Exhibitors Herald (1926)

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EXHIBITORS HERALD 49 April 10, 1926 for me. (Monarch, Medicine Hat, Alta.. Canada.) A corking good farce comedy with a perfect cast. My people pronounced it fine entertainment. (Pastime, Mason. Mich.) A very good comedy-drama. Went over big in my town. (New, Hoosick, Falls, N. Y.) A fair comedy but not nearly as good as "Charley's Aunt.” They try to overdo some of the scenes, which gets very monotonous. As a whole will please. (Castle, Havana, III.) SEVEN KEYS TO BALDPATE, FP, Donglaa MacLcan, Anders Randolf, Betty Francisco, 6. We played this two days to just fair business. We pleased most everybody with this. They had the comedy spread pretty thin, over the seven reels. Edith Roberts was good to look at in this. (Y, Nazareth, Pa.) This cannot come up to MacLean’s other pictures. Not worth the money we had to pay. Just an ordinary program picture. (Plainview, Plainview, Neb.) Poor picture that drew well and actually pleased on New Year's Day. They liked it, so why should I worry? (Rosewin, Dallas, Tex.) A very entertaining feature comedy. It is clean, entertaining comedy that will make them howl with laughter. (CharBell, Rochester, Ind.) This is good entertainment. MacLean is fine. (Palace, -Aurora, Ind.) Better than some say, but nothing to go wild about. (Sunshine, Darlington, Ind.) A very clever and interesting comedy, but it is not the picture it was cracked up to be. (Amuse-U, Springfield, 111.) A very interesting picture. Douglas does his stuff well. Lots of action and comedy. (Palace, Burkburnett, Tex.) A very high grade farce comedy that will suit 99 per cent of your customers. We raised our prices on this and were justified. (Palace, Ashland, O.) One of the nicest bits of entertainment we have had the pleasure of showing to our Sunday patrons for many moons. Very entertaining and clean-made. Compliments from all who saw it. (Palace. Maita, Mont.) A very clever comedy. Not as big as I expected. Pleased 76 per cent. (Grand and Gem, Cooper, Tex.) Well liked and drew fair. The laughs were not as fast as they should be, nor as hearty. Something wasn’t just right, hut good entertainment at that. (New Geneseo, Geneseo, III.) A reissue, or rather, a poor take off on the original production of this name. Nothing to it. (Orpheum, Glasgow, Mont.) I saw the play on' the stage, have read the hook and give them credit for doing as well as could be e.\pected. It is mildly amusing to some, a bore to others. (The Star, Humble, Tex.) It is hard to believe that Paramount sold me this. I am sincere in saying this is the worst picture I have ever seen, and I have seen some bad ones. It was so terrible that I had to laugh when I quit cussing. (Texas, Grand Prairie, Tex.) ’’Pretty good, theme interesting.” Many said they liked it "just fine” : many walked out. Not a box office bet, as were "Hottentot” and "Going Up.” Director Newmeyer was good in directing Lloyd but Lloyd was a natural comedian and MacLean is not. MacLean needs a fast action play to put him over. N&wmeyer did not apparently know how to handle this "farce.” A farce, to be good on the screen, I think, demands clever, absurd situations linked very, very rapidly together with very witty titling. Either the central figure should be very passive while the absurd events roll quickly about him, or the central figure should be a whirlwind of action himself, getting in and out of farcial predicaments by the “skin of his teeth.” This had farce and drama badly mixed. The action painfully dragged and was too slowly linked up ; it seemed as if the play was hastily scrambled. MacLean’s support very weak. Edith Roberts seemed a poor choice but Betty Francisco was better. (Rex, Salmon, Idaho.) It is pretty hard to keep the average picturegoer interested throughout 7 reels of comedy. However, this one gets them all the way through. The cast is very good and the thing seems to be well produced. Business good first night to below average the second night. (Cozy, Winchester, Ind.) Good comedy but not a special. Not worth the price I paid. It is a good picture but only a program picture. If you buy this one set it right. (Washington, Atoka, Okla.) Not so ^od. Not as good as his former pictures. It is McLean and ths is all there is to this reissue. (Orpheum, Pipestone, Minn.) Just a fair comedy. Not to be compared with some of his previous ones. (Capitol. Delphos, O.) This did not draw or please as well as any of the other MacLeans. Paramount's Forty has not been up to snuff with *“8. Don’t think it compares with their others. (Reel Joy, King City, Cal.) The picture cost too *nuch and I did not make any money. (New Star, Westminster, Md.) Opinion divided on this pieture. Some said fine, others said nothing to it. Seven reels. (Cozy, Fayette, la.) SEVEN SINNERS, W, Marie Provost, 7.— This is a very good little program picture. Rather im possible but good entertainment. (Bijou, Beach, N. D.) A very good comedy, well produced. Good acting by all, Just a one day picture. (Bugg, Chicago, 111.) This is a very good crook drama. Good clean interesting program. Good for Sunday. (Monticello Opera House, Monticello, Iowa.) Very satisfactory picture. (Arcadia, Vandergrift, Pa.) Very weak. A crook comedy. Too much uKc "Seven Days,” and I played them a week apart. (Community, Tacoma, Wash.) 'Very disappointing, as are the majority of Warner’s this year. Poorest business of season on this one. (Cozy, Topeka, Kan.) SHORE LEAVE, FN, Richard Barthelmess, Dorothy Mackalll, Marie ShotweH, Nick Long, 6,8SS. — ^Very good. Barthelmess is one of the most popular stars I have here. Quite a bit of talk among my people as to which was the better. “Shore Leave” or “Classmates.” Both did big business. Different from his usual role In this one. Change from the play did not help the picture, but of course the play could not well be put on the screen as was. (Star, Menard, Tex.) Best drawing card since "Torable David.” but did not seem to please the majority. (Grand, Rainier, Ore.) Did a nice business with this one in a snow storm. It is not near as good as “Classmates,” but pleased very well. Good advertising material. (Highland, Guthrie, Okla.) One of the best we’ve ever shown here. (Illinois, Sullivan, 111.) In reporting this picture, will say that it does not have any added box office value. However. it is good entertainment. Dick is liked by most folks in this sort of a role and he docs it just right. (Ck>zy, Winchester, Ind.) Barthelmess is always a good card here. "Shore Leave” better than “Classmates.” Everybody pleased. (American, Seattle, Wash.) Fair good picture. Can’t call it a knockout. (Regent, Bogota, N. J.) Dick has a good role here. (Florence, Elk Point, S. D.) An excellent picture. Barthelmess exceptionally good as gob. Box office very good. (Arabian, Seattle, Wash) Very common. Just an ordinary program and very draggy. Did not please at all, but I am not expecting much out of First National now. There was a time when they made big ones in their programs but now they give you a few big ones that will go over but sell them as specials and the others are very weak. (Dixie, Russellville, Ky.) One of Dick's best pictures. (Opera House, Fennimore, Wis.) Some said great, others did not care for it. Personally we considered it above the average. (The Crystal, Flandreau, S. D.) Not a great big picture but drew fairly well and pleased about 99 per cent more than the last one, "Soul Fire.” (Regent. Eureka, Kan.) Dick does his stuff in this and pleased patrons. Acting fine and something a little different. (Capitol. Hartley, la.) This chap is living on “Tol’able David” reputation. "Shore Leave,” to judge by the way it was received in this house, is just about the limit in "sans” entertainment. He poses and grimaces throughout, not a single kick to it. Nothing but what might be the so-called finished (?) acting of Barthelmess and to judge from my box office and patrons’ comment he is an absolute washout as a business puller. God help me. I have three more 1 I’d think First National would take a tumble to themselves that this man as a star lacks about 98 per cent and get someone who can put a little action into his stuff. People tire of his sad, woebegone attitude and manner. He has proved a lemon in every picture we have played of his so far. That’s enough! (Columbia, Columbia City, Ind.) This is reputed to be Barthelmess’ best picture. If it is. Heaven help the poor country town exhibitor. Too many closeups, too much of Barthelmess* posing, no action, no nothing as far as pulling power. I reported my loss on this one and got a nice letter of condolence from Mr. Brown of First National, for which I am duly grateful. He would hate to get his pay out of my profit on this engagement. Barthelmess is not a star. He is a filler. He would be all right in support but as a star, as far as all of his productions have proved out with us, he is not there. He just can’t get the money and he doesn't register either at the box office or with the patrons. (Columbia, Columbia City, Ind.) SIEGE, U, Virginia ValH, Eugene O’Brien, Mary Aldon, Marc McDermott, 6,424. — A very good picture but one you must step on to get business on. It’s worthy of strong advertising. Many comments. (Argonne, Akron, Ind.) Only fair. Lost money for me. (Elite, New Holstein, ■Wis.) No knockouts, but good consistent features. Every small town should tie up to Universal this year. They’ve got the goods at a price you can make money with. (Acme, Kennebunk, Me.) Good, but not as good as "The Goose Woman,” although it drew bigger business. Have run five or six from Universal's Complete Service Contract and they have all been money-makers and the prints have been good. (Hammond. Hammond, Wis.) Here was a good one put over good. Fine acting. Suited TOO per cent. In fact I do not have any complaints on Universale. Carl Laemmle is putting out good ones. (Amuse, Hart. Mich.) Splendid drama in which Mary Alden as Aunt Augusta nearly steals the picture. Pleased large Sunday crowd. (S, T., Parker, S. D.) Mary Alden does a wonderful piece of acting, never loses the character for a minute. Business fair. (Palace, Waupaca, Wis.) Very good picture which satisfies and I believe that pictures with more action and excitement are better than this, although it satisfied my crowd that saw it. (Royal, Kimball, S. D.) Nobody would go very far out of their way to see this or this kind. Admittting it to be splendid characterization. It nevertheless is no great drawing card. (Regent, Bogota, N. J.) This is a great picture. Good for any night. Paper very good. Boys, book this and boost it. (Monticello Opera House, Monticello. la.) Used this on my feature night and it was as good as any I generally use on this night. I find Universal stuff better than any of its previous releases. (Fairyland, White Castle. La.) Very good picture that brought more favorable comments than last month’s pictures. (Lily, Buffalo, N. Y.) Like the rest of the Jewels, this is a good one. Good cast and settings. McDermott and Mary Alden very good. A picture worth pinying. Business average. (Princess, Chilton, Wis.) A dud at the box office. Nice little program picture at a special price. Paper ordinary and nothing to get them in. (American, Ada, Okla.) For me a poor drawing card. No one seemed to have read the story and I asked several book readers so as to find out. It is the poorest Jewel I have played. It is not a poor picture, there are lots worse, and it will go over for one night. (American, Wautoma, Wis.) A fine picture of the heavy drama type. No drawing power only to those who have read the book. If you can get them it will please. (Starland, Stockbrtdgc, Mich.) An excellent production that you can boost to the limit. (Grand. Rainier, Ore.) High class drama that moves leisurely but seemed to hold everyone's attention. (Pastime. Mason, Mich.) Just fair; nothing to rave about. (New Liberty, Carnegie, Okla.) Not up to standard. No favorable comments and some unfavorable. Seven reels. (Star, Sumner, Neb.) SIMON THE JESTER, PDC. Eugene O’Brien, Liilian Rich, Edmund Burns, Henry B. Walthall, 7, — ^This one was a good one. Well acted but did not suit all, but it should have got more credit than it did, but that is the way. Suited about 60 per cent. (Amuse. Hart, Micb.) Very poor picture for Eugene. (Liberty, Eunice, La.) Fair picture but very poor paper. (Arcadia, Vandergrift, Pa.) This is real high class entertainment. If P. D. C. keeps up the pace they set with this one they’ll be stepping some. (Pastime, Mason. Mich.) This one is a very pleasing offering. Lillian Rich does good acting as the little horseback rider in the circus, ably supported by Eugene O’Brien as the jester. The dwarf in this is real. (Castle, Havana. III.) A fair picture which is a little out of the ordinary. Gave it to the Camp Fire Girls as a benefit. Has quite a few circus scenes, which pleased the kids, of whom there were qiute a few. (Trags, Neitsville. Wis.) Many favorable comments and it showed up good on the second night. Should appeal to ail classes and send them away well enough satisfied so that they will come right back. (Shuier, Raton, N. M.) A very fine picture. Do not be afraid to advertise, for it is sure to please. At least it satisfied my audience. (Colonial, Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.) Entertains the audience very well. I personally liked it. (State, Tawas City. Mich.) First rate program picture. (Palace, Ashland, O.) Fairly good with enough circus life to entertain and draw the children. Seven reels, (Lily, Buffalo, N. Y. ) Very good picture of the drama type. Did not draw here very well. Weather no handicap. Did not exploit it at all. Very little action. Seven reels. (Polo, Polo. III.) SKY RAIDER, THE. AE, Capt Charle* Nongesscr, Jacqueline Logan, Gladys Wolton, Walter Miller, 6,726.— Patrons seemed to enjoy this, and supported by Gibson Girl Band, did biggest business in several months. (Grand, Rainier. Ore.) Ran this on a week end and I think it pleased all. (Kenilworth, Hamilton, Ont., Canada.) A dandy good program picture sold me at a program price. Good airplane business and all round action and clever acting. The kind that helps the house. (Arcadia, Vandergrift, Pa.) Not bad action picture. Too much introducing of Capt. Nungesser, (Regent, Bogota, N. J.) Good picture. Seems to satisfy the majority, but we had the poorest business on account of Pathe failing to supply me advertising, (American,