Exhibitors Herald (1926)

April 1926 EXHIBITORS HERALD 7 BOX OFFllCE IR E C O IR ID An authoritative compilation of exhibitors’ reports from Exhibitors Herald's department, **Wkat the Picture Did for Me,” published semi-annually. EDITED BY WILLIAM R. WEAVER Published by the Exhibitors Herald Co., 407 So. Dearborn St., ChicaRO. III.; M.artin J. Quigley, Editor and Publisher; Edwin S. Clifford, Managing Editor; George Clifford, Business Manager. ALL AROUND FRYING PAN, FBO, Fred Thomson, Silver King, Jim Marcus, Clara Horton, Elmo Lincoln, 6. — Fred, all you lack in this picture is to have Silver King talk. He sure does everything else. Cannot be beat. (Monticello Opero House, Monticello, la.) This is probably Fred’s best since they put him in 6 reels. He has a new leading lady (a blonde) who is easy to look at, and is a cute little actress. What a relief she is to the other blonde F. B. O. has been wishing off on us since the days of "Fighting Blood.” If I draw her again I’m going to squawk. The picture has plenty of comedy which is natural and not forced. Silver King is much in evidence and does his stuff in great shape. Due to a most beautiful blizzard before show time, there weren’t enough cash customers to even make an ink spot on the ledger, but I still claim it was a good picture and one which will please all of Fred's fans and any other who may come and take a look-see. Say, Fred, don’t let any one else on the lot bunk you into 6 reels, and I think such a change would please all us hay shakers 100 per cent more. (Trags, Neillsville, Wis.) This is a very good picture with Fred and Silver King doing their stuff in first class shape. We can always depend on Thomson and Silver King. (Lake View, Lake View, Iowa.) Not his best by any means. While I have no kick on these Thomson pictures from a bo.K office standpoint, I think the direction is very poor in them. Too much impossible stuff and no attempt to make many of the stunts look real. This, in my opinion, spoils most of these pictures. The horse is good. (Novelty, Paris, Idaho.) Just like any other Thomson. By far the best Western entertainment on the market. (Illinois, Sullivan, 111.) A splendid entertainment. (Silver Family, Greenville, Mich.) Another good one that is bound to please if you want outdoor action. I class this as® the best one made by Thomson. (Unique, Anita, la.) We have played all his productions. This and the preceding production not up to standard. Since establishing himself as a leader, Thomson has let down and his productions are just average with other Westerns. It takes more than a smile and a horse. Why not get in earnest, select better stories, and exhibit your powers as an athlete in the kind of story that made you. (Liberty, Alva, Okla.) Cold weather spoiled this one. This is fine and should please A-1. (Halfway, Halfway, Mich.) The title is not very good, but it doesn’t seem to make any difference about the title when you have Thomson and Silver King, as they always draw. (American, Wautoma, Wis.) If you want a picture with a bang get the Thomson features from F. B. O. I find most of the F. B. O. pictures 0. K. (American, Seattle, Wash.) Played this New Year’s. Ran it just one day and am sorry I didn’t play it longer. Silver King is the best horse I’ve seen act. Pleased the largest crowd I’ve ever had. Hope Fred and Silver King make some more like this. (Family, Attica, N. Y.) A good picture that enabled me to break even against bad weather and a stock company at the opera house. Thanks Fi-ed. (Ma^stic, Homer, Mich.) An average Thomson, ^rse does some very fine work as usual and Fred has his usual smile. Goes over nicely but why can't we have some of his old time action? Had Quite a few remarks that it is not up to his usual standard. (Princess, Crandon, Wis.) A very good Pi-ed Thomson Western spoiled by having over 3000 feet of dark blue night scenes, and the fake of handcuffing the sheriff to a runaway uggy wheel was ridiculous, as the sheriff fell behind about 100 feet trying to keep with the buggy. (Cozy, Fayette, Iowa.) Thomson is always good, and so is Silver King. (Bijou, Con'vay, N. H.) This is not a kitchen utensil drama. 13 a cracker jack of a Western, as are all Fred ^omsons. Buy them all. (Cozy, Wagner, S. D.) Abbreviations Abbreviations used in this issue, together with Home Office addresses of him companies designated. are as follows: AE — Associated Exhibitors, 35 West 4Stli St, New Y'ork. CHAD — Chadwick Pictures Corp., 729 Seventh Ave., New York. COL — Columbia Pictures Corp., 1600 Broadway, New York. Educational Film Exchanges, 370 Seventh Ave., New York. FP — Famous Players-Lasky, 485 Fifth Ave., New York. FBO — Film Booking Offices, 1560 Broadway, New York. PN — First National Pictures, 383 Madison Ave., New York. F — Fox Film Corp., West SSth St., New York. MG — Metro-Goldwyn Pictures, 1540 Broadway, New York. p Pathe Exchanges, Inc., 35 West 4Sth St., New York. PF — B. P. Schulberg Corp., 1650 Broadway, New York. PL — Principal Pictures, 1540 Broadway, New York. PDC — Producers Distributing Corp., 527 Fifth Ave., New York. UA— United Artists, 729 Seventh Ave., New York. U — Universal Pictures, 730 Fifth Ave., New York. V Vitagraph, 1400 Locust Blvd., Brook lyn, N. Y. W— Warner Brothers, 1600 Broadway New York. State Right distributors designated by name. Numerals indicate length of picture in footage or reels. One of Fred’s best. I have a packed house on every Thomson picture. My patrons don’t fail to tell me that they like good clean Westerns, as Pi-ed Thomson and Silver King put out. (Popular. St. Cloud, Fla.) Oh, boys I Here’s a real one. Step on the gas when you play this and believe me it will live up to all you say. Play up the rodeo scenes in the beginning and advertise the comedy situation and the action of Silver King. This is the fifth Thomson picture we have shown since we had an even break with the weather. The other four lost us money because the weather was stormy and the country people could not get in, so we have lost on all but this one out of the last five. (De Luxe, Spcarville. Kan.) Starts out good and Fred’s acting is best, but Silver King is the drawing card. Too much dark photography in last half. It’s disappointing. (Karlen. Monticello, Wis.) Regardless of the theme in the picture, Thomson always gets them in for me, and “All Around Frying Pan" was no exception. From a bo.x office standpoint as good as Tom Mix. Have played them all and figures are in black and white. Bring on the tough guy. (Enterprise, Glonalum, W. Va.) As good a picture ns this star has even appeared in and certainly pleased our people. Thomson is one of our best bets. Quite largely due to his horse. Silver King. (Crystal. Flandreau, S. D.) This was the best of all the pictures that Fred has made, tjut then he gives us all pictures that must be classed as the better and good, clean pictures. (Rialto, Teiril, Iowa.) Keep at ’em, Fred. This .title creates a good feeling of outdoors, and the picture pleases. (Palace, Mt. Pleasant. Tex.) Very good. Thomson pictures seem to get better right along. (State, Two Harbors, Minn.) Excellent. One of the beat Fred has made. Uusually this boy gets me the money, but this one failed to get it owing to too much "flu" in town. Thanks for the "spiffy” photo, Fred. (Photoplay, Ashland, Kan.) Nothing unusual for Fred, but good enough to draw ’em in and send 'em away pleased so what more is necessary. (Homeline, Esteiline, S. D.) Two farmers came to blows over which was the most capable horse. Silver King or Tony. Of course. Silver King won. with the approval of over four hundred rainy night patrons. Everyone liked this picture and told us so. (Rialto. Pocahontas, la.) Very good, but Frc<l Thomson had better take good care of himself and cut out dieting. So thin in this picture that we hardly knew him. Silver King is better in every picture. (Plainview, Plainview, Neb.) A dandy for small towns and good enough for large towns. Si.x reels. (Gem, Batesville, Ark.) Best Thomson picture to date. Each one Fred makes gets better. Silver King always good. Fred makes good, clean, fast action picture always. He is the one best bet for me. Give us more like this. Six reels. (Orpheum, Kalamazoo, Mich.) AMERICAN PLUCK, Chad., George Walsh, Wanda Hawley, Tom Wilson, Dan Mason. 6. — A good action story. The kind they like, but they failed to come out to sec it. Not a special but just a pleasing little program picture. Lois Wilson furnishes lots of comedy. (Majestic. Bowie. Tex.) This is one of the best I ever had the pleasure of showing. Full of romance, comedy and action. I had a good house and they all liked the picture. This is a picture good for both city and small town. Book it and give your folks a treat. (Lone Star, Ovalo. Tex.) AMERICAN VENUS. THE, FP, Esther Ralston, Lawrence Gray, Ford Sterling, Fay Lan* phicr, Louise Brooks, Edna May Oliver, Kenneth MacKcnna. William B. Mack, 7 — A very good picture that has everything that goes for good entertainment. Just one fault, rental too high. Paramount takes the cream as usual and leaves you with the empty sack. (Kentland. Kentland, Ind.) Very beautiful. Lots of Technicolor and a style show that sots the ladies crazy. High class audience will rave over this. (Palace, Ashland, O.) Great. One of the best pictures I have played this year. Comedy and action galore. This is not an Annette Kclterman picture, as you would think it would be. It's a real knockout comedy. Pleased 100 per cent. They will all rave over this, and you’ll also see a real fashion show. (Royal. Gallon, O.) Another good one from Paramount. ‘This sure pleased the small crowd that came out to see it. Paiamount poster department out of San Francisco did not let me use any paper on this, so I don’t know how well it would have drawn. (Reel Joy, King City, Cal.) This picture was satisfactory entertainment, although the story could have been stronger. Fay Lnnphier’s work suffered by comparison with Esther Ralston, who added new laurels to her .crown in