Exhibitors Herald (1925)

EXHIBITORS HERALD 25 April 11, 1925 (Majestic, Fairbury, Neb.) Fair picture except the last reel, which Is simply rotten. If you run this show cut off about 100 feet of the last reel. How this baby got by the censorship is more than I can tell. A few more like this and think Iowa will need some censorship. If the producers think we want suggestive scenes and rotten subtitles, they are badly mistaken, in this town, at least. (Strand, Milford, la.) Very satisfactory offering if you can get them in. Did not draw for us. (Grand, Ranier, Ore.) IN FAST CX)MPANY, FBO, Richard Talmadge, 5.— The name suits the picture and the picture suited most of our audience and that suited us. Richard is such a clean cut, handsome young chap that it is a pleasure to watch him — and if you don’t watch him you are sure to miss something, for in most of his pictures the stunts follow each other so fast that they "lap” over.” (Majestic, Weiner, Ark.) A dandy action picture that pleased our patrons. (Royal, Ainsworth, Neb.) Richard Talmadge is very good and will make a great star some day. (Strand, Granbury, Tex.) Another good one from Dick Talmadge. All of his pictures have been good. They are stunt pictures with very weak stories, but for action they are hard to beat. This one unusually fast. Pleased well here to good crowd. (Cozy, Columbia, Mo.) This is a picture no exhibitor should fail to run. This is my first Talmadge, and if all of them are as good as this one I shall be more than satisfied. Heard lots of good comments on this boy’s acting and I believe he will draw me extra patronage before long. Will please all class.es._ (Star, Tuckerman, Ark.) If your patrons like fast action pictures this should please them as it is action from start to finish. Also has more story to it than some of his. This one pleased our patrons. We showed round 10 of “Fighting Blood” with it and certainly had an action program. (De Luxe, Spearville, Kan.) In its class it’s pretty good. There is plenty of action and it is entertaining. (Regent, St. Marys, Ohio.) Excellent for Saturday night crowd. Just what they like. Action with light story. (Lyric, Harrison, Ark.) A good picture for Saturday night. I find that the Talmadge pictures do not draw as good as the Thomsons. Print good. (Sterling, Fairmont, Neb.) A fine little picture. A little better story than usual for a Talmadge stunt picture. (Maple Leaf, Mont Dennis, Ont., Canada.) Here is one fast one and he has fast company. Also he beats up a whole house full of toughs and gets away with it. Some acrobat. but they like him. Enough ’sed. (Community,'Elgin, Neb.) Well liked star made business good. But stories are not what they might be. (Regent, Bogota, N. J.) The Talmadge pictures may be good for some places, but my patrons do not care for them. The men will like the prize fight in this one. (Strand, Newman Grove, Neb.) This is a dandy picture with thrills and pep, and will please 100 per cent of any small town. (Photo Phone, Graford, Tex.) Dick draws well here. This picture pleased, but it is not as good as some he has made, nor yet is it the worst. Just an average action picture that will get by without arousing the animosity of the audience. (Cozy, Columbia, Mo.) IN HOLLYWOOD WITH POTASH AND PERLMUTTER, FN, George Sidney, Alexander Carr, 8. — Dandy good drama and enjoyed by those who came, but weather was bad and business light. (Iris, Wheatland, Wyo.) One of the most satisfying pictures we have had in a long time. Fair crowd ; everyone pleased. When we show First National pictures we feel that we have something worth while, and a show that was reasonable in price. First National pictures are first class in action, direction, photography and all other desirable qualities. (Castleman, Waterproof, La.) Pulls better and considered better than first “Potash and Perlmutter.” Acting and photography good. Comedy and action aplenty. Would call this better than average, to better than average business, four days. Film good. (Victory, Union City, Ind.) Not as good as first “Potash and Perlmutter,” although I did very good business. (Majestic, Mauston, Wis.) A comedy scream. One continuous laugh. Exceptionally good casting. Business poor. (New McKee, Pittsburgh, Pa.) One of the funniest comedies I have ever had the pleasure of looking at. My patrons screamed at it and many came back to see it twice. Business fairly good. Would have done better, but conditions were not of the best during "the week I played. (Liberty, Long Beach, Cal.) It is there and over. Much better than the other P. & P. picture, and I realize that that statement covers a lot of ground. It is good all the way through and the last scene is really a scream, so that, if I were advising, I would say. let the feature finish the program for you, because it will send them out chuckling and then maybe they’ll come back again some time. Not so? By ail means, buy, boost and play this one. (Grand, Eldora, la.) Falls considerably below the standard of the first “Potash and Perlmutter” picture, due to the fact that the story is lacking. But you can still count it as an excellent box office attraction and will please the bulk of the people. Good print from St. Louis. (K. P.. Pittsfield, 111.) A splendid comedy-drama that drew well in adverse weather conditions. Pleased 100 per cent. (Lyric, Chappell, Neb.) Not quite as big a laugh as the first one, but very, very good. Business was not as good as the old one, either, but business is worse in general now than when we showed the first “Potash.” (Strand, Robinson, 111.) This production is there. Pleased our people. (Lincoln, Pittsburgh, Pa.) IT IS THE LAW, Arthur Hohl, Mimi Palmeri, 8. — A heavy, unrelieved drama with marvelously good acting by Arthur Hohl and Mimi Palmeri, but a story based on a murder which is blamed upon the hero, who later kills villain in cold blood and demands acquittal on the ground that he has once been tried and convicted for the killing of the same man, said villain having made up a man to look like himself and then killed him just as hero arrives. (S. T., Parker, S. D.) On account of unknown cast, the picture seems without drawing power. The acting is good but it is at least a rqel too long. Therefore, can rate it only as an ordinary program. (Empress, Beresford, S. D.) Here is one of Fox’s new 24-25 specials that is entirely different from anything I have ever seen or shown. It is a fairly good and interesting picture, only it is heavy drama and no touch of comedy whatever to offset the long length. I don’t see why the producers still insist on making them long when every issue of the HERALD discloses that us exhibitors want them shorter. Fox rates these specials in classes AA — A — B — C. This one is about rated in Class B. so judge yourself accordingly. Print new first run. (Strand, Lamont, Ga.) This is the first of the new Fox specials and proved to be a pretty good picture. It didn’t seem to have a great amount of drawing power, but it seemed to give satisfaction. Judging from the looks of all the actors. Fox must have imported them all from Europe. There wasn’t a familiar face in the whole cast, but even at that, they were all good. (Lyric, Greenville, 111.) A melodrama of the 10-20-30 type. Not bad entertainment but actors are unknown and drawing power of picture is nil. Picture seemed to please those who saw it, but business was only light for three days. (Capitol, New Bedford, Mass.) If you want a mystery drama that is different, get this one. It sure kept them on the edge of their seats and they all praised it as they went out. Good for any house. (Star, Price, Utah.) A very good regular program picture. (Crystal, Tombstone, Ariz.) An out of the ordinary mystery drama that pleased all who saw it. Fine print. Business is way off. Picture entitled to better business. (Rex, Gilman City, Mo.) J JANICE MEREDITH, MG, Marion Davies, Harrison Ford, Maclyn Arbuckle, Joseph Kilgour, George Nash, Tyrone Power, 12. — Here’s a dandy. I liked it better than Griffith’s “America.” which is of similar theme. Pleased well. More good comments than I have had for some time. Weather too unfavorable for good business and, therefore, business wasn’t up to what it should have been. This picture is costume but it also has everything else needed to make a good picture, comedy, action and thrills are plentiful. They have a selling line: “It will make you prouder than ever to be an American.” Believe me that line tells the truth. Get this one, ad^rtise it. It will stand advanced admission. (Cozy, Columbia, Mo.) I count this even more wonderful than “Little Old New York.” I think it is better and bigger than “America.” Marion Davies was never so beautiful and never before acted so convincingly. She improves with every picture. Here we have Paul Revere’s Ride, the crossing of the Delaware, Valley Forge, the Fall of Trenton, the arrival of Gen. Washington just in time to save the life of Janice’s lover. Oh, boy I What a picture ! It should be shown in every city in the U. S. and it will make everybody proud of America. (Community, Southbury, Conn.) A good special. Has got good story, settings, action and pleased 100 per cent. Worked it with all schools and had good support from them. A picture you are safe in advancing prices on. (Star, Price, U.) A 100 per cent picture. Great story. Star splendid (cast good). Pleased them all. (Silver Family, Greenville, Mich.) Very good. Too much like ‘‘America,’’ but cannot be ranked with it. It is history, so can be hooked up with schools. Perfect print served by Chicago exchange. (Jefferson, Goshen, Ind.) Splendid picture, but not up to expectations and heavy advertising failed to bring them in at increased admission. Washington crossing the Delaware is the most impressive part. (Y. M. C. A., Morenei, Ariz.) K K— THE UNKNOWN, U, Virginia Valli, Percy Marmont, 7. — Here is a real picture and an A-I box office magnet. Get this one’ and don’t be afraid of it. (Liberty, Kalispell, Mont.) A sincerely done and very meritorious attraction. Comments all favorable. Played this the four days preceding Thanksgiving to fair business and heavy exploitation. (Capitol, New Bedford, Mass.) Extra good business two days. Here is a picture that is right up to date in every respect. Well directed, beautifully mounted, good acting, with comedy and action and will please anywhere. Title not so good. (Electric, Chillicothe, Mo.) A real picture, the best U, has made. It has everything that it takes to make a picture. Just an honest to goodness entertainment. I want to emphasize the fact again, it is Universal’s best picture and as good as the best. (Gem, Batesville. Ark.) Drew and pleased. (Alamo, Moody, Tex.) Just an average picture. Not worth paying extra money for. Universal has made better pictures and sold them for a great deal less. Very poor business. (Noble, Marshfield, Ore.) A real good picture. (Riviera, Anderson, Ind.) L LAST MAN ON EARTH, THE, F, Earle Fox, 7. — ^This picture has a catchy title which may arouse some curiosity, but that is all. If your patrons like a bunch of naked girls with pretty legs, etc., you may be able to get them in. The photos will keep the ones who don’t care for that sort of stuff away. They say this picture is a fantasy. pure and simple. It may be simple, but not very pure. It looks like they have about run out of stuff when they resort to this type of entertainment, and it’s sold as a “special.” (Lyric, Greenville, 111.) This is the first we had of Fox 1924-25 list. We got them to be a little more reasonable as to price this year, and this, with the novelty of the title, helped us make a profit. This is certainly something different and will please the majority, though we do think full advantage was taken of the possibilities of the subject. We often find it difficult to know how to make up our program when running a Fox feature, for we never know the correct length of them. This subject is listed as 6,600 feet, so we just booked in a two-reel comedy and the nine reels went through in less than an hour and a half on one machine running at 85. We often find that Fox puts 6,000 feet on 7 reels. (Idyl Hour, Edson, Alberta, Canada.) No picture for a small town. I was out of town but my wife said it was the kind she wished she had been the janitor and could have been busy with the furnace as the people came out. (S. T,, Parker, S. D.) This is the greatest novelty picture in our years in business and gave 99 per cent satisfaction. (One person kicked, said he was too much past the Mason and Dixon line to appreciate it. He admitted he was old.) This is the first picture they ever cheered. Five below zero, deep snow, and sixty dollars worth of business when we thought $5 would be big. It’s got oodles of comedy, beautiful women, a novel theme. It’s clean, gotta catchy title, pulled ’em in below zero. Use your own judgment. We got it cheap and feel that Bill Fox got cheated. (Majestic, Belleville, Kan.) Seven reels of foolishness and a fine picture for the censors to work on. Would advise, either screening before the show or picking out a good place to hide before the final fadeout. (Triangle. Howard Lake, Minn.) Some said fine, others rotten. A really “divided opinion” audience saw this one. (Crystal. Tombstone, Ariz.) 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) was 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. (Crystal, Flandreau, S. D.) I have been in business seven years and do not in that time recall a novelty picture that gets over as well as this does. It is highly pleasing