Exhibitors Herald (1926)

EXHIBITORS HERALD 19 picture hss been advertised and praised by press and critics to the skies and it is just a good ordinary comedy that should have been sold at 10 and 26c to the movie going public and not a nickel more. There is nothing outstanding in the picture beyond what some of the better tworeel comedies have, only Chaplin ; and he threw more laughs into "Shoulder Arms" than he got in “The Gold Rush.” (Columbia. Columbia City. Ind.) A good Chaplin feature, but one that did not do business. I played them percentage and just got my advertising back for my end. that's all. I was hypnotized into thinking Charlie would pull real business but he did not do so and has not on any run in this neck of the woods. Not worth what they are asking for him and personally I'm through with United Artists for quite a while after I play two other productions which I have booked with them. I don't believe that Chaplin will make any money for any small town at the price they hold him at. (Columbia, Columbia City, Ind.) Didn’t get rental in two days' run. Don’t let them sell you at their big rental or you will lose. (Gem, Memphis, Tex.) Our first night fair business, w'eather bad. The following two nights, good weather and very poor business. People very much disappointed in this one and I cannot blame them. Was always a Chaplin fan myself but couldn’t see this at all. Too much studio stuff and very few good belly laughs and hardly any action. All in all, it did not please. (New Geneseo, 111.) Big disappointment to me and patrons and there is absolutely nothing to this picture to make it a di'awing card. Chaplin’s name drew them the first night, but I lost my crowd after that. One more feature like this and Chaplin is done. (Lyric. Hartington, Neb.) A very unsatisfactory picture. Audience expected to see a whole lot better picture. It is very weak and puerile. Very few laughs in it and when people go to see Chaplin, they go to see comedy. Chaplin’s wish, that he wanted to be remembered by this picture, will likely come true. Most of the exhibitors will remember him by it if they get stung as I did. United Artists are artists in holding up the exhibitor for a stiff and entirely unwarranted rental. (Liberty, Kennewick, Wash.) Yes, I fell in line with some others that listened to a smooth tongued salesman and paid a big price and lost my shirt. I usually change every other day. but booked this one four days. Did fair first day and then fell down every day. Fellows, if you book this show, buy it right and get a short run. because it is a very ordinary one. Not an expensive set and nothing to it. I also got stuck on “Don Q,” so I guess that will quiet me for a while on big prices. Lloyd is the only star left that I haven’t been caught on. Anyhow, it is a great life if you don’t weaken. (Liberty, Pasco, Wash.) My audience expected to see a real comedy-drama but most of them told me they were disappointed. Not the picture people expected to see and not worth the money I paid for it. (Liberty, Lynden. Wash.) This was beyond a doubt the poorest money-getter I have ever played that cost what it did. I paid ten times what I should for it and did not gross the rent in three days. (Palace, Burkburnett. Tex.) Big business but did not please. Advertised heavy in surrounding towns and that brought them in. Paid too much for film. JuRt broke even. (Strand, Huntington, W. Va.) A good picture and will draw, but we had too many things against us to make any money. Bad roads and a revival in opposition. (Odeon, Hardin, Mo.) A poor picture to unsatisfactory business. (Victory. Milledgeville, 111.) ’This is not^ e.xactly bad, but there is too much drama ^ to please. When patrons pay to see Chas. Chaplin they want comedy, not drama. And how they do soak you for this one. (State. Tawas City, Mich.) Thi.s is the biggest picture I have ever run. I made more money on this than I did on any other two I have ever run. Buy this one and boost it. (Walnut. Lawrenceburg, tod.) Lost good money on this. Charjey is a has-been in this town, as I found out to my sorto'v. I’d like to see that little curly headed salesman from Cleveland sell me another United Artists flop. (Capitol. Delphos. O.) The blg.gest nop in recent years. Makes a sick box office a^e a back-set. No good for small towns at Outrageous prices United Artists are asking. Did not take in anywhere near rental price in three ays. Advertised heavy, roads and weather fine, but people failed to show up. Nine out of every ten reports in the HERALD stated that “The Id Rush" didn’t register, and yet we let a sa esman talk us into buying this picture when we almost knew it was a flop dor a -small town, faid too much and unless they come across with an adjustment it’s gootlbye United Artists as far ^ t G Palace theatre in Syracuse is concerned. . these big stars get so they want to hog a ■ then it is time to look elsewhere for en tertainment. The public is getting wiser. (Palace, Syracuse. Neb.) If you can buy this cheap play it. I have run continuous in this city since 1908 and this was the first big loss I ever had. It’s a flop. Absolutely don’t let ’em kid you. (Cozy, Villisca, la.) Sure was a flop for us. If we ever run another Chaplin it will be because it is a proven result getter. Personally, I enjoyed this, but apparently I was by myself. (Odeon, Chandler, Okla.) If we played very many like this, would have to rush to the bank— to borrow money to keep the house open. A good picture, but not worth the big rental asked by United Artists. (Majestic. Homer, Mich.) Good show but not extraordinary. We gave the exchange all the receipts. Not worth the price. (Royal, Lehi, Utah.) Did not register at box office in spite of heavy advertising. First twothirds draggy. Only fact that it is Chaplin holds it up. Otherwise nothing to it. Very weak story and little action. Not worth heavy rental. (Orpheum, Pipestone. Minn.) Personally liked this picture. It’s something more than a comedy, but so different. My patrons pushed by and forgot to stop to see it. Did not draw. Showed 4 dm's to very poor business. He did not draw. A thrilling climax. (Community, David City, Neb.) We played this three days to very poor business. It snowed great guns one night and ruined our chances. It is a good comedy, but Chaplin is not liked here in this town. We paid too much for this show in comparison to his drawing power. (Y, Nazareth, Pa.) Good comedy overrated. Business off on second night. Rental too high. (Queen, Ft. Stockton, Tex.) Played four nights. Put it on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, my weak nights, trusting it might get us by without loss, as we had to pay the price of four big features. Therefore, lost money. Heard no comments but the audience, especially the children, seemed to enjoy the show. Ten reels. (American, Seattle, Wash.) Well. I’ve seen so many reports where the exhibitors panned this that I really don’t know what to think of some reports. The picture went over big for me and satisfied 100 per cent. Personally I thought it a very good Chaplin production. Priced a little too high but not the bum picture you would be led to believe it is by some. Ten reels. (Empress, Akron, la.) This is a special. Very good Chaplin picture. Different from his slapstick. A good plot. Do not raise admission too high. Ten reels. (Monticello Opera House, Monticello, la.) Good comedy, but does not draw as well as "’The Kid." (Royal, Gardner. Kan.) GOOSE WOMAN. THE. U, Louise Dresser, Jack Pickford, Constance Bennett, Marc McDermott. George Nichols, George Cooper, 7,500. — ^Good business. regardless of snow storm and poor roads. It’s a real special suitable for any old kind of an audience. (Hammond, Hammond, Wis.) Excellent production. Acting of Miss Dresser wonderful performance. (Grand. Rainier, Ore.) A remarkably fine picture. Everybody who saw it spoke praises for it. We did nothing on it because of running into a blizzard with it, but it was not the fault of the picture. Too bad that we do not get more like it. (Elmac, Maple Rapids, Mich.) Splendid from all angles. (S. T., Parker, S. D.) Best acting of the year and also good story, but did not draw. Those who saw it praised it. All Universal features have been good this year. (Crystal, Ligonier, Ind.) A dandy Rex Beach story made into a pleasing picture. (Columbia. Athens, O.) This is a fine picture. A little heavy but dramatically very fine. Capable directing and acting and the author, Re.x Beach, has drawing power at the box office. It is not like most of his stories, though, so should be advertised emphasizing the drama, not the action. (Grand, Pierre. S. D.) I sat all through this one and it held me interested all the way. I think it is a good one that can do that. I had many favorable comments. It is heavy drama and not much action or comedy. It may not please every class. Miss Dresser i.s entitled to all the praise she has received for her portrayal of “The Goose Woman." She cei-tainly is great in this. (American, Wautoma, Wis.) One of the best pictures of 1923. Universal sure has had the pictures this last year. Long live Carl Laemmle. (Egyptian, Ogden, Utah.) An excellent picture of murder, mystery type. Miss Dresser’s character work was great. Gave universal satisfaction. (Capitol, Delphos, O.) Pleased and biought in many new patrons. An exceptionally fine production. (Princess, Elwood, Ind.) A good mystery play that will please the average theatregoer. (Blue Mouse. Davenport, Wash.) Very good picture but .some way the title did not seem to draw. ’Those seeing it were well snti.sfled. (Home. Oblong, III.) We ran "The Phantom of the Opera" the week before "The Goose Woman” and charged 50 cents admission. Our admission on "The Goose Woman" was 30 cents. Many of my good patrons told me they would have felt satisfied had they paid 50 cents to see "The Goose Woman" but felt stung to think they paid 50 cents to see "The Phantom." My personal opinion is that “The Goose Woman” will be in the l^ad of the ten best pictures in my house for 1926. Nothing better of its kind or class on the film market. (Cozy. Fayette, Iowa.) It's a wow. I saw it in the city and liked it but was afraid my people would not. But now I have shown it and everyone pleased. I knew they would at least like it. but they enthused over it very much and this I was afraid of. (Majestic, Bowie, Tex.) GO WEST, MGM, Blister Keaton. Kathleen Myers, Brown Eyes. Herbert Truesdale, 6,230. — A very good comedy. Patrons well pleased. (Bonn. Philadelphia. Pa.) Think this is Buster’s best so far. Fans liked it fine and are waiting for hi.s next. (New Geneseo, Geneseo, III.) A dandy picture. Glad I hud it to play. (Saunders, Harvard. 111.) Fine comedy of Western type. Just as good as "The Navigator.” Everyone pleased and said so. (Community, David City, Neb.) One of Buster’s best efforts. Clean and clever comedy of a greenhorn on a Western ranch with the serious faced Keaton blundering into success in the usual manner. (Crossett, Ci-ossott, Ark.) It is a good picture, but it can’t come up to “The Navigator.” “Go West" has lots of excitement in it but it’s no use to say anything about or for it. It can’t come up to "The Navigator.” (Idle Hour. Owen, Wis.) The cow star in this offering is quite a novelty. Patrons all seemed to like It. Business Sunday brisk. Monday poor. (Grand, Rainier, Ore.) We never go wrong on Keaton. They like him. (Alamo. Pembine, Wis.) Best Keeton ever made. Couldn’t get ’em out to see it, though. (Photoplay. Ashland, Kan.) Buster always gets me the money. I run every Kenton I can get hold of because he gets the money. "Go West” is a comedy drama you will never forget if you run it. Something new in comedies. Bu.ster is good on his new tricks and ho sure can find them and the jiublic likes them. (Eagle, Fleetville, III.) Get this one. My patrons were all pleased with this one. Did not make much hut was not the fault of the picture. Advertise it, though. (Linwood Square, Norwalk. O.) A K. O. comedy, in fact many thought Buster’s best. A good picture to better than average business and to a 100 per cent pleased audience. (Ridgemont, Seattle, Wash.) Not near as good as some of his former pictures. (Odeon. Chandler. Okla.) Will average up with "The Navigator" and "Seven Chances." Pleased well here. (Star, Stanley, Wis.) Not up to the average Buster Keaton picture. Entirely too drawn out ami had it on Sunday at that. Did just our usual Sunday business. It's good for a day, but no more. (Bugg, Chicago, 111.) Dandy picture. Just as good ns the others. If you enjoy a good comedy, this is it. Should please any audience, and we did a very nice business on this. Played Sunday. (Princess, Crandon, Wis.) A good comedy featuring Brown Eyes, a bovine comedienne of no mean ability. Seven reels. (Rialto, Pocahontas, la.) After reading several adverse reports on this, expected it to he just so-so, but sayl — it’s a knock-out. More laughs in two reels than in the ten reels of "The Gold Rush." If your people like comedy they’ll eat this up, especially the former.^. Seven reels. (Plninview. PIninview. Nebr.) To my notion the best thing Keaton has done .since he went into long features. We got an excellent first night but the second was not a bad one. living up to our usual experience with Kenton pictures. The cow in this one is a ilandy but the cattle drive grows very tiresome. Seven reels. (Star, Menard. Tex.) GRAUSTARK, FN. Norma Taliaadgc, Eugene O’Brien. Marc McDermott. Wanda Hawley. Frank Currier, Winter Hall. 7.— I received this film a day late, which hurt business, result being only a small crowd out to see it on second night. The picture is very good, however, one of the finest Norma has played in. Eugene O’Brien splendid in support of the star. These circuit and percentage pictures are the bunk from a financial standpoint. (Rex, Aurora, Minn.) A very fine picture but did not draw so well. Those that came were well pleased. One I enjoyed. (Kentland, Kentland, Tnd.) Best Talmadge in two years from box office angle. Not as good a picture though, as "Secrets." though I lost money on "Secrets." (Rosewin. Dallas, Tex.) A very beautiful picture, but don't stress the story in your exploitation, as it has been greatly changed. Why. I cannot understand, for the book is by far the better .story, and the stage version followed this book exactly. (Community. Minneota, Minn.) Reports on this were very good. (Opera House. Fennimore, Wis.) Very good picture that failed to do even a fair business. Norma Talmadge seems to have lost her prestige in this town. (Lake