Exhibitors Herald (1926)

EXHIBITORS HERALD 43 April 10, 1926 one-third the price. Many good comments, while others said "The Hunchback" was much better, making a wide difference in opinion. Think 60 cents admission was cause of big slump in attendance, although roads were blocked with snow. (Cozy, Fayette, Iowa.) This is one of Lon Chancy’s best. For those who like this mysterious and gruesome kind of a picture, it has it all there and then some. Pleased about 60 per cent of oar patrons generally. Print was only fair; business was poor on account of weather and print getting in one day later than we had advertised it. Play it when you can afford it. Universal will treat you right if you work with them. (Long's, Cadiz, O.) Very good picture in every respect and a good drawing card, but weather against it. (Liberty, Sunice, La.) Poorest picture you can buy for a small town. Lay off this one. Ten reels. (Crystal, Earlville, la.) While we showed this picture during Lent, and therefore failed to make much profit, I consider it one of the greatest screen attractions X ever saw. People said it kept them awake nights, but ail thought it wonderful. Ten reels. (Empress, Owensboro, Ky.) A mighty good picture. Good drawing power. (Casino, Sac City, la.) Patrons were well pleased with this picture. It keeps them on the end of their seats until the last reel. Business was good. Lon Chaney a wonder. We had 16 people fainted during the week’s showing. Peopie went out talking and it helped bring crowds. Twelve reels. (Benn, Philadelphia, Pa.) A great big wonderful production. A big town show, over the head of 60 per cent of the people. In community towns they liked it but did not know what it was all about. (Silver Family, Greenville, Mich.) A real special. Opinion of audience divided. Some liked it. some didn’t, ethers liked "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" better. A spooky, fantastic picture that some dream about and others don’t like. On the whole it is a very good picture. . Ten reels. (Char-Bell. Rochester, Ind.) PLAYING WITH SOULS, FN. Jacnueline Logan, Mary Astor, Olve Brook, William Collier, Jr., Beale Bennett, Jaseph Swickard, 5,831.— This is a great picture. Gripping and interesting with a message. (Palace, Aurora, Ind.) Extra fine story, well acted and directed. Many liked it better than many so-called specials. (Crystal, Ligonier, Ind.) A bad night for any play. There are numerous rich episodes in this play but they are badly connected. The audience lost interest. The jump from babyhood to adolescence and from profound misery in one scene to happy marriage in the next failed to preserve continuity of interest. It needs to be rewritten. (Elite-Kozy, Metropolis, 111.) PLEASURE BUYERS, THE. W. Irene Rich, Clive Brook, 7. — This is a good mystery picture and, while changed from the story somewhat do not think it hurts. Irene Rich as good as always and a more pleasing role for her than soma of the last. Good cast, well done, interest well sustained. Pleased my crowd. I am well pleased with Warners’ product this season. (Bijou, Beach, N. D.) A splendid program picture. Clean and entertaining. Gave satisfaction. (Silver Family, Greenville, Mich.) PONY EXPRESS. TEE. FP, Betty Coiapwm, Ricardo Cortez, Ernest Torrence, Wallace Beery, 10.— Quite satisfactory in every way, not the least being that of bringing out the history of the Northwest in an interesting way. That nsan Beery has such & good acting face. Why doesn’t he advance? (Elite-Kozy, Metropolis, Bl.) A commendable picture with a large share of credit to Ricardo Cortez. Wallace Beery and Ernest Torrence also good. Did not draw strong at box office due to opposition and seemingly tiring of hig y/esterns. (Orpheum, Pipestone. Minn.) Jumping Jerusalem 1 A whole volume of history ®optelning a terrific wallop. Absorbing ; entertaining ; laughable ; thrilling ; very, very human end a great plot. Ernest Torrence as Ascension Jones, the preacher, is fine : Cortez as a two-gun man is superb ; Betty Compson. with vamp-paint discarded, is a darn sweet girl ; and hats off to Wallace Beery, the most likable rogue ever! Cruze gives a wonderful entertaining epic of the Old V/est which will linger long in one's memory and the American people should honor Mr. Cruze in some unusual manner for his several wonderful historic Western masterpieces, of which this is the best. (Rex, Salmon. Idaho.) In my opinion, had this been heralded as much in advance as The Covered Wagon’’ and given the same publicity it would have been pronounced by a majority of movie fans as the best picture of the two, although Beery steals the show from Torrence in this. (Grand & Gem, Cooper. Tex.) This is r&ttiing good entertainment, with the exception hat it is a little too long. Too much footage that could have been condensed and made a Abbreviations j Abbreviations used in this issue, together with Home OiBce addresses of £lm companies designated, are as follows: AE — Associated Exhibitors, 35 West 45tli St., New York. CHAD— Chadwick Pictures Corp., 729 Seventh Ave., New York. COL — Columbia Pictures Corp., 1600 Broadway, New York. S— Educational Film Exchanges, 370 Seventh Ave., New York. PP — Famous Players-Lasky, 48S 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 S5th St., New York. MG — Metro-Goldwyn Pictures, 1540 B'roadway, New York. P — Path© Exchanges, Inc., 35 West 45th St., New York. PF — B. P. Schulberg Corp., 1650 Broadway, New York. PL — Pnncipal 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— -Vitagr^h, 1400 Locust Blvd., Brook W — Warner Brothers, 1600 Broadway New York. State Right distributors designated by name. Numerals indicate length of picture in footage or reels. snappier picturo. The first night half the house were on their feet going for the door with about three hundred feet to run. There was a clinch scene, then the picture had to dispose of Rhode Island Red, sort of a semi-climax that is irritating because the minute a "clinch” scene shows up in a picture toward the end half the house grabs their wraps and hats and are on their way. Business below normal. (Columbia. Columbia City. Ind.) Another picture that will live forever. Did only a fair business on this, but this was due to the extreme cold spell. I can add nothing to what other exhibitors have said. Anybody that does not play this is just hurting himself. Some thought it better than "The Covered Wagon.” but it will be a long time before they make one that will heat it. Wallace Beery cannot be beaten in this one. In fact, this picture has put a halo around his head in the box office. Book it, even if you have to mortgage the theatre to pay for it. (Leeds. Leeds, la.) This must he that 100 per cent picture you have dreamed about. (Texas, Grand Prairie, Tex.) This picture went over big 2 days. My patrons raved about it. (Lincoln, Milwaukee. Wls.) Everyone enjoyed this picture, but it is not a successor to "The Covered Wagon" as far as publicity and drawing power goes. They gave us a fair percentage deal, but business first two nights was disappointing. Think we would have done better if we had played it after the Twin Cities run, as we would have had the benefit of their advertising. (Hammond, Hammond, Wis.) This is an exceptionally good historical subject that drew extra business in adverse weather. Heavy advertising was nullified by extreme cold weather. (Chimes, Cedarburg, Wis. ) Excellent picture. Better than "The Wagon.” Broke our Sunday house records. (CharBell, Rochester, Ind.) Entertaining picture of the romantic early West, with Wallace Beery as usual running away with the honors. Ricardo Cortez gets away fairly well in his first Western part, but our people thought Betty Compson miscast. Will get over good where Western features are liked. (Crossett, Crossett, Ark.) While I did not break any house records with this one, I pleased the fans that did come out. This picture will stand an increase in admission. I consider the story as good as "The Wagon." However, it’s not as big a production. Charged IW-36 cents with no kicks. Some said, "It's better than 'The Wagon.’ " A few came back to see it the second night. Plenty of good comedy to put it over. Western fans will surely enjoy it. (Fairy, Knox, Ind.) A very fair picture. Cast great. In same class as "The Covered Wagon,” "The Iron Horse," "North of 36." I can’t see where one has it over the other, only "The Covered Wagon" had bl8>geat draft at box office. (Silver Family. Greenville, Mich.) Here is one of the best pictures of the year. To me it was better than "The Covered Wagon." Story much better to follow than "The Covered Wagon." A real treat to anyone, and educates too. (Palace, Clifton Heights, Pa.) The right kind for the small town. Historical and plenty of action and a good cast. (Sunshine. Darlington, Ind) Here is the type of picture the American public wants, as the box office will prove. It has comedy and romance with plenty of action. Drew very well. More like this one will be appreciated by alt. (New Geneseo. Gencsco, III.) Had this on March 6 and 7, two days. Both had stormy nights and then made good. Can’t lose on it. boys. Book it and make hay. You’ve got to hand it to Wallace Beery to bring in the bacon. Scenes all wonderful. (Liberty, Channing, Mich.) This is a wonderfully pleasing picture and the name draws the kind of people that the picture pleases most. It was very satisfactory at the box office and in its after effects, as it is good enough to cause people to remember it for some time. (Grand, Pierre, S. B.) A wonderful audience picture. Got big crowds and delighted every class of patron. Western historical drama that ranks as best of the year. Wallace Beery is at his best, likewise Torrence. Ricardo Cortez makes magnificent Western star and as a gun man excels Bill Hart and is much more pleasant to look at. You can bank on this one and have something for the bank the next day. (Temple, Bcllaire, O.) 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. (Palace, Ashland. O.) Very good. Will please about 96 per cent. Step on it end you will send them home fully satisfied. (Grand. Yoakum, Tex.) Not half as good as "The Covered Wagon," as Paramount claimed it would he. However, good picture and will do some business if bought right (Liberty, Kalispell, Mont.) Did a very good business on this and, while it was a good picture, did not come up to my expectations. Patrons, however, seemed satisfied, so what’s the difference what I expected? (Rialto, New England, N. D.) Exceptional Western picture with a historical value to it. If your patrons like Western action pictures buy it. (Lyric, Hartington. Neb.) Another Paramount Western flop, although an exceptional picture. Very well produced. Excellent acting by all, hut all this can’t put it over at the box office. If you do good on Westerns, don’t pass this up. (Bugg, Chicago, III.) A splendid historical drama, hut only a moderate success for us. Advertised heavily, too. Couldn't seem to hammer big things into them. Received as a plain Western. (Russell, Somerset, O.) Very fine picture. By oil iDean.<i play it, A credit to any house. (Gem, Alton, 111.) Considered it a better picture than "The Covered Wagon." Did not, of course, draw as well. (S. T., Parker. S. D.) This was good. Pleased and drew very well. (Majestic. Camden, S. C.) A very good play. Better than "The Covered Wagon." Pleased majority of people. Nasty weather two nights. Buy it and advertise it. You can’t go wrong. (Family, Attica, N. Y.) An excellent picture. Patrons divided on whether this was better than "The Covered Wagon." Wallace Beery almost stole the show and Torrence was fine, too. Cortez makes a fine hero and Bancroft was a dandy heavy. Betty had such a small role it is hard to judge her work. Pleased our people immensely and drew a large attendance. (Star, Hay Springs, Neb.) "The Pony Express” is a winner and equal to "The Covered Wagon." It represents history better than “The Covered Wagon,” as it is not over-done. Betty Compson is a general favorite in this locality and is ably supported by Ricardo Cortez, and as you know Wallace Beery and Ernest Torrence always accomplish their parts to a T. Beery especially conies in for a handful of laughs. (Acadia. Crowley, La.) A box office attraction but needs a lot of local publicity to put it over. Is not sold to your patrons like "The Ten Commandments" or "The Covered Wagon,” but you get busy and get them in and you will give them very satisfactory entertainment. (Cozy, Win