Exhibitors Herald (1926)

44 BOX OFFICE RECORD SECTION OF April 10, 1926 Chester, Ind.) Here is a picture that we believe is equal if not better than "The Covered Wagon." We used it new and struck bad weather so can’t say how it will draw. Get it and go your best. You will win. (Palace. Long Pine, Neb.) Broke all records. Pleased 100 per cent. Many expressed themselves in stating that this picture was better than "The Covered Wagon.” Others liked it as well. It is one of the best pictures we have ever shown. (Auditorium. Revillo. S. D.) Great show for any house. Cruze hits the hall again. Belongs with the biggest ones. Grossed less than we thought it would but roads are all blocked. (Cresco. Cresco, Iowa.) Another good one that pleases everyone. Many said better than "Covered Wagon” but I could not see it, either from the standpoint of acting or from box office, but it is a h — 1 of a good one. Film good. (Strand, Ransom, Kan.) Very poor first night. I can say what others did, the best thing and nearest to "The Covered Wagon" achievement. It sure is a big and costly production, but the opening night disappointed me. Extra advertising, but somehow it did not draw anywhere near to compare with "The Covered Wagon.” Both nights brought in less people than first night on "The Covered Wagon,” so I guess I’ll say good picture to loss. (Royal. Kimball, S. D.) Good enough for any house. Ran three days. Held up fine. Advertise it big; it won’t fall down on you. (Rosewin, Dallas, Tex.) Paramount has rung the bell again with this one. A masterpiece in the estimation of my patrons, and a majority call it better than "The Covered Wagon,” but, of course, it does not have nearly the drawing power, but it is good and worth boosting to the limit. Film good. (Strand, Ransom, Kan.) A truly wonderful production from every angle, but it pulled only about 26 per cent as many admissions as "The Covered Wagon” and I worked hard on the advertising too. Am not kicking at that as I showed a profit and that’s always better than red ink. I’ll say so. (Strand, Paoli, Ind.) Although I read a good many praise this very much. I barely made expenses in two days. Good Western. (Regent, Bogota, N. J.) We played tbe three days to good business. It dropped off quite a bit on the third day of our showing. It’s almost another "Covered Wagon." The work of Wallace Beery was very fine. It is interesting from start to finish. (”Y.” Nazareth, Pa.) This picture went over big two days. A 100 per cent picture. They all raved about it Book it and advertise it strong. You will fill all your seats to capacity. Good box office bet (Coliseum, Annawan, 111.) Good high class Western but not as good as "The Covered Wagon.” Did not draw half the business that “The Wagon” did. Rental entirely too high. (Photoplay. Ashland. Kan.) I played this a couple of months ago and found it to be one of the best big Westerns ever produced. Right along in line with "The Wagon,” according to what my patrons said. It is very, very good. (American. Wautoma, Wis. ) An A-1 picture and pleased 100 per cent. Lots said as good as "The Covered Wagon.” (Capitol. Hartley. la.) A very good picture. Entire cast good in their parts. Just average business, although used extensive exploitation. (Capitol, Dciphos, O. ) Better than “The Covered Wagon” and "North of 36.” Two days to fair business. (Whynot, Greenfield, Ind.) PRAIRIE PIRATE, THE, PDC, Harry Carey, Jean Dumas, Lloyd Whitlock, Trilby Clark, Robert Edeson, $. — Good action picture. In fact about the best I have ever shown of this star but have not shown many, as the first two I ever ran were worse than nothing, on the Universal program, and have been off of him since. (Gem, Batesville, Ark.) Not enough money in it to justify rental for film. Just a good Western. (Ritz, Spokane, Wash.) As good as any Harry Carey I have seen, but he is too old and looks it. (Strand. Alma, Mich.) Exceptionally good picture. Something different in the way of action entertainment. (Illinois, Sullivan, 111.) PRETTY LADIES, MGM, ZaSa Pitts, Tom Moore, Ann Pennington, Gwen Lee, Lilyan Tashman, Paul Ellis, 5,828. — Dandy little picture. Pleased ladies 100 per cent and men enjoyed it about as well. When you run it, tall the men to take a seat in the baldheadcd row and they will think they are at the Follies. (Lyric, Harrison, Ark.) Give your patrons a treat and take one yourself. All the color and richness of the Ziegfeld Follies brought before your very eyes. Would not class this as a leg sho’w, but they can be seen in great numbers. Scenes in technicolor added materially and we were pleased and surprised to find our best patrons attending, although we advertised it as a fast stepping show with Ann Pennington doing the Charleston. Nothing to offend any broad-minded person. Tell them it’s snappy and you’ll have no kicks. The three sheet on the outside told the story and the people that came were not brought in by force. (Palace, Syracuse, Neb.) Well worth playing. Metro has a real program picture in "Pretty Ladies.” Special. no, Sunday, yes. (Illinois, Sullivan. III.) Awfully vulgar picture for small town. For instance some of the reading matter in this picture is "I’m awfully cold in the region where I sit,” and "I’m wearing fur-lined B. V. D.’s, lest my terminal gets frost bit.” One more like this and I’ll be tarred and feathered. Yet they talk about booking the whole works or nothing and when an exhibitor runs a picture like this in a small town, he is out of luck. Good bye, big boys ; hereafter you’ll have to let me pick around a bit or I’ll close up and go to some region where I can sit. (Pastime, Sandersville, Ga.) Typical Metro picture with a plot that takes a twist toward the unusual, but as a whole is the some old story of gold digging and chorus girls. Natural color photography and Ann Pennington’s dancing, however, take it out of the ordinary class and will put it over with sophisticated audiences. (Crossett, Crossett, Ark.) This picture drew fine for me, in fact, better than any program picture that I have had in several weeks. The stage scenes done in Teohnicolor aroused considerable comment, as they seemed to be more perfect and more pretty than any colors that have appeared heretofore. (Acadia, Crowley, La.) This has the most beautiful colorings of any picture ever shown here. Book it. Drew big crowd. (Columbia, Poynette, Wis.) Fairly entertaining. Some pretty color photography. Did just fair. (Regent, Bogota, N. J.) Pretty to look at and I enjoyed it. But this kind of picture is not much for a family or neighborhood. Did not draw either. (Arcadia, Vandergrift, Pa.) This is a very beautiful picture, well produced, but not good for small town theatres. (Lyric, Crete, Neb.) Very pretty, and good entertainment. Technicolor of Ziegfeld Follies very good and a real eye full. (Grand, Port Washington. Wis.) Fine without a question or doubt, but why don’t Metro make more outdoor pictures? Big Westerns? They seem to be getting the money in million dollar theatres and I know they will for me and many other exhibitors. (The Gem, Memphis, Tex.) Put this picture on with a Western feature and did a good business on Saturday and pleased everybody. Several beautiful colored scenes of the Follies. A good story with touches of comedy and pathos. Good cast. (Princess, Chilton, Wis.) Not a thing to this but its Mlor and shots from Ziegfeld Follies. The coloring is very beautiful, the whole picture is beautiful, all the Follies stuff is good. Tell them about this, but don’t promise a big picture. (Majestic, Bowie, Te.x.) A very catchy title that failed to draw. Beautifully produced but the stoiy had no appeal. (Temple. Aberdeen, Miss.) Entertaining and elaborately produced. Business about up to usual standard. (Grand, Rainier, Ore.) Can’t say much for this one except the color scenes. Color scenes go over big in a big picture but the sentiment of our patrons on this one was "pretty but rotten.” (Regent, Eureka. Kan.) A very good picture. The colored part showing Ziegfeld Follies was wonderful. (Rex, Wahoo. Neb.) A very pretty picture. Book it if you want to see “Pretty Ladies.” A very good title. 80 per cent pleased. Six reels. (Opera House, Hilbert, Wis.) A very beautiful picture. The finest coloring of them all. (Silver Family, Greenville, Mich.) PRINCE OF BROADWAY, THE, Chad.. George Walsh, Alyce Mills, Frank Gampeau, James J. Jeffries, 5,750. — Better than average program picture. Have run "Blue Blood” and "American Pluck” with the same star and they are all up to the Walsh standard. They are good for a change and are sure to please in the small towns especially. (Crown, Cedar Point, Hi.) Our patrons did not like this one much, but suppose it is because they are not V/alsh fans. He is not popular here. (Majestic. Weiner, Ark.) PRINCE OP PEP, THE, FBO, Richard Talmadgo, Nola Lnxford, Marcellne Day, Brindley Shaw, 4,911, — My favorite star in one of his finest pictures. This one is chock full of action. This good looking Talmadge boy tries to see just how much he can put into his pictures, I think. The only thing I regret is that he does not make more than he does. I don’t get to show him as often as I would like. Hurry up with your next one. Dick. (Star, Tuckerman, Ark.) Talmadge a real bet In a great picture. Boys, if you don't buy F. B. O. products you had better get busy. All good. (Ogden, Ogden, Utah.) Pleased, as do all of Richard’s pictures. Plenty of action in this one. Most dependable line of pictures on the market. Keep the good work up, Richard. (Highland, Guthrie, Okla.) Lota of action and that’s what it takes to satisfy most of our patrons. (A-Mus-U, Frederick, .Okla.) Good story and plenty of action. If they don’t like this one they should make a date with an undertaker. (Young’s, Lexington, N. C.) RAINBOW RILEY. FN, Johnny Hines, Brenda Bond, Bradley Barker, Dan Mason, Herbert Standing, ?. — Boy. this is a knockout, if you ever made one. If this won’t get compliments of the very best from the public, they might as well ??? out and go to Florida. I had the honor to sit through the picture and there is not a draggy moment in the whole picture. My theatre was packed to capacity the secodd night of this pictxirs. (Plainview, Plainview. Tex.) People said it was much better than “The Live Wire." He certainly draws the business for us. And comedy. Oh Boy I There is nothing like this kind of comedy drama in any picture I have seen yet. (Plainview, Plainview, Tex.) A good comedy program and lots of hokum. Funny. (Silver Family, Greenville, Mich.) Hokum comedy. Pretty light for high class audience but lots of laughs. Six reels. (Auditorium, Barrington, 111.) RANGE BUZZARDS. V. Pete Morrison, S Film condition good. Rating about 90 per cent. Good for Sunday. This kind of shows make the whole crowd feel gay and happy as they are full of vim. Plain everyday life but it pleases all. (Jewel, Verndale, Minn.) A good Western picture. (DeLuxe, Spearviile, Kan.) Fair Western. Star does not draw much here. S^ve reels. (Grove, Fox River Grove, 111.) RANGER OF THE BIG PINES, THE, V, Kenneth Harlan, Helene Costello, 7. — Good picture. (Starland, Stockbridge, Mich.) Not a bad picture. However, it does not live up to the title. Not enough western about it. as one is led to believe by the posters. Directing lacks considerable. Hero has terrific fight and in next scene does not even have his hair mussed. Film good. (Strand, Ransom, Kans.) Very good, as the action is not the same all the way through. The part most exciting and Interesting is the place where Miss Whetherford (Helene Costello) goes to save her lover (Kenneth Harlan.) She goes to warn him and also fights for him. Full of action. Sunday, no. (Jewel, Verndale, Minn.) Very good. A fine action picture played on a Saturday. Pleased them all. (Lyric, Snfficott, N. Y.) This picture pleased and is more what our people want than the old mushy love stuff. (Odeon, Hardin, Mo.) RED HOT TIRES, W, Monte Bine. Patsy Ruth Miller, 7. — You can’t go wrong on this one if you like action pictures with plenty of laughs. A picture that is sure to please. A few more like this one and Warner Bros, will climb to the front. Keep up the good work, Warners, this is the kind of pictures that brings them back. (Fairy, Knox. Ind.) Very good comedy drama. Can’t miss It on this if you want to laugh. (Lyric, Earlville, III.) Pretty good comedy drama with not much logic and lots of funny situations. Soma fast and furious work at the end. Patsy Ruth Miller exceptionally good in this. (Temple, Bellaire, O.) Good, clean, wholesome picture that drew and pleased. (Arcadia, Vandergrift, Pa.) A very good comedy. Not as good as “Bobbed Hair,” but good enough for me. Story, direction and acting all that could be desired. (Strand, Dryden, Ont., Can.) If you want an action picture with plenty of good laughs, here is one you can’t go wrong on. The whole cast is great. More like this one and Warners will climb to the top. Audience well pleased. Good business. (Bugg, Chicago, III.) This is sure a good, snappy comedy with plenty of action. Pleased the crowd end second night's business better than the first. Monte Blue a favorite here and Patsy Ruth Miller very cute and attractive in this. (Bijou, Beach, N. D.) Well, brothers, here is another one that you can pay your rent and gas bills with. This is a real comedy, and if your seats are not fastened down very good you are sure going to have a job putting them down the following morning.. It has everything in it to make one of the finest evenings that you will spend at your theatre in many a day. I played this in connection with so-called vaudeville and got more favorable comments on the picture than I did on the vaudeville. (Plainview, Plainview, Tex.) Quick action, full of hokum, but nevertheless good entertainment. (Palace. 'Waupaca. Wis.) Hava read adverse criticisms but do not believe the small town fellows need worry a minute, for it is full of action and comedy. That seems to be what they want. Book it and tie up with your tire man. He will gladly stand part of your advertising. (Empress, Shenandoah, la.) A comedy drama that is above average. Can be bought right. (Elite, Greenleaf,