Exhibitors Herald (1925)

EXHIBITORS HERALD April 11, 1925 Wasteland” is a new idea of screen entertainment. The natural color effects make it a beautiful picture. Don’t consider it the best of the Zane Grey stories. However, it should register well as a drawing card and those that see it will not be disappointed. (Strand, Mt. Vernon, la.) Not as good as we were expecting. Our people did not like the colored feature. Brought us a good business, however. (Main Street, Russell, Kan.) A unique creation in Technicolor which all theatregoers are entitled to see. Splendid direction and acting, but story not so much. Would call this a screen novelty and it should be advertised as such. (Empress, Beresford, S. D.) This production drew a fair size audience on account of being a Zane Grey story. Did not have many comments. Roads in very bad condition, so poor business. (Lyric, Chappell, Neb.) Drew excellent business, but picture is not as good as some of the other Zane Grey stories. Technicolor helps to put picture over. Weak story. (Princess, Chilton, Wis.) All color. Fair story. Bad print. Sunday, no. Too high price. Two days. First day fair business ; second day very poor. 10-26 cents. (Royal, Garrett, Ind) WANDERING HUSBANDS, PDC, James Kirkwood, Lila Lee, 6. — One of the very best pictures, from an entertainment standpoint, I have run in months. The audience was unanimous in its praise. (.Jefferson, Jefferson City, Tenn.) This is an extra good society drama. Nothing big. but will please the majority. Shows the trials and tribulations of a bozo who is married and then gets into the hands of a gold digger. Will please the ladies extra well, as anything they do like is to see a picture where we half-wits of the male persuasion get the worst of it. When they get the old meal ticket home after the show they’ll say, “Wasn’t that just like a man to do anything like that ?” The cast and photography are good. Enough comedy to relieve the pathos. Considerable action in the last reel. Just the right length. In fact, a dandy program picture. (Trags, Neillsville, Wis.) A nice program picture which seemed to please everyone. Both Kirkwood and Lee were very good in this. (Trags, Neillsville, Wis.) Well, here was one that did not draw, but the picture was good. Kirkwood was fine. Lila Lee very good in her part. Miss Livingston in her part was extra fine, in fact, a show that had too much truth in it. Run it and you will please 80 per cent of your good people in any part of the country. My people were suited. (Amuse, Hart, Mich.) A nice little picture. Everyone like it. Be sure and play this one. (Riviera. Anderson, Ind.) Producers are stepping out pretty lively now and are making some fine pictures and the above is one of them. Pleased 100 per cent, and they are hard to please here. (Castle, Havana, 111.) Pleasing picture, and these two stars draw a better crowd than we had expected. Patrons were very much satisfied. (Robinhood, Grand Haven, Mich.) I was certainly surprise in this picture. Its entertainment value is 100 per cent. Honestly, I wasn’t expecting much for this, and I want to say that it is one of the best pictures I have had in a long time. Kirkwood and Lee are sure cast just right and do wonderful work. Get them in and this one will do the rest for you. ( Electric, Chillicothe, Mo.) A good program picture. Bought as a special for two days. Played it one. Not a special, just a program picture. That’s all. (Silver Family, Greenville, Mich.) Not one complaint on this picture, but a whole lot of praise. Interesting from start to finish. Six reels. (Grand, Princeton, Mo.) A very good picture. Pleased our patrons. Did nice business. Book it : make no mistake. You can buy it right. In good condition. (Elco, Charleston, S. C.) A dandy picture and one that will please all. (Mystic, Cedarvale, Kan.) WARRENS OF VIRGINIA, THE, F, George Backus, Martha Mansfield, Wilfred Lytell, 6. — A very good picture. Pleased most of them and drew fair house. Better than usual. (Gem, Higbee, Mo.) Ran 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 had 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 me^iT” 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 wont kick so much. The word “Special” is very much abused by all companies. I believe Wm. Fox will give exhibitors a square deal if they deserve it, and so will some of the others. It’s high pressure salesmen who cause most exhibitors’ troubles. (Elph, Altamont, 111.) A good picture to book. Excellent title and first rate entertainment. Good and clean and the kind you will like to take your mother to see. The screen needs more of this kind. (Empress, Beresford, S. D.) It was just as good as I expected from this kind of a story. A Civil War story. It has plenty of action and a good brisk love romance all the way through. Business was only fair. Picture did not have any drawing power. (Highland, Guthrie, Okla.) Civil War stuff. Slow action, pretty well done, but the cruel war is over. Business bad for these days. (Capitol, New Bedford, Mass.) A very good war picture which seemed to please. Had good comments on this one. (Lyric, Tekamah, Neb.) If a lot of exhibitors knew what Fox was putting out this season they would not think of being buncoed by Paramount’s “Wagon.” Here’s a real special. (Majestic, Belleville, Kans.) Liked well enough, but no enthusiasm. Don’t seem to want patriotic stuff. (Star, Milford, Mich.) WELCOME STRANGER, PDC, Dore Davidson, Florence Vidor, Noah Beery, Lloyd Hughes, Robert Edeson, 6. — A very fine picture, and will certainly please small town patrons This is my guess at least, as I have not run the picture as yet. IRobinhood, Grand Haven, Mich.) Very well thought of. Did good business and picture is clear and new. I was very well pleased. (Morse, Hastings, Pa.) From the standpoint of the picture. Just fair. From the standpoint of the box office, a flop. (Crescent, Newark, N. J.) A fine entertainment. Great story. Splendid cast. (Silver Family, Greenville, Mich.) Comedy drama, quite humorous, with good acting and good story. (Arcadia, Vandergrift, Pa.) One of the best comedy dramas of the year. A world of real fun engendered by clever acting and sub-titles. Not a slapstick. (S. T., Parker, S. D.) A good picture. Has comedy, action and good love scenes. Well directed. (Char-Bell. Rochester, Ind.) Pleased 90 per cent of a good biz. Lined up with the basketball team on 70-30 per cent. Teams boosted pictures and sold tickets. Gave ’em 30 per cent, which certainly helped me to get the fans out and also helped the athletic clubs. Lots of comedy and " some sobs. Don’t be afraid of this, as it’s good. Print in No. 1 condition, as this company’s films have been for me. (Sutherland, Newport and Bassett, Neb.) Had no idea there were so many Jewish people in this vicinity until this picture came, but it drew others as well. Big business for two days. Everybody liked it. (Metropolitan, Morgantown, W. Va.) Very good comedy drama, well liked here. Ought to please most any audience. Business fair. Tone okay. (Family, Forest City, Pa.) WESTERN WALLOP, THE, U, Jack Hoxie, 5. • — This is a real live Western and is sure there. There are thrills galore in this and I advise you to get it. (Oak, Oakdale, Neb.) Not as good as “Fighting Fury,” but is an average Hoxie program that will suit his followers. (Castle, Havana. 111.) Title is very misleading, as there isn’t a wallop in the whole picture. A Western with beautiful backgrounds and no pep. (Capitol, Delphos, O.) A good Western type of picture with plenty of action. Not the best Hoxie, however, but will please the Western fans. Print excellent. Paper good. (Opera House, Lenora, Kan.) Hoxie pleased my fans. This is a story of an escaped convict who refuses to abuse his parole, until the girl he loves is in danger. This should prove pleasing to the average patron. (Palace, Omaha, Tex.) Good picture. Well liked by Saturday crowd. Fairly well priced and so am satisfied. (Palace, Malta, Mont.) Measures up to the general run of Westerns. (Lincoln, Pittsburgh Pa.) WHAT SHALL I DO, PDC, Dorothy Mackaill, John Harron, Louise Dresser, 6. — Very clever picture that failed to draw for me. My patrons don’t seem to fall for this losing and regaining the mind stuff. (Strand, Florala, Ala.) It’s a good moral picture. Book it and boost it. We all like Dorothy. (Strand, Samson, Ala.) A fine picture. Pleased them all. (Arcadia, Vandergrift, Pa.) Picture good, pleased about 80 per cent. (Halfway, Halfway, Mich.) This is an extra good picture. Will please all, old and young. Has a good lesson for the younger class of people. Ran on Sunday and Monday to small houses. (Auditorium, Hamilton, Mo.) A good program picture. (Silver Family, Greenville, Mich.) A nice picture to run after using all the modern society and flapper pictures. (Essaness, 55 Rushville, Neb.) A dandy picture that should pleases any audience. Play it. (Castle, Havana, 111.) This is a fair picture, but not the kind for Saturday night. Can’t say much for it. (Amuse, Hart, Mich.) WINE, U, Clara Bow, Forrest Stanley, Huntly Gordon, Myrtle Steadman, Robert Agnew, Walter Long, 6. — For adult patronage. Not much body to the story. Pictures wild youth in this age of jazz. Not one of the ten best pictures of the year. Star not well known enough to feature in this picture. As a box office attraction it is only fair. (Milford. Chicago, 111.) Wild flappers, jazz hounds and gentlemen bootleggers are the moving factors in this hectic drama. Audience liked it and it drew good business for three days. (Capitol, New Bedford, Mass.) Very good picture, but fell flat at box office. Did not make expenses on same. (Cozy, Wagoner, Okla.) This gave us the biggest business this fall and it pleased nearly 100 per cent. (Ho Ho, Cumberland, B. C.. Canada.) Average business on this Universal Jewel. Well acted and directed picture and will go over if exploited. (Liberty. Kalispell, Mont.) Another of those jazz-boozecigaret offerings. If your people like this sort o’ stuff, here it is. Personally I think this line o’ dope has been worked to a frazzle. (Lincoln, Pittsburgh, Pa.) Universal is giving us some good stuff, if they have gone high on them. “Wine” is a real special having a poor star, but it will stand all the boosting you can give it. Play it and boost it. (Gayety, Amory, Miss.) Did not draw for me as I thought it would and pleased only fairly well. (Alamo, Moody, Tex.) WINE OF YOUTH, MG, Eleanor Boardman, Ben Lyon, Pauline Garon, Robert Agnew, 7. — One of the best dangerous age pictures shown in past two years. So fast and furious you get one slap right after another. One of the jazziest ones yet, and makes fine entertainment. Gets over in the best style. The best bunch of the younger type of screen stars gotten together in quite some time. Business very unsatisfactory, owing to unsettled local conditions. (Cozy, Winchester, Ind.) The cutest, jazziest, wickedest picture we have shown. It takes more than this to shock them these days. Everyone liked it — especially the flappers, the cake eaters and even the manager. (Marvel, Carlinville, 111.) Here is a picture that is worth running. Pleases the older class as well as the young. (Auditorium, Hamilton, Mo.) The peppiest, jazziest film out yet. Still it has a good moral. Pleased 50-50 of our crowd, but did not draw normal Sunday business. (Grand, Rainier, Ore.) WINNER TAKE ALL, F, Buck Jones, Peggy Shaw, 6. — Another good Jones action production which went over good here. Will take well in places where action is desired. Splendid print. (Royal, Saxon, Wis.) Would consider this an average feature. There is a good prize fight in it. (Empress, Beresford, S. D.) 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. (Electric, Tilden, HI.) Best Western we have had in a long time. Drew good business on Saturday and satisfied the fans. (Strand, Davis. Okla.) Good picture; good print. (Miers, Schoharie, N. Y.) WORLDLY GOODS, FP, Agnes Ayres, 6.— I saw a couple of places in “What the Picture Did For Me” where some of the boys kinda panned this one, but I’ll say that I have shown many as two days that was not as good as this, and so have you, and probably will again before the wolf gets me. I consider it a clever little comedy, nothing big but the bull, but they all seemed to enjoy it. Business was light, but they all are light box office drags for me. It did better than “Lily of the Dust” and cost just about half as much. I wonder when Paramount is going to wake up to how weak a sister Pola is and hand her the gate. I hope soon. (Regent, Marianna, Ark.) A good comedy drama, but Agnes doesn’t mean anything to my box office, and it is hard to get in a good crowd to just see a picture. They seem to wish to have some personal contact, such as a favorite star, to bring them out. I think the radio is awfully strong competition in this town. (Grand, Pierre, S. D.) Very good program picture that pleased majority of our patrons. Not a special, but a good picture at that. Attendance fair and print in good condition. (Paramount, Wyoming, HI.) A very pleasing picture. (Regent, St. Marys, O.) Just fair. (Palace. Ashland, O.) Just a fair progi'am picture. Not much to it. (Liggett, Madison, Kan.) Very light story, but not bad, except that I think end is not in keeping with point that the story ought to bring