Exhibitors Herald (Dec 1924-Mar 1925)

94 EXHIBITORS HERALD February 28, 1925 Tragsdorf, Trags theatre, Neillsville, Wis. — Small town patronage. THE ENEMY SEX : Betty Compson — A good picture showing attention to detail and finish that usually appears in Paramount product. It is some years since we read the book, which we enjoyed thoroughly, but missed something of the innermost thought of the “Gold Digger” when viewing the picture. Pleased 85 per cent. Eight reels. — J. A. Anderson, Idylhour theatre, Edson, Alberta, Canada. — Railroad patronage. THE ENEMY SEX: Betty Compson — This story was so good we hated to send the film back. The best thing Betty ever made. Give her these kind of vehicles and watch her go. A real society picture. Eight reels. — Hollywood theatre, Stanford, Mont. — Small town patronage. MANHATTAN : Richard Dix — -This picture will give the star a great boost on his way to popularity. It has lots of action and comedy, but the title did not catch the public and it only drew a fair crowd for us. — Wm. H. Creal, Suburban theatre, Omaha, Neb. — Neighborhood patronage. MANHATTAN : Richard Dix — Good obvious Melodrama. Well acted and elegantly mounted. Has an appeal for the crowd and goes over better than lots of the more pretentious ones. — Benn L. Morris, Temple theatre, Bellaire, Ohio. — General patronage. THE COVERED WAGON: James Cruze— I only can add what others say about it. It is there and over. Sure packs them in, but the price is too high and the fact that they make us charge such a large admission will hurt the exhibitor later. Film good. Ten reels. — W. A. Doerschlag, Strand theatre. Ransom, Kan. — Small town patronage. THE COVERED WAGON: James Cruze— Ran this November 13. 14 and 15 on a percentage basis. First picture I ever ran that way. It drew good, although we were late in running it. — V. E. Sager, Southern theatre, Akron, O. — Neighborhood patronage. THE CODE OF THE SEA: Rod LaRoque— One of the best sea pictures ever screened. Wonderful shipwreck and rescue scenes, but as brutal as most ship pictures, but there’s plenty of action and the audience will keep awake during the showing. Six reels. — C. E. Johnson, Paramount theatre. Gibbon. Neb. — Small town patronage. THE FIGHTING COWARD: Cullen LandisPleased 100 per cent. 'Nuf sed! Six reels. — George White. Starland theatre, Stockbridge, Mich. — General patronage. THE FIGHTING COWARD: Cullen Landis— Here’s one that pleased 100 per cent. It certainly is clever. Cullen Landis very good. Six reels.— American Legion theatre. Broadlands, 111. — Small town patronage. WEST OF THE WATER TOWER: Glenn Hunter — This is small town stuff alright, but does not compare with some other productions along the same line. I should judge it a very ordinary program picture that is very slow and dreary. ’Two reels too long. There was no excuse whatever for casting Ernest Torrence as a minister. He looks ridiculous. Print fine. Paper only fair. Eight reels. — C. H. Bills. Opera House. Lenora, Kan. — Small town patronage. WEST OF THE WATER TOWER: Glenn Hunter — This is one that our little town didn’t like, as we had several knocks on it. Seven reels. — American Legion theatre. Broadlands.Ill. . — Small town patronage. THE BEDROOM WINDOW: May McAvoy— Good mystery story. Drew good business and pleased. Seven reels. — R. Pfeiffer, Princess theatre, Chilton. Wis. Small town patronage. SINGER JIM McKEE: William S. Hart— A fairly good Hart picture, but it failed to do business for us. The story is rather impossible. Am glad that this is the last one of Hart’s, as he is through here. — Paul B. Hoffman, Legion theatre, Holyrood. Kan. — Small town patronage. THE MARRIAGE MAKER: Jack Holt— Send Paramount a check and let them keep it in the can. By doing this you help Famous PlayersLasky pay for advertising and save yourself and your show. I left after the second reel. Ashamed to face the people, but caught it the next day. — W. C. Perry, Tchula theatre Co., Tchula, Miss. — General patronage. THE SPANISH DANCER: Pola Negri— This is not an ordinary costume picture. Just about as clever a picture as you could ask for. Based on “Don Gaesar,” in which Edwin Booth appeared years ago. Wonderful humor in this picture, of a subtle sort. Antonio Moreno at his best. Not too long. ’They can’t be made better than this one. Fine print from Paramount, First National and Metro in New Haven. Nine reels. — D. H. Dorchester, Community Centre theatre, Southbury, Conn. — Rural patronage. TRIUMPH: Cecil B. De Mille — A good picture, but not the big one they charged us for. Was very well done and pleased the majority. One thing noticed was that this was advertised as nine reels, but came to us as eight full reels, instead of being spread out to ten small reels as some of the other companies do. Eight reels. — J. A. Anderson, Idylhour theatre, Edson, Alberta, Canada. — Railroad patronage. TRIUMPH: Cecil B. De Mille — This picture was very well received here. Very good acting and very good direction. Attendance good considering that the roads leading to the village are impassable. Personally I liked the picture very much and the crowd seemed very well pleased. Eight reels.— Schaghticoke Amusement Assn., Odd Fellows Hall, Schaghticoke, N. Y. — General Patronage. THE WHITE FLOWER: Betty Compson — 'This was well liked. I noticed some reports on this as not going over good, but we can’t agree on this, as our gang grabbed it all, hook, line and sinker. Small turn out. Six reels. — G. F. Rediske, Star theatre, Reygate, Mont. — Small town patronage. GRUMPY : Theodore Roberts — Boost this picture, as it is great. Roberts fine in this. Fair crowd. — E. B. Unglaub, Oozy theatre, Nebo, III. — General patronage. SALOMY JANE: Jacqueline Logan — This is a good picture, but nobody knew it. The advertising that we got for it was punk. There was nothing but kissing on it. We cannot advertise the picture when there is no advertising made good enough to advertise it with. — Joseph Gray. Gray theatre, Spangler, Pa. — General patronage. THE WOMAN WITH FOUR FACES: Betty Compson — This is a good crook picture, but has no drawing power. Business very poor on this. Seven reels. — E. B. Unglaub, Cozy theatre, Nebo, 111.— General patronage. BIG BROTHER: Tom Moore — A good many favorable comments from patrons. The kid was good as the hard boiled little brother. Tl\e title lacks drawing power and will do about regular businss. Seven reels. — A. D. Brawner, Jewel theatre. Hooker, Okla. — Small town patronage. BIG BROTHER: Tom Moore — -Here’s one they all liked and told us so. The kid in this one is the whole show, but I forget his name. You can buy this one at a reasonable rental and make some money. Eight reels. — Louis A. Van Alstyne, Quality theatre, Cullom, 111.— General patrontage. BIG BROTHER: Tom Moore — Many of our customers thought this the best we have had in a long time. Plenty of action, holds the attention of the audience closely, and appeals to about all classes of patronage. The acting of Mickey Bennett is particularly good. Seven reels. — C. E. Johnson, Paramount theatre. Gibbon, Neb. — Small town patronage. THE HEART RAIDER: Agnes Ayres— This is a very good picture, but too many gatherings and therefore no crowd. ’The 1 sheet on this was where our minister got his text the Sunday following. Six reels. — E. B. Unglaub, Cozy theatre, Nebo, III. — General patronage. A GENTLEMAN OF LEISURE: Jack HoltMisleading. Poorest Paramount to date. Brother Exhibitors, if you have this one, pay for it and leave it on the shelf. Lost money as usual. Six reels. — C. L. Hilton, Lyric theatre. Prairie Grove, Ark. — General patronage. THE MORAL SINNER: Dorothy Dalton— Would rate this as a very ordinary picture and one that pleased about half of those who saw it. Let’s have more pictures whose stories deal with the good old U. S. A. in.stead of this foreign stuff. Six reels. — Paul B. Hoffmann, Legion theatre, Holyrood. Kan. — Small town patronage. LAWFUL LARCENY : Special cast — Good program picture. Six reels. — Joseph Gray. Gray theatre, Spangler, Pa. — General patronage. ADAM’S RIB: Cecil B. De Mille — This picture would be better if it wasn’t so long. I am for shorter pictures with more action. — K. H. Oliver, Gayety theatre. Amory, Miss. — General patronage. THE PRIDE OF PALOMAR: Special cast— This is what my patrons called a real program. Had a minister tell me that it was better than “The Covered Wagon.” Story good, direction good, well — every inch of it was good. Pleased all, and myself. ‘Nuf sed I Eight reels. — Paul E. Gassett, Pike theatre, Coldwater, Kan. — General patronage. BLUEBEARDS EIGHTH WIFE: Gloria Swanson— Consider this one of the best of the series. Seven reels. — K. H. Oliver, Gayety theatre, Amory, Miss. — General patronage. THE CHEAT: Pola Negri — The best Pola Negri yet. A good story with fine supporting cast. Eight reels. — Hollywood theatre, Stanford. Mont. — Small town patronage. THE NE’ER DO WELL: Thomas Meighan — Had lots of good comments on this one. Six reels. — K. H. Oliver, Gayety theatre, Amory Miss. — General patronage. RUGGLES OF RED GAP: Special cast— This picture is a trifle long and some of them did not like it, but the higher class patrons will enjoy it. Some of the comedy went over their heads. Good cast. — Hollywood theatre, Stanford, Mont. — Small town patronage. KICK IN : Special cast — This is a good picture and we got it at a good price. Nothing wrong with Paramount so far. Eight reels. — K. H. Oliver, Gayety theatre, Amory, Miss. — General patronage. MANSLAUGHTER: Thomas Meighan— This is on old one, but a mightly fine picture. The only thing wrong with it is the length. Could have been shorter. Ten reels. — J. W. Andresen, Rialto theatre, Cozad, Neb. — General patronage. WILD BILL HICKOK: William S. Hart— A good many panned this picture, but it went over with a big per cent of the patrons. Drew a fair business and is not as bad as some make it out. Houses that have used Hart will not go wrong in booking it. Only fault I could find wsis that it should have been six reels instead of seven. Seven reels. — C. H. Bills, Opera House, Lenora, Kan. — Small town patronage. THE TRAIL OF THE LONSOME PINE: Mary Miles Minter — This picture will draw them in and will please. Run as a program picture. Did good business. Six reels. — ^E. B. Unglaub, Cozy theatre, Nebo, 111. — General patronage. PINK GODS: Bebe Daniels — We class this as mighty good entertainment, played by an excellent cast, Anna Q. Nilsson coming in for her share, ’This should please most classes. Six reels. — S. G. Fry, Palace theatre, Omaha, Tex. — Small town patronage. THE SPEE JACKS: Speciail cast — Here. Brother Exhibitor, please note this report. If you have “Speejacks” booked and have not used it, for the sake of your patrons, lay off it. Absolutely nothing to it. Paramount held me up when they sold me this one. Patrons walked out asking where in the h did I get such a thing. Who wants to see a young married couple travel around the world ? If some of the scenes were worth seeing it might have been something, but there was nothing to the scenes. Get five reels of Pathe News and you have a better show than this “Speejacks.” Some rotten stuff. Nothing entertaining from it from any angle. Six reels. — M. J. Babin, Fairyland theatre. White Castle, La.. — General patronage. HOMEWARD BOUND: Thomas Meighan — This, like most all Meighan’s pictures, is good. You can buy this right and make money with it. Seven reels. — E. B. Unglaub, Cozy theatre, Nebo, 111. — General patronage. Pathe THE BATTLING ORIOLES: Glen Tryon— Just about fair. Business not much. May appeal to the men. Ladies will not be with you on this picture. — Harry Van Noy, Starland theatre, Anderson, Ind. — General patronage. DYNAMITE SMITH : Charles Ray — Did not see this one but from reports since showing it, it must have been awful. The only favorable comment I heard was that it had some pretty scenery.— Louis A. Van Alstyne, Quality theatre, Cullom, 111. — General patronage. HOT WATER: Harold Lloyd — Fine picture but not his best. His name biggest drawing card, not the picture. — Herbert A. Shaw, Metropolitan theatre, Morgantown, W. Va. SAFETY LAST: Harold Lloyd — One of Lloyd’s best. Public well pleased. Picture would have been good another day. Six reels. — H. B. Frank, Royal theatre, Macomb, 111. — General patronage. WHY WORRY?: Harold Lloyd — A clever comedy, but not as good as “Safety Last.” The giant is half the show. Did fair business on a Monday, Tuesday, but very little profit. Six reels. — ^R. Pfeiffer, Princess theatre, Chilton, Wis. — Small town patronage. CALL OF THE WILD: Rex — ^Very good picture. Even better than the book. Beautiful scenes of the North in it. Six reels. — ^H. B. Frank, Royal theatre, Macomb, 111. — General patronage. DR. JACK: Harold Lloyd — Not many saw it on account of the Flu epidemic in our little town.