be different than mine. — W. J. Powell, Lonet theatre, Wellington, Ohio. — Smalt town patronage. RUGGLES OF RED GAP: Ernest Torrence — Fair business and one of the best pictures. Eight reels. — F. L. Johnson, Johnsonian theatre. Riplet, N. Y. — Small town patronage. NOW BOOKING PR ODUCERS DISTRIBUTING -CORPORATION