Exhibitors Herald (1925)

96 EXHIBITORS HERALD August 1, 1925 SOUL FIRE: Richard Barthelmess — Good. — G. J. Burkitt, Lyric theatre, Morrison, III. — General patronage. SOUL FIRE: Richard Barthelmess— Terrible. No story, no plot, no action ; did not even please the high-brows. My advice, if you have this one booked, is to set it out until the snow gets four feet deep and it is ten degrees below zero and then forget to order a comedy if you expect to get home before morning. T. O. Service is right in his comment on “Parisian Nights” in the issue of July 18th. First National has been shooting us an endless succession of mushy society dramas and even the high-brows are craving some red-blooded stuff, instead of this sickening trash. Instead of a great stage play, like this, have some good movies. One-half regular business. Nine reels. — M. J. Aley, Regent theatre, Eureka, Kans. — General patronags . SALLY: Colleen Moore — Better than average business but not in accordance with exhibition value. As far as entertainment goes, here is the best thing since “Daddy Long Legs.” Colleen Moore works hard all the way through and certainly puts herself farther ahead than she has ever been before, but say, the weather is hot and it has got us licked. Nine reels. — W. H. Brenner, Cozy theatre, Winchester, Ind. — General patronage. SALLY: Colleen Moore — Extra good. — G. J. Burkitt, Lyric theatre, Morrison, HI. — General patronage. THE WHITE MONKEY : Barbara LaMarr— Fairly good. — G. J. Burkitt, Lyric theatre, Morrison, 111. — General patronage. THE GIRL IN THE LIMOUSINE: Larry Sethon — A comedy-drama. It will please. It is old but you can get it at a reasonable price and the prints are still good. Six reels. — Arch Catalano, Victory theatre, Rossiter, Pa. — General patronage. THE DESERT FLOWER: Colleen Moore— Score another for Colleen and her gang. Not quite as good as "Sally,” but fine, nevertheless. Seems funny that Colleen can hit close to 100 per cent all the time, while most so-called stars only hit once a season, if that well. More power to Colleen Moore. — Joe Hewitt, Strand theatre, Robinson, 111. — General patronage. IF I MARRY AGAIN: Special cast— Very ordinary and not a special and too many reels. People want quality — not this quantity. — Edwards & Case, Opera House, Paw Paw, 111. — General patronage. THE MAKING OF O’MALLEY: Milton SillsVery good. — G. J. Burkitt, Lyric theatre, Morrison, 111. — General patronage. A MADONNA OF THE STREETS: Nazimova — This is a wonderful picture that held our patrons to the last. It has plenty of comedy scattered through to make it interesting. It also has pathos. Eight reels. — W. J. Shoup, DeLuxe theatre, Spearville, Kans. — Small town patronage. HER NIGHT OF ROMANCE: Constance Talmadge — Best from Constance in a long time. A fine picture that pleased 100 per cent. Promise them something real good and then step on it. The picture will do the rest. Seven reels. — R. L. Nowell, Idlehour theatre, Monroe, Ga. — General patronage. FLIRTING WITH LOVE: Colleen Moore— Consider this the poorest Colleen Moore picture we have ever shown, and Oh, what a flop at the box office, with no competition against it. Seven reels. — W. J. Shoup, DeLuxe theatre, Spearville, Kans. — Small town patronage. DECLASSE : Corinne Griffith — Just a little program picture with an awful title. — L. D. Jones, Star theatre, Malad City, Idaho. — General patronage. AS MAN DESIRES: Milton Sills — A picture worth showing, as all of Sills’ have been, but business poor ; weather too hot. "Eight reels. — Edwards & Case, Opera House, Paw Paw, 111. — General patronage. THE SILENT WATCHER: Special cast— Good picture, but awful title. — L. D . Jones, Star theatre, Malad City, Idaho. — General patronage. SUNDOWN: Roy Stewart— It is a real Western of the old days. The cattle stampede is full of emotion and extraordinary . Played on percentage. Made no money on account of no work. — Arch Catalano, Victory theatre, Rossiter, Pa. — General patronage. THE WHITE MOTH: Barbara La Marr— This is an excellent picture that gave satisfaction to those who like the society pictures, but will not please the roughnecks. Seven reels. — W. J. Shoup, DeLuxe theatre, Spearville, Kans. — Small town patronage. THE LOVE MASTER: Strongheart— One of the best dog pictures I have played. The snow scenes are very good. Seven reels. — P. G. Held. Sterling theatre, Fairmont, Neb. — Neighborhood patronage. BLACK OXEN : Corinne Griffith — Good picture. Good business. Enjoyed by all. Should please any audience anywhere. Eight reels. — Daniel T. Clary, A-Mus-U theatre, Lincolnton, Ga. — General patronage. FRIVOLOUS SAL: Mae Busch — A dandy good picture for any house. The outdoor scenes can’t be beat and the good part of it is these said scenes are not taken in California. The story is good ; the acting and directing has not been overdrawn. A good bet for any house. — A. C. Gordon, Star theatre, Weiser, Idaho. — General patronage. BORN RICH : Special cast — This is a good picture for those who like society pictures, but will not suit those who want action pictures. Eight reels. — W. J. Shoup, DeLuxe theatre, Spearville, Kans. — Small town patronage. LILIES OF THE FIELD: Corinne Griffith— What I call a fine picture. Pleased everyone. The only fault, too long for hot weather. No one left! Keeps the interest all the way. First National service makes it a pleasure to be in the movie business. Nine reels. — Daniel T. Clary, A-Mus-U theatre, Lincolnton, Ga. — General patronage. LILIES OF THE FIELD: Corinne Griffith — This is no picture for a small town. It is not the big special that First National tries to make you believe. If you can’t buy this picture at regular program price, do not buy it. I certainly got stung on this. I lost more on this picture than I did on any picture I have played in the 9 year's I have been in business. This picture did not draw enough to pay running expenses, let alone pay film rental. Never again will I buy these would-be specials. They are always the ones a person gets stung on. Print in No. 1 shape. Nine reels. — P. G. Held, Sterling theatre, Fairmont, Neb. — Neighborhood patronage. WHY MEN LEAVE HOME: Lewis Stone— This is sure one excellent picture. If you haven’t played this you should do so. Entertaining all the way through and clean and moral in every respect. It is a pleasure to play pictures like this. An exhibitor feels like remaining in business if he could only get more on that order. If all these producers would only realize that the public wants clean and entertaining pictures and nothing else. The public don’t want a lot of kissing in pictures. Print No. 1. Eight reels. — P. G. Held, Sterling theatre, Fairmont, Neb. — Neighborhood patronage. THE BAD MAN: Holbrook Blinn — A very good Mexican border story. A fine cast which sustained all characters in excellent manner. Seven reels. — Giacoma Bros., Crystal theatre, Tombstone, Ariz. — General patronage. WITHIN THE LAW : Norma Talmadge — Ran this with a tent show for competition. I failed to gross film rental, but sure pleased the few that did come. Eight reels. — S. G. Ihde, Photoplay theatre, Ashland, Kans. — Small town patronage. WHEN A MAN’S A MAN: John Bowers Good picture, and drew well. — William Hoefs, Rialto theatre, Pecos, Texas. — General patronage. WHEN A MAN’S A MAN: John Bowers Good box office attraction and a money maker. Good all l-ound. — F. M. Edgett, Lyric theatre, Earlville, 111. — General patronage. WHEN A MAN’S A MAN: John Bowers Very good picture. Print in No. 1 shape. Seven reels. — P. G. Held, Sterling theatre, Fairmont, Neb. — Neighborhood patronage. THE WANTERS: Special cast — Good picture that failed to draw. Seven reels. — S. G. Ihde, Photoplay theatre, Ashland, Kans. — Small town patronage. POTASH AND PERLMUTTER: Special cast— Best comedy drama we have run in years, but at the box office we starved. No one seemed to care for it, yet no fault of the picture, that is certain. We used plenty of advertising, but just didn’t sound good to them here. — William Hoefs, Rialto theatre, Pecos, Texas. THE PERFECT FLAPPER: Colleen Moore— A delightful picture but failed to make the money expected, on account of other plays in town. Eight reels. — Daniel T. Clary, A-Mus-U theatre, Lincolnton, Ga. — General patronage. TWENTY-ONE: Richard Barthelmess — This is a nice little picture. The story is rather weak but the cast does well with the material they have to work with. Will go over all right in most any theatre as a program if you have good short subjects to balance your program. But First National wants too much money for these Barthelmess pictures. He don’t mean any extra money at the box office and they ask a special price for him. Seven reels. — Crosby & Schwierske, Rex theatres, Colby, Wis. — General patronage. FLAMING YOUTH: Colleen Moore— This would be a good small town picture if it would not have so many mushy kissing scenes in it. These slobbery kisses in a picture always do a lot more harm than good in a small town. Little Colleen Moore is very good but this is not the picture for her. She is suited so much better in comedies. Why not feature her in comedy-dramas ? Print No. 1. Nine reels. — P. G. Held. Sterling theatre, Fairmont, Neb. — Neighborhood patronage. Fox FLAMES OF DESIRE: Special cast — A better story than the press and paper would have you believe, but it didn’t pay expenses. The title killed it on the start. — Roy W. Adams, Pastime theatre. Mason, Mich. — General patronage. THE CYCLONE RIDER: Special cast— A dandy action picture. Good for small towns. Better than a lot of the so-called specials. Seven reels. — F. D. Johnson, Opera House, Woodland, Me. — General patronage. HONOR AMONG MEN: Edmund Lowe— Did not go over very good. Not a good picture for the small town. Five reels. — F. D. Johnson, Opera House, Woodland, Me. — General patronage. WINGS OF YOUTH: Madge Bellamy— Less than average flapper type and not liked by my customers. Listed by Fox as special but it is not. Hope other specials are not as weak as this one. Six reels. — Earle Greenhalgh, Greenhalgh theatre, Ferron, U. — Small town patronage. SHE WOLVES: Alma Rubens — Title misleading and expected to be rather lurid, but it is not. Very good picture — clean and pleased. Six reels. — Earle Greenhalgh, Greenhalgh theatre. Ferron, U. — Small town patronage. CURLYTOP: Shirley Mason— Of all the terrible things I have ever run, this wins the cast iron shaving brush. Knew how rotten it was before I ran it, but didn’t think it was so bad. Has to do with the Limehouse district in that dear ol’ Lunnon. Where your patrons don’t know the difference between a limehouser and a lime juicer, they will run you ragged. There is no other star in pictures today who can live through the number of rotten pictures that have been wished on Shirley. Fox must be trying to kill her, or something. Absolutely no entertainment to it. Of course, you will have to run it along with her others, but for Heaven’s sake, keep quiet about it. Six reels. — Wm. E. Tragsdorf. Trags theatre, Neillsville, Wis. — Small town patronage. THE HEART BUSTER: Tom Mix— As usual, good Mix picture. — Verne H. Coffman, Lyric theatre, Moweaqua, 111. — General patronage. DICK TURPIN : Tom Mix — Fox substituted this for another picture. Scenery and costuming fine but think Mix put the picture over and without Mix would be only ordinary. Six reels. — Earle Greenhalgh, Greenhalgh theatre, Ferron, U.— Small town patronage. DICK TURPIN: Tom Mix — -A very fine picture but my Saturday crowd was a little disappointed in not seeing Tom in a Western. You could play this one any time during the week and make money. Seven reels. — R. L. Nowell, Idlehour theatre, Monroe, Ga. — General patronage. DARWIN WAS RIGHT: Special cast— Novelty picture and all right if advertised as such. Good type comedy drama as a change. Not a special, although listed as one. Don’t pay too much. Some kick from patrons who did not like type of picture. No pulling power. Five reels. — Earle Greenhalgh. Greenhalgh theatre, Ferron. U. — Small town patronage. DARWIN WAS RIGHT: Special cast— Rotten. Nuff sed. — F. M. Edgett, Lyric theatre. Earlville. 111. — General patronage. THE WARRENS OF VIRGINIA: Special cast A very good picture for its kind. Good acting