Exhibitors Herald (1925)

102 EXHIBITORS HERALD December 19, 1925 HE WHO GETS SLAPPED: Lon Chaney— Something different than the average run. Didn’t go big, but patrons well pleased and acting of Lon Chaney up to his standard. Metro-Goldwyn has a nice line of pictures this year and the Omaha office is pleasant to deal with. Henry, the booker, is a prince and will meet you half way with your booking trouble. The whole force is be commended. Seven reels. — Gunther & Metzger, Palace theatre, Syracuse, Neb. — Small town patronage. BROKEN BARRIERS: Special cast — Outside of a scene or two that would be best left out, this feature gave satisfaction. If your town is very strict, better see before you show. Six reels. — Tom Foster, Star theatre, Stanley, Wis. — Small town patronage. CHEAPER TO MARRY: Lewis Stone— Had many good comments on it. Seven reels. — S. G. Ihde, Photoplay theatre, Ashland, Kan. — Small town patronage. TESS OF THE D’URBERVILLES : Blanche Sweet — Just a picture. No business. — E. J. Reynolds, Liberty theatre, Pasco, Wash. — General patronage. WINE OF YOUTH: Eleanor Boardman — One of the jazziest of jazz pictures I have ever used. I advertised the jazz part of it and did a good business. Seven reels. — S. G. Ihde, Photoplay theatre, Ashland, Kans. — Small town patronage. YOLANDA: Marion Davies — -A dandy fine picture, well put over with the exception of being too many reels. Ten reels. — Giacoma Bros., Crystal theatre. Tombstone, Ariz. — General patronage. Paramount STAGE STRUCK: Gloria Swanson — This picture takes our house record for one night for all time, topping high on “Commandments,” “Freshman” and “The Wagon.” Second and third days not so good. First part, the most gorgeous color photography ever put on film — it is something to dream about — in the main story Gloria clowns the equal of a Chaplin and gets lots of laughs. Many of the Gloria fans thought it beneath her dignity to play such a part. Parts of the picture were made here, which accounted for a great deal of its drawing power. On the whole a be' ter than usual Swanson. — Ben L. Morris, Temple theatre, Bellaire, O. — General patronage. STAGE STRUCK: Gloria Swanson — Best small town picture she ever made. All comedy. But couldn’t make any money, and couldn’t make money on her if we were given the film absolutely free. Seven reels. — Clark & Edwards, Palace theatre, Ashland, O. — General patronage. SEVEN KEYS TO BALDPATE: Douglas McLean— A reissue, or rather, a poor take-off on the original production of this name. Nothing to it. — E. L. Wharton, Orpheum theatre, Glasgow, Mont. — General patronage. THE PONY EXPRESS: James Cruze— Great ! Beery and Torrence run away with the show. In some respects better than “The Covered Wagon.” Paramount, on Western pictures, is still Paramount. We made some money. Ten reels. — Clark & Edwards, Palace theatre, Ashland, O. — General patronage. THE PONY EXPRESS: James Cruze — Very good. Will please about 95 per cent. Step on it and you will send them home fully satisfied. Eight reels. — J. E. Draginis, Grand theatre, Yoakum, Tex. — General patronage. THE PONY EXPRESS: James Cruz^-Not half as good as “The Covered Wagon,” as Paramount claimed it would be. However, good picture and will do some business if bought right. —Carl E. Anderson, Liberty theatre, Kalispell, Mont. — General patronage. HE S A PRINCE: Raymond Griffith — Wo have always liked Raymond Griffith’s work in support, but this picture did not seem well received by our patrons. Whether it was the costuming, or what, we are at a loss to understand, but certainly Raymond is not going very far if he a' lows them to put him into costume comedy. The rural American public seems to have an ingrained dislike for pictures with royal or costume settings, and that goes for this one. I had “The Best People” for Wednesday night, the day before Thanksgiving, and had I seen the two of them screened, “The Best People” would have been the picture for tonight and not “He’s A Prince. Griffith would be best in a straight comedy role without the trimmings of a costume picture. — A. E. Hancock, Columbia theatre, Columbia City, Ind. — General patronage. LOVERS IN QUARANTINE: Bebe DanielsOne of the best comedy features our folks have seen in a long time. Miss Daniels should receive Doctor Jack Doctor Jack can cure the blues With his tonic called “amuse”; He cheers the sick and makes ’em grin. And all the youngsters yell like sin. Whenever he approaches. That hole within the old cash-box He also mends; and oh, the flocks Of forgotten faces, now in sight. And happy smiles and steps so light And lines of cabs and coaches. ’Tis funny how one single man Can cheer the people as he can And cause the good old blood to flow. Relieve the Earth of care and woe From Iceland down to Bokdor. I think that man who makes us young E’en for a night, should be among The greatest in the Hall of Fame, And way up high should blaze the name Of “Harold Lloyd— World’s Doctor.” Philip Rand, Rex Theatre, Salmon, Idaho. P. S. — We are late in playing this, but old wine is the best. This made a great hit with our patrons. — P. R. special mention in this, her outstanding triumph. Exhibition value just right. Buy it and talk out loud. — E. L. Wharton, Orpheum theatre, Glasgow, Mont. — General patronage. MARRY ME: Florence Vidor — Ran this on Saturday night. Drew big business and pleased. It’s a good, clean entertainment. Lots of laughs. Helen Jerome Eddy shares the honors with Miss Vidor. Small town exhibitors, grab this one. Six reels. — E. M. Biddle, Strand theatre, Paoli, Ind. — Small town patronage. WILD, WILD SUSAN : Bebe Daniels — We like to give credit where credit is due. Here is a real little comedy-drama and Bebe is right in the middle of her glory in this kind of pictures. More power to her. — Carl E. Anderson, Liberty theatre, Kalispell, Mont. — General patronage. WILD, WILD SUSAN : Bebe Daniels — Clever comedy-drama that drew and pleased. Six reels. — P. G. Estee, S. T. theatre, Parker, S. D. — Small town patronage. WILD, WILD SUSAN : Bebe Daniels — A very good comedy-drama. Bebe very good. Pleased on Monday. Patrons liked this one. Seven reels. — Holt & Dick, Palace theatre, Clifton Heights, Pa. — General patronage. ARE PARENTS PEOPLE? Special cast— Just an average program picture that did not get them in. No kicks, just about got over without excitement. Seven reels. — Holt & Dick, Palace theatre, Clifton Heights, Pa. — General patronage. FLOWER OF THE NIGHT: Pola Negri— To quote a better judge, “the best thing about the Famous Forty is that there are only three Pola Negri’s in the group.” — E. L. Wharton, Orpheum theatre, Glasgow, Mont. — General patronage. MEN AND WOMEN: Richard Dix— A De Mille that failed to score at the box office. Even the name of Richard Dix did not help matters. Story, one brother takes the blame of other brother and gets sent to jail. Been done before, nothing new. Will get past for one night. Seven reels. — Holt & Dick, Palace theatre, Clifton Heights, Pa. — General patronage. THE MAN WHO FOUND HIMSELF: Thomas Meighan — Poorest Meighan to date. Why don’t they give him some real pictures ? He is slipping terribly here. — Carl E. Anderson, Liberty theatre, Kalispell, Mont. — General patronage. THE TROUBLE WITH WIVES: Special cast— A domestic drama. Fair appeal, not much for suburban town. Did not get average business here. Did not blame them. Nothing to rave about. Will get over for one night. Seven reels. • — Holt & Dick, Palace theatre, Clifton Heights, Pa. — General patronage. THE GOOSE HANGS HIGH: James Cruze— This is a wonderful home picture and will please everyone, but what does the title mean ? It didn’t mean much to our patrons. Not the fault of the picture, however. — C. A. Spainhour, Twilight theatre, Greensburg, Kan. — General patronage. THE GOOSE HANGS HIGH: James Cruze— A good clean picture. Everyone well pleased. Did not see the picture, but George H. Miller, who ran the show here for years, says it is the best picture ever run in the theatre here, even including “The Ten Commandments.” Heard many other favorable comments. Six reels. — George H. Miller & R. P. Ross, Community theatre. Surprise, Neb. — Country patronage. THE COAST OF FOLLY : Gloria Swanson — Gloria always gives us a fair average business. Patrons were pleased with this one. Good average picture for either large or small theatre. Seven reels. — Holt & Dick, Palace theatre, Clifton Heights, Pa. — General patronage. THE COAST OF FOLLY: Gloria Swanson— A program picture rated as a special. Gloria failed to make good in this one. She is not the drawing card here at the price Paramount asks for her pictures. Seven reels. — George Marlow, Washington theatre, Atoka, Okla. — Small town patronage. THE COAST OF FOLLY: Gloria SwansonGlorious Gloria, as they call her, is about at the end of her rope. Hope we don’t have to buy her pictures any more. This is about the poorest of her last three or four. — Carl E. Anderson, Liberty theatre, Kalispell, Mont. — General patronage. WILD HORSE MESA: Jack Holt— This type of Westerns can’t be beat. Paramount certainly is putting them out good this season. Good business two nights. Eight reels. — Holt & Dick. Palace theatre, Clifton Heights, Pa. — General patronage. WILD HORSE MESA: Jack Holt— Good Western, with lots of action. Not as good as they claim and the price is too high, as it is no better than other Zane Greys at less than half price. It will go good if you don’t pay too much for it. Eight reels. — George H. Miller and R. P. Ross, Community theatre. Surprise, Neb. — Country patronage. WILD HORSE MESA: Jack Holt — When you can pack your house following an afternoon snowstorm you can bank that your patronage are sold on the picture and will make every effort to get there. That’s what we did on “Wild Horse Mesa,” and we didn’t tell them it was a million dollar picture, either. Check up another for Zane Grey and Paramount. Seven reels. — Gunther & Metzger, Palace theatre, Syracuse, Neb. — Small town patronage. A SON OF HIS FATHER: Warner Baxter— A dandy good picture and one that any small town will make money on. Seven reels. — George Marlow, Washington theatre, Atoka, Okla. — General patronage. A SON OF HIS FATHER: Warner Baxter— Our biggest business since “The Ten Commandments.” Did a greater business on this picture than “The Freshman.” The so-called National Guide to Motion Pictures says this picture was one of the dullest on record. In other words. Photoplay Magazine (for December) has listed this production as one on which to save your time. Who are these birds that can sit in their swivel chairs and advise the public what to see and what not? I hope none of our exhibitor friends will accept this magazine as a guide. Had we read the report in Photoplay before buying the picture we might have been tempted to lay off, but on the contrary we read favorable reports in Exhibitors Herald and made some real money. Pleased our patrons and they stopped on their way out to tell us so. Thanks to the Herald for their service. We have no room on our desk for such so-called guides as “Photoplay.” Seven reels. — Gunther & Metzger, Palace theatre, Syracuse, Neb. — Small town patronage. THE THUNDERING HERD: Jack Holte-While price is high for a small town, we had two good nights and the picture was well received and favorable comments. In excellent physical condition. Seven reels. — M. W. A. theatre. Soldier, Kan. — Small town patronage. THE THUNDERING HERD: Jack Holt— Made us a little money but it’s padded a lot to get footage. Some wild driving. A pretty good Western but not worth the money they ask for it. Too long, as any show with eight reals is. Paramount overdoing the so-called super-specials of a Western type. Eight reels. — H. B. Wilcox, Unique theatre, Bricelyn, Minn. — Small town patronage. THE STREET OF FORGOTTEN MEN: Percy Marmont — An excellent picture ; price right : pleased 90 per cent. Made some money. But i and step on the advertising. Eight reels. — George Marlow, Washington theatre, Atoka, Okla. — Small town patronage.