Exhibitors Herald (Dec 1924-Mar 1925)

March 14, 1925 EXHIBITORS HERALD 63 Imming, Star theatre, Newton, III. — Small town patronage. THE MAN WHO PLAYED SQUARE: Buck Jones — Buck never appeared in a better picture. If they keep on giving him such good material to work on he will beat Mix at the box office. Seven reels. — J. S. Rapalus, Majestic theatre, Easthampton, Mass. — General patronage. WINNER TAKE ALL: Buck Jones — Another Jones that pleased all who came out to see it. A little different from some of his other pictures. Buck in the role of a pugilist went over with a bang. The kids went wild. Don’t be afraid of this one. Five reels. — Chas. E. Barber, Electric theatre, Tilden, III. — Small town patronage. THE PAINTED LADY: Special cast— A Fox special that is not a special. Absolutely nothing to it. Not even a good program picture. Didn’t take in enough to pay film rental. — Liberty theatre, Kalispell, Mont. — Neighborhood patronage. IN LOVE WITH LOVE: Special cast— Absolutely no good for a small town. The director aimed to make a comedy but it turned out to be a tragedy. — L. Salzberg, Electric theatre. Independence, Mo. — General patronage. THE CYCLONE RIDER: Special cast— Boys, here is one of the best this year. A lot of my fans said the best they had seen for years, and its got everything you want and then some. The paper is great on this, six and three-sheets both. It’s got some of these super-specials backed off the map and can be bought right. Seven reels. — G. K., Halfway theatre. Halfway, Mich. — General patronage. THE CYCLONE RIDER: Special cast— Played this a return date and did very well considering local conditions. A whale of a picture, thrills, action, everything which goes to make big entertainment. Book it and boost it. You can't go wrong. The first picture we have redated. Seven reels. — Oscar Eeinert, Elite theatre. Humboldt, Kan. — Small town patronage. THE CYCLONE RIDER: Special cast— Good action picture. Will please those that like lots of thrills and hokum. — Liberty theatre, Kalispell, Mont. — Neighborhood patronage. THE MAN WHO CAME BACK: George O’Brien. A very good offering if bought right and exploited, but why does Fox call it a super? — Liberty theatre, Kalispell, Mont. — Neighborhood patronage. THE WARRENS OF VIRGINIA: Special cast — A vei-y good picture. Pleased most of them and drew fair house. Better than usual. — C. H. Cleeton, Gem theatre, Higbee, Mo. — Small town patronage. THE WARRENS OF VIRGINIA: Special cast — Run this Christmas and made no report until now, but after running “The Birth of a Nation,” I can fully appreciate this picture. To my way of thinking and the reports of patrons, this picture handles another phase of the Civil War in just as good a manner as "The Birth of a Nation.” But it was unknown here and I had seen scarcely any reports in the “Exhibitors Herald,” so I did not know how to push it and made no money. Of course, cold weather helped ruin business. I believe William is going to have some good pictures this year. Anyway, it’s like bad tires, they all have off years and this isn’t going to be Bill’s. It seems to me some exhibitors are chronic knockers of Bill. I don’t mean to say Fox has not had some bum pictures, but in recent years I have run but one I would call rotten. If exhibitors will use their own judgment as to what is a special and pay accordingly, regardless of whether it is Fox or somebody else, they won’t kick so much. The word “special” is very much abused by all companies. I believe Wm. Fox will give any exhibitor a square deal if they deserve it, and so will some of the others. It’s high pressure salesmen who cause most exhibitors’ troubles. Seven reels. — F. Schlotterbeck, Elph theatre, Altamont, III. — General patronage. THE LAST MAN ON EARTH: Special cast— If you want a novelty picture, get this one, as it is certainly there on this point, but if your patrons are the least bit touchy about pictures on the “risque” order, you had better look out. Several of our male friends , told us after seeing the picture that we should have advertised it for “men only” and we could pack our theatre. Even at that, our Monday night attendance (opened on Sunday) wa's the largest we have had for months, which goes to show they like pictures on this order, but we do not believe it would be advisable for any exhibitor to show many of this kind. Seven reels. — P. R. Matson, Crystal theatre, Flandreau, S. D. — General patronage. DANTE’S INFERNO: Special cast — Played this two days. First night packed house. Second night less. Bought this picture right and made a little money. The picture is good. Don’t be afraid of it. Everybody pleased that I spoke to. Six reels. — G. K., Halfway theatre. Halfway, Mich. — General patronage. DANTE’S INFERNO: Special cast — Was fairly well received. Revivals affected business. Above the heads of the average audience but received many favorable comments even at that. Nine reels. — Oscar Reinert, Elite theatre, Humboldt, Kan. — Small town patronage. DANTE’S INFERNO: Special cast — With heavy exploitation this will do a good business, but one of those pictures that will draw them but fails to please. However, it is a good picture to play. A good story of the lower regions with nothing suggestive about it. Your minister will thank you for playing it. — Liberty theatre, Kalispell, Mont. — Neighborhood patronage. HEARTS OF OAK: Hobart Bosworth — A slow, drawn-out, weepy story. Too sordid and not enough action. Well directed. Far from a special : just a fair program. Can’t understand the good reports given this picture by a number* of the exhibitors. Title means nothing at the box office. Neither do the stars. Seven reels. — Geo. A. Markell, Strand theatre, Pittsfield, Mass. — General patronage. HEARTS OF OAK: Hobart Bosworth — Just fair. Ending too sad. Seven reels. — P, R. Matson, Crystal theatre, Flandreau, S. D. — General patronage THE MAN WHO WON: Special cast— Very fine picture. It seems Fox has the best average pictures, and I expect to give them most of my business. Their photography is far superior to other brands. — Ben Brinck, Opera House. West Point, la. — General patronage. THE DESERT OUTLAW: Buck Jones— Atta boy. Buck 1 A few more like this one and the boys will all start to talk about you again. Stick to Westerns ; that’s what they want. — Henry Imming. Star theatre, Newton, 111. — Small town patronage. THE DESERT OUTLAW: Buck Jones— Pleased the Jones fans. As good as all the rest of the .Jones’s. — Harry Van Noy, Starland theatre, Anderson. Ind. — General patronage. THE HEART BUSTER: Tom Mix— Different from the Mix pictures. People liked it though. Good comedy throughout. Tom Wilson is a scream in this picture. Five reels. — Henry C. McCoy, Elite theatre, Golconda, 111. — Small town patronage. AGAINST ALL ODDS: Buck Jones — Good Buck Jones Western. His horse. Silver, does stunts. Give him some more work. Buck. You know, these horses are quite popular these days. Five reels. — F. Schlotterbeck, Elph theatre, Altamont, III. — General patronage. THE VAGABOND TRAIL: Tom Mix— Tom Mix is my best bet. All I can say is keep him in Westerns. — Ben Brinck, Opera House, West Point, la. — General patronage. SOFT BOILED: Tom Mix — Played this late, but it seemed to please everyone, but me, and that is all we need. — Dinsmore & Son, Majestic theatre, Weiner, Ark. — Small town patronage. JUST OFF BROADWAY: John Gilbert— A dandy detective story that will please all. John Gilbert can hold his own in any picture. Six reels. — Wayne Willis, Hollywood theatre, Stanford, Mont. — General patronage. LOVE BOUND: Shirley Mason — This is Miss Mason’s best and we had a good crowd in spite of bad weather. A good little program picture that will please 100 per cent. Miss Mason is sure a little beauty, as well as a good actress, and we always make money on her pictures. Five reels. — Henry C. McCoy, Elite theatre, Golconda, III. — Small town patronage. THE EXILES: John Gilbert— Just fair. Absolutely no ending, and not much of a start. The one sheets were a nightmare and had no connection with the picture. I often wonder why I contracted for that 1923-24 group but have learned my lesson, and have only two more left. ’Nuf sed! Five reels. — Vick Millward, Harris theatre, Bancroft, Idaho. — Small town patronage. THE PLUNDERER: Special cast — Good picture, good cast and considerable action. Was afraid of this due to bad reports, but I can’t see why, unless it was paid as a special. The word special is a joke on 95 per cent of the pictures of all makes. Seven reels. — F. Schlotterbeck, Elph theatre, Altamont, 111. — General patronage. THE LAST OF THE DUANES: Tom MixSet of photos and one sheet. That’s all is necessary. Had medicnie show all this week. Tom brought me just $25.75 more on Saturday night than I did in the other five days. I always try and get him around the last of the month, so I can pay a few of my past due bills when all else fails. Tom will bring them in and Dad McKean in St. Louis does not hold you up for him either. He always tries to fix it some way that you can live. — Henry Imming, Star theatre, Newton, 111. — Small town patronage. THE LAST OF THE DUANES: Tom Mix— Ran Friday and Saturday. Rained out first night. Pretty good house Saturday night. Went over big considering everything. Fox has some good ones this year and will treat the boys right on their pictures. We hope Mix does not join the ranks of Lloyd, Pickford, Doug and Charley. We find we cannot run their stuff without loss. Seven reels. — E. W. McClelland, Rex theatre, Gilman City, Mo. — General patronage. CUPID’S FIREMAN : Buck Jones — The only part of this picture that is any good is the last reel, which has a fair fire in it. Otherwise, the rest of the picture hasn’t enough action in it. Five reels. — B. R. Parsons, Grand theatre. Springfield, Minn. — General patronage. ROMANCE RANCH: John Gilbert— This is the best picture I have ever seen Gilbert in. I think he does much better in Western pictures than in Society. Five reels. — B. R. Parsons, Grand theatre, Springfield, Minn. — General patronage. THE TROUBLE SHOOTER: Tom Mix— I had more people tell me that this was a real picture than any of this star’s works. When you get it, step on it : it’s worth a big boost. Six reels. — • O. R. Haus, Scenic theatre, Hastings, Minn. — General patronage.* IF WINTER COMES: Percy Marmont— While quite a few small town exhibitors panned this, I can’t see where they get it. Of course, it could be shorter, and they don’t shoot up the town, but this picture is filled with real meat. It’s the kind that brings new faces to your house and any picture that will do that has real meat. People went out of their way to tell the management how good it was. Twelve reels. — F. Schlotterbeck, Elph theatre, Altamont, 111. — General patronage. NO MOTHER TO GUIDE HER: Genevieve Tobin — One of Fox’s best, even if a little old. It ■would be hard to find a more attractive production. Story, cast and effects the very best. Don’t be afraid of it. If you can get them in, the satisfaction is assured. Title poor. Seven reels. — Oscar Reinert, Elite theatre, Humboldt, Kan. — Small town patronage. THIS FREEDOM: Fay Compton — Although this picture has got its share of panning, it gave general satisfaction here and considered it a good enough picture of the book. It’s no good for the thrill gang, as it is mostly drama. Not good for