Exhibitors Herald (1926)

EXHIBITORS HERALD 17 April 10, 1926 nicture but did not make any money on it. Lloyd ‘ j. jt ftii. (Liberty. Kalispel, Mont.) Will please 80 or 90 per cent. Balance will say “silly." They overdo a lot of it and make Lloyd too much of a boob. It will get the money but Pathe will take the lion’s share as usual. Fifty-fifty, you stand all advertising, with a man at the door to get the last “scent." (Unioue, Bricelyn. Minn.) The morning after the night before, as we reach for the ice water, we take a solemn oath “never again." This was a great picture for the pathetic bunch and the Lloyd group. Don’t get the idea that we lost money on this, ns we did not, but neither did we make a dime, thanks to the wonderful and generous split proposition offered us. But what did hurt was the proposition of charging 60 cents when our daily papers which come from the city were full of ads on the picture three months ago with the admission price of 10 and 26 cents matinee, and evening 10 and 40 cents. No, dear K. C. chairwai-mer. we did not get murdered by showing at these prices, but it has cut deep and left an impression in our community from which we get our business that we are not going to put oak finish in our home. This is the best Lloyd has offered, which means it is very good. (Twilight, Greensburg. Kan.) I have run all of Lloyd's but this one is sura the berries. Patrons laughed until they jarred seats loose. Boys, when you run this, don’t stop for advertising. Rained on last night. I ran it Saturday but made some money anyway. (Monticello Opera House, Monticello, la.) Harold Lloyd is holding his own and “The Freshman” is as good as his others. Goes over good here. Played this day and date with Omaha. (Plainview, Plainview, Neb.) Harold comedy and did big business on same, but Paths sure got theirs. They want it all. (Crystal. Wayne, Neb.) Here is a real picture with a real star. Played this picture three days to a big business i result was that Pathe got it all. They will send a man down to check your box office and they will drain you to the very last penny and will holler for more. They expect you to spend a fortune advertising the picture and they take all the money and credit for it. V/e CLxhibitors would be better off if we would pass up such deals as these. If you can’t make something, why go to all the trouble? Maybe we will wake up some day. (Paramount. Wyoming, III.) Great. Football stuff and high school put it over. Kept the house in uproai’ most of the time. After paying Pathe there wasn’t much left for us but you will have to run it. (Princess, Obion. Tenn.) A big flop due to excessive rental. Did only about one-half the business that "The Ten Commandments” did. Small town exhibitors, watch your step on this, as tljcy rate it too high for you. Advertised this more than anything I ever ran. Never again. (Chimes, Cedarburg, Wis. ) The only reason I bought this picture wa-s because Fayette is a college town. Therefore, the picture went over good and met my exploitation in every way. But if you do not have a college to draw from, be careful, as it is a picture that should be run at 35c admission instead of the 60c Pathe demands you to run it at. (Cozy, Fayette. la.) This sure was a good one. full of thrills and a good puller, but the producer gets all the cream, charges a big price, then sticks on a percentage all over. It shows just how easy we exhibitors are. They get us coming and going. (Amuse, Hart. Mich.) Unable to get film rental back out of subjects purchased from this concern. (Victory. Milledgeville. III.) Played three days to poor business. Pathe got the money. We did not get paid for running picture. Be careful, small towns, as football season is over and it is no better than any Lloyd only in season. Does not compare with some of the other specials on the market as to the way it will please your people and the money it will make for your house, as the exchange wants it all. (Garden, Colony, Kan.) Harold Lloyd’s best comedy to date. Excellent business. Heavy exploitation. (Capitol, Delphos, 0.) His best feature, but no business after the first night. (Cosy, Strawn, Tex.) Picture very good^ but, just as all exhibitors report, Pathe got it all. My first try on anything like It and I have since wondered why I was such a boob. There is no picture made worth 60 per ’cent of any man’s gross and the only reason they (the exchange) get it is that Bnrnum was right. But -Still I wonder of all who got stung if they don’t et the exchange trim them again on the next one. (Harbor. Ashtabula, O.) Great picture to very poor business, probably occasioned by 50 ^‘^'“Ission and nearness to Christmas. (Minor, Areata, Gal.) I agree with the majority 0 exhibitors that “The Freshman” is Lloyd’s greatest comedy, but he failed to draw any extra usiness due to the extreme cold weather we had “'■•ng the run. Pathe, as usual, got all the and for good measure they station a man ® your door to get their share of the split, which amounted to the immense sum of 81.65 here. Bathe’s system of selling the Lloyd series by guaranteeding them a high rental and then a split besides was the most unfavorable contract I have ever had. Goodoye. Pathe : you used your last club on me. (Rex, Aurora, Minn.) As for me this is the last Lloyd that will be shown in my theatre. You are forced to run them for him, he gets all the money, and I am working for George. How much money would the exhibitor be short if he did not run Doug Fairbanks, Mary Pickfovd. Harold Lloyd, Gloria Swanson, Thomas Meighan, Norma Talmadge, Constance Talmadge, Charlie Chaplin on his balance sheet at the end of the year ? Look over your records and you will find they are not the ones that made you the money. They may have taken it in at the box office, but you have to give the most of it to the exchange. (New Star, Westminster, Md.) A good comedy but made money for Lloyd and Pathe only. Well, that is what the Lloyds are made for. We have never made anything on them yet. If all pictures were like them, we would quit buiness. We are through with Lloyd forever and a day. (Blmec, Maple Rapids, Mich.) Beat comedy ever run in my experience. All you need to do is get a crowd the first night and the picture does the rest. (Lyric, Hartingrton, Neb.) I believe this Is one of the best Lloyds except “Grandma’s Boy.” Especially good in a football town. Too much money. They gave me a split then send a "heavy man” to check me. Isn't it queer so many exhibitors need watching? If we are really so bad it doesn't seem like they would want to do business with us. Well, we have played all of the Lloyds and now, since he goes to Paramount, maybe our dealings with Pathe will be better. However, I believe we have a regular fellow as manager of our Omaha office. (Opera House, Elwood, Neb.) Another Lloyd comedy to good business, with the exchange getting plenty for their end. My personal friends told me that they like "California Straight Ahead" much better. Played this the week previous. (Princess, Chilton. Wis.) We scrapped with Pathe over price so long on this that we didn’t get to run it until December 7, 8, 9 : but we waited long enough so Pathe did not get all the money, as per most of the reports. They got plenty and so did we. It did about three times as much business as any previous Lloyd; right after a blizzard at that. (Cresco, Cresco. Iowa.) Fine, Fine! This one made the money, even if Pathe did get a high rental and percentage. (Legion, Milledgeville, 111.) As good as any of Lloyd’s which means pleased 100 per cent. This is the last Lloyd we intend to i-un unless his contracts are modified so there is some left for us. I hope every exhibitor in the United States will take this stand and bring the price of his pictures down where they belong. (Lyric. Harrison, Ark.) An average Lloyd picture. Not worth the price to us. (Russell, Brunswick, Mo.) I can only say that this picture is over-advertised. Gets a good many laughs but is not as good as “Girl Shy” by far. I am through paying big prices for this star and hope Paramount prices his pictures at what they are worth. (Strand, Ransom, Kan.) His best and I don't mean maybe. It’s great to run pictures like this if they would only leave us something besides the old advertising. Why can't we get something big without giving up all we take in? (Star, Montevideo, fdinn.) Our people fairly screamed at this. However, we played it at 50 cents top price but doubt it's worth that, although it will please as a whole, but the story is so absurd that one wonders how they can do it. (Crystal. Tombstone, Ariz.) Here is a knockout. The best picture that Lloyd has ever made. It is now playing it’s third week, doing a record business, playing to capacity. Here is a picture that people will go out and talk about. It is especially interesting to the high school student. Book It and boost, you can’t go wrong. (Apollo, Indianapolis, Ind.) Lloyd's best comedy and that is saying a lot. Run it. You can’t lose. (Palace. Aurora, Ind.) Very good and had fair business considering the 50 cent admission. (Star, Fowler. Colo.) Yes, we ran it, too. That means more money for Lloyd and Pathe. We get prestige (I believe it is called). Well, it is funny, or rather so silly that you can’t help but laugh, and that’s what you want. (Grand, Okolona, Miss.) Harold Lloyd very good, but I am done with Pathe for good. I had to do all the work. Pathe took 60 per cent of the gross, which left me a long empty money sack. Well. Barnum was right. (Liberty. Lynden, Wash.) Did good bu.siness two days. Best Lloyd ever made. I had to raise admission. Best since "Grandma’s Boy.” (Casey’s, Sterling, Okla.) Everybody laughed their buttons off and has good drawing power to box office. Only don’t pay too much. I used a gratis subject. "Our Navy in the Near East" gratis from U. S. recruiting station. Ask for it exhibitors. (Reel Life, Gardner, III.) Fell flat. Run 3 days. Didn’t make expenses. Pathe asks too much, as I saw in 90 per cent of the reports in KEIRALD. but I didn’t heed. Live and learn. Picture is O. K. but not for a small exhibitor at their price. Advanced price on it. (Strand. Valparaiso. Neb.) Good bye Harold, you'll never grace our screen again until you’re willing to divide more of the bacon. There are other stars just as good as you who do not want the earth for their foolishness. Prestige, I believe is what we received. Pathe got the money. No more prestige, thanks. (Starland, Stockbridge, Mich.) Good for many laughs, but rental too much for us to make any money. (Seneca, Blakely. Ga.) A rip roaring comedy drama. Book it. but don’t pay too much for it. I got stung. Perhaps you can make a few dollars on it. but book it. (Lincoln. Milwaukee, Wis.) Extraordinary comedy with Pathe hogging it at the box office. Extremely cold weather drawback. (Queen, Ft. Stockton, Tex.) Just town business. Ronds bad. Played too many small towns around us. If you haven’t played it yet. buy it cheap. You will get by. (Community. Heyworth, 111.) Nothing new or original in this report. Good business, good comedy, high price, split-pay Pathe. Nobody but Lloyd could induce me to sign contracts like his and it does sound pretty good to hear the old house rocking with merriment. I do think, though, that he or his company would get almost as rich if they had 'a heart, but If we fall for it, why should they worry? (Star. Menard. Tex.) Three days to just good business. Owing to a smart percentage contract the exchange got what I W8.S rightfully entitled to after the risk I took and expenses and work involved. (Regent, Bogota, N. J.) Very good. At least it gets them and they talk about It and the kids go wild about it. Did better at the box office than any of his recent efforts. (Grand, Rainier. Ore.) Did about half the business we should have done. Don’t pay to run these big ones after everyone else, as Pathe wants just as much and then takes it all. (Dould have made more on a regular picture. No more for me at such prices. Too much work for no money. (Polo, Polo, III.) Broke all Lloyd records. Yes. it is a laugh from start to finish. (Liberty, Pasco, Wash.) Great. Here is a picture that we want to spell in capital letters. Harold Lloyd gets all the money, of course, but it’s good any way. (Palace, Long Pine, Neb.) The best picture Lloyd has made since “Grandma’s Boy.” The best business for 3 days run I have ever had. Showed to 260 more paid admissions than "The Covered Wagon.” (Ck)sy. Wagoner, Okla.) To me the best one that Harold has made, but here in the small town the football game did not seem to register at all. The ball scene was great, with the ripping trousers. We had hard luck as it snowed ua out one night. We played it three days and had to raise the admission. (“Y”, Nazareth, Pa.) Picture big. Business big. Not his best but good enough to get the money for Pathe. (Electric. Chillicothe. Mo.) The beat Lloyd ever made and you will be asked every cent it is worth, but it will give them the laugh they have been wanting for a long time. (Strand. Dryden. Ont., Canada.) It’s a knockout. Did average business, if not better, in the face of heavy snow storm. (Gayety, Paonia, Colo.) Film good. A very good picture that was one great big laugh from beginning to end. Harold Is a real comedian and our people howled with delight during most of the picture. It surely is funny and Miss Ralston in support of Lloyd was very good. (Rialto. Sharon, Wis.) Time, week before Xmas. Weather, fair and cold. Roads, very good. Advertising, the greatest amount ever used on any picture. Admission, 20 and 40 cents. Three days. And it was morning and evening of the first day and the house one-fourth filled. We stepped on it with renewed zeal and it was morning and evening the second day and the house was one-fourth filled. Seing the box office was torpedoed and drifting toward the rocks, we launched a violent counter attack and it was morning and evening of the third day (yes, the checker was present at the catastrophe) and the house was one-seventh filled. The box office is a total wreck. Still it’s a pretty good picture, not as good as “Grandma's Boy." People did not enthuse about it like we thought they would, perhaps the reason was we have no football team. Film rental just double what it should have been for our town, and this one demonstrated beyond question that our people will not pay 40 cents to see Lloyd at the same time they are showing him in the city for 30 cents. Mr. Lloyd seems to be inebriated by the exuberance of his own verbosity and after we show “Girl Shy” and "Hot Water" we fear we shall part company. Harold Iamb on the screen. Harold hog at the box. (Rex, Gilman City, Mo.) Extra good. Will go best in college towns. Play it during the football season. (Lyric. Crete, Neb.) The finest he has ever made. This is absolutely