Exhibitors Herald (1926)

12 BOX OFFICE RECORD SECTION OF April 10, 1926 Kood business owing to the fact I played it on New Year’s day. The picture was very good but not as good as "Below the Line.’’ I must say Rin Tin Tin seems to please our patrons better than some of our high priced stars do. Above all book it. It’s different. (Bugg, Chicago, III.) We can always pack them in on the dog. This is by far the best dog picture to date. (Community, Tacoma, Wash.) Rin THn Tin always seems good for a small town. This one ran true to color. (State, Tawas City. Mich.) Good. Much better than "Below the Line.’’ Did excellent business on Monday and 'Tuesday. (Princess. Chilton, Wis.) Great appeal to those who like action. (Moon, Omaha, Neb.) This is wonderful. My audience just wants to know how Rin Tin Tin does it. Seven reels. (Monticcllo Opera House. Montieello, la.) CLASSIFIED, FN. Corinr.e Griffith, Jack Mulhall, Charlie Murray, Ward Crane, Edythe Chapman, George Sidney, 8,300. — Absolutely the best picture Corinne Griffith ever made. Get away from the sob stuff, Corinne. We want to see you smile and keep us smiling. Play with Jack Mulhall. You never had a better leading man. — (Bonham, Prairie du Sac. Wis.) Didn’t see this. Ran it Christmas but we surely had a lot of very complimentary reports on it and it did good business, weather considered. (Cresco, Cresco, Iowa.) A very fine production, but at that I think it is overrated. (Blende, Benton, Wis.) Personally did not see this but reported as good by patrons. (Orpheum, Pipestone, Minn.) ’The best picture by far that Corinne Griffith ever made. Take "Lilies of the Field” and all of her other outstanding pictures, multiply by five and you have this picture. Excellent print out of St. Louis. (K. P., Pittsfield, 111.) An entertainment picture all the way through. One of those kind that should please all classes of patronage. Corinne Griffith never did better than in this and she certainly deserves special mention. Also balance of cast very good. Production and direction right up to First National standard. Business average first day to poor second and third. (Cozy, Winchester, Ind.) Here is a real picture, good for any house, large or small. Step on it, for it will satisfy. Has good, fine veins of comedy and acting wonderful. Pleased 100 per cent. (Capitol, Hartley, la.) The first Griffith picture that pleased a majority of our patrons since “Lilies of the Field.” We received many compliments on this one. (Regent, Eureka, Kan.) Exceptional picture. Should run better second day than first. I find all First National pictures for 1926-26 to be O. K. to date. (Liberty, Pikeville, Ky.) Would recommend this to all exhibitors showing first class pictures. Corinne certainly shows her ability as an actress in this. (Plainview, Plainview. Tex.) An exceptional picture. Pleased all of our patrons. Just a little different from the rest of Corinne’s pictures. Of course, business was only fair, perhaps owing to the fact that several of our big theatres, gave away free tickets through the classified section of the “Herald and Examiner.” You must book this picture. (Bugg. Chicago, III.) The best we have had from this star. Patrons all liked it, but business very bad. (Grand, Rainier, Ore.) Good again. Let us ail rise and sing praise to the Winner Group. May the day be far away when the clutch of another hand shall swallow up this organization. This is one organization that should be preserved. If it should need help, let us thousands of exhibitors rise as one man and say. "We are coming 300,000 strong." (Cozy, Wagner, S. D.) Fair to good productions. Gave general satisfaction, which is more than you can say about some otihers. Better than average. (Kentland, Kentland, Ind.) Many favorable comments and all said it is the best Corinne Griffith yet. (Shuler, Raton, N. M.) Real good picture, but somewhat disappointed at the box office. (Regent, Bogata, N. J.) CLOTHES MAKE THE PIRATE, FN, Dorolhy Gish, Leon Errall, Nita Naldi, Tally Marshall, Edna Murphy, George Marion, Walter Law, 9, Good. My audience had lots of fun and came out with a smile. (Saunders, Harvard, III.) A picture well arranged with clever subtitles. A picture out of the ordinary. Especially pleased children. The length of the picture killed it and it became monotonous and draggy. People walked out on this. Drawing power, zero. Would not recommend this for a small town house. (Auditorium. Libertyville, III.) Here is a picture that will undoubtedly be a knockout in some towns. However, it did not register very well here. Had a few walkouts. If shown to a big house, will probably go over. (Lake View, Lake View, Iowa.) This picture holds the record for down-right poor entertainment. Cost a lot of money to make but is an absolute dud as far as entertainment is concerned. (The Star. Humble, Te.\.) The perfect flop. First time this year I’ve used the cel lar. Walkouts galore. (Illinois, Sullivan, III.) Ran this Xmas to poor business owing to S'obzero weather and snowbound highways. Pi-’-t'f“ good with plenty of laughs. Errol, with his double jointed knees, is all over the screen. With a bunch of kids in the front seat your audience will raise the roof. (Grand, Port Washingtion, Wis.) Good picture but failed to draw as Leon Errol is unknown in this city. Get them in. The picture will satisfy. (Riviera, Anderson, Ind.) I consider this the poorest entertainment of any picure I have played this winter. (Opera House, Fennimore, Wis.) For entertainment worth, this has no drawing power at all. Likely it cost a lot of money to produce, or make, but likely it would cost a lot of money to produce or make a bank or hill 100 feet high out of fly specks too. The bank, hill or mound of fly specks would likely have as much entertainment value as "Clothes Make The Pirate." Hope Leon Errol cancels his contract and does not make his next one, for I have it under contract and have tried to cancel same and have been refused by Mr. Brewer, Oklahoma City. (Criterion. Frederick, Okla.) Hard picture to report on. I liked it, but never had so many walkouts on a picture. ’Two reels too long. Errol good. He is funny, but the picture just didn't seem to register with my crowd. We had splendid business due to the second of our Star Theatre Presentation (details, in my letter.) Costume stuff no matter how It is done will not get over for me. Without the prologue we would have had a hard time. (Star, Menard, Tex.) Good business. Pleased big rfiajority. (Lyric, Morrison. 111.) This one should be funny but it isn’t. It almost gets funny but never quite makes it except in a mild way. It is O. K. as a program picture but don’t charge extra or brag too much. Leon Errol himself was O. K., but it just fell down somewhere. (Majestic, Bowie, Tex.) This one is not as funny as some reports make you feel it is. but it will satisfy your patrons. Got a few favorable comments, but not as many as should have got from a First National picture. Nine reels. (Plainview, Plainview, Tex.) COAST OF FOLLY, THE, FP, Gloria Swanson, Lawrence Gray, 8— The best this star has done since "The Humming Bird.’’ Did a big business the second night, which is a good indication of what the first nighters thought of the picture. (Star, Montevideo. Minn.) I’ve been trying to sell Swanson here for five years. They’re darn stubborn about it but I'm gaining. I believe this is the first Swanson of material value since "The Humming Bird” and "Manhandled." It’s not as good as either of these, but it has value as entertainment. Gloria’s portrayal of the mother seemed a bit strained and overdone, somewhat unnatural, but it was nearly there. However, they at last give her a shot at something besides wearing clothes. (The picture itself takes a shot at Gloria as a clothes-horse — which is quite timely.) Believe you’ll find this will go over a bit better for you than some of the others. (Cresco, Cresco, la.) First day. very good. Second day. flop, some of which should be charged against a rainy night. Pleased generally without much raving. (Regent. Bogata, N. J.) Not Gloria’s best. Many patrons liked it and some did not. (Opera House and Castamba. Shelby, O.) Hrst rate Swanson Picture but we lose every time we show her. (Palace. Ashland. O.) This is one picture where my audience and I do not agree. Heard so much criticism of the anti-spirit, that I thought it was ;oing to flop beforehand. But said audience was ickled over it. Gloria as an old lady opened up •'s much sympathy in my heart as Cleopatra’s mummy would. Thursday, Friday, 26 and 60 cents. (Acadia, Crowley, La.) Played it Sunday and Monday right hot on the downtown first run but was not paid for my trouble. Haven't played “Madame Sans Gene” yet. If it’s any worse than this I pity my patrons and my box office when 1 do. Miss Swanson is capable if properly cast, bat centainly not as an old French countess. Some one said Paramount was compelled to make pictures with a foreign atmosphere for the sake of their overseas business. Surely this picture was never intended for America's Main Street. Fair business. (Royal, Grand Rapids, Mich.) This Is very good. Not as much comedy in it as most of her pictures, but a better picture than her average the last two years. She proves very capable in an entirely new character part and the people enjoyed the picture very much. (Grand, Pierre, S. D.) I can’t give this much. Gloria taking the part of the mother spoiled the picture. Too much over acting. (Opera House. Fennimore, Wis.) I have noticed quite a number of exhibitors have said this one is a flivver, and I may say it is that with some patrons. However, you will have to admit that as a whole it Is very good entertainment. Gloria, you are wonderful in this, but don't let ’em talk you into a part that requires you to appear so old. Business good three day.s. (Cozy, Winchester. Ind.) Just fair production. Nothing to cause any favorable comments. Did not draw any extra business. (Kentland, Kentland, Ind.) Gloria always gives us a fair average business. Patrons were pleased with this one. Good average picture for either large or small theatre, (Palace, Clifton Heights, Pa.) 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 pietures. (Washington, Atoka. Okla.) Glorious Gloria, os 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 o! her last three or four. (Liberty, Kalispell, Mont.) Nothing like the advertising leads one to think it is and Gloria sure makes a b of an old lady. The poorest i)icture in our house for some time. Wish we could say goodbye Gloria, but the block selling forces us to use her and she don’t mean a dime to us. This one is punk, boys. (Rialto. Dickinson, N. D.) V/e played this two days to very ordinary business. It is only a program show. Not any of her best shows did better at the box office than “Madam Sans Gene,” which is not saying very much. (Y, Nazareth, Pa.) Best Swanson since "Behind the Rocks." Drew good business. Pleased 76 per cent. Advertising, plenty of paper and news items. (Temple, Hartsville, S. C.) Gloria slipped a cog in this one. (Florence, Elk Point, S. D.) Just fair. Worth about one-half what we were obliged to pay for it. (Crystal, Flandreau, S. D.) Gloria’s wonderful acting in a dual role makes this picture well worth seeing. But, as usual, they have made a different story of it. (Community, Minneota, Minn.) Just a fair picture. The only redseming feature is the acting of Gloria Swanson, and some parts of this acting are very poor. It’s not an audience picture and above all not a bo.x office picture. A few more like this and Gloria will be no more. Somebody needs jacking up. (Bugg, Chicago, III.) A good Swanson picture that pleased the star’s favorites. Gloria does some fine acting in her dual role. (Cozy, Wagner, S. D.) "I didn’t like it," report of my patrons on leaving show. I couldn't see myself why they did it. Poor Gloria has hit the skids in my town on her last two pictures. Net the kind of picture my patrons want to see her in. Lots of walkouts on this picture. (Pastime, Warren, Ark.) Little below average Swanson picture. Business way off, doubtless due to memories of lamented "Mnie. Sans Gene.” Will get ever with Gloria’s followers but nothing to get excited about. (Crossett, Crossett, Ark.) Had several walk outs on this show. Could not blame them. She spoiled it by trying to play two parts. Norma Talmadge can do this and put it over, but not Miss Gloria. I notice that she is going with United Artists. This will save me the trouble to ask Paramount to not book me with any of her pictures on the next group. I used to pay top money for her features but it's been so long since she has given us a real one that I cannot get them in. If you have this one booked, put it on as a program and not as a special. (Dixie, Russellville, Ky.) Positively one of the worst ever. How Paramount and Gloria can get away with this kind of stuff is beyond me. May such pictures in future he fewer. (Palace. Memphis, Tex.) One of tho=e pictures that never should have been made. It. Is no credit to Gloria or Paramount and, therefor®, not to the exhibitor. Gloria seemed to be under a terrible strain while carrying cut the part of the mother, and was glad when the picture was over. The picture sends them out with a bad taste in their mouth, so I ask Paramount, why Oh why do you make them? (Mission, Santa Paula, Cal.) Not the picture for Gloria Swanson. Her portrayal of the mother in this got more laughs than the comedy. That doesn’t say much for Gloria. (Amuse-U. Springfield, 111.) Good for a Swanson picture, but she Is n. g. here. (Char-Bell, Rochester, Ind.) Good. (Texas. Prairie, Tex.) Swanson has lost nl! her drawing power with us. This was tihe poorest up to date and no one liked it. No more for us. (Crystal, Ligonier, Ind.) A splendid picture. Story good. Star fine. One of the best Swanson pictures we ever played. (Silver Family, Greenville, Mich.) This one went over with better luck than we have had with the Countess for some time. Almost more titles than picture to it, but Gloria does an excellent piece of work. V/here they got the leading man is nobody’s business. The most excruciating attempt at acting since we glimpsed Godfrey Tearle in "Salome of the Tenements." With all the passable leading men there are available, why pick up something like this ? Seven reels. (Star, Menard, Tex.) It sure was folly for Gloria to try to imitate the mother part. I really think it about the worst I ever saw. Eight reels. (Cozy, Fayette, la.) Lots of opinions on this. Gloria, as the mother, was in my estimation the weeds. Others raid a great piece of