Exhibitors Herald (1926)

EXHIBITORS HERALD 51 April 10, 1926 (Silver FamUy, Greenville, Mich.) Wm. De Mille certainly should be proud of the mystery stuff he pulled in this one. It was so dark in many portions that it was an entire crime and mystery to the audience, so dark it could not be seen. You bad to guess what had happened, and I’ll say this to Bebe, that many more like this one and you'll go the route a great many have gone before, the road to oblivion. A very poor audience picture, both from lack of novelty end the very dark spots that did not allow of the story to he followed. (Columbia, Columbia City, Ind.) SPLENDID ROAD. TRE, FN. Anna Q, Nilsstm, Robert Fraser, Lionel Barrymore, Roy Laidlaw, Russell Simpson, Gladys BrockweH, Panime Garon, Marccllno Day, Edward Earle, 8. — A real good production that seemed to satisfy better than average program picture. A just rental, so everybody plea^. (Kcntland, Kentland, Ind.) Excellent picture to good business. Pleased all classes. (Lyric, Morrison, lil.) If Frank Lloyd did personally direct this, as it claims, then he'd better quit. Weakest continuity and directing I have seen for some time. For me, personally, the picture was downright rotten. If you will enjoy seeing Anna Q. chasing around with work trousers and uselessly carrying a baby in her arms, and seeing covered wagons, prospectors and gold hunters with nothing to do, you may like it, and some people do. So some liked it and some did sot, but it is not a bit more than a fair program picture. (Majestic, Bowie, Tex.) First class picture but name did not mean anything at the bo.x office. Should be sold at program price. We played it some time as first run in Kansas City and this is a mistake. We can do better by waiting three months. (Liberty. Alva, Okla.) A splendid picture. In a class with the best of the big ones. Step on it. You can't make it too strong. Wish I had known how good it was before I played it. (Bonham, Prairie du Sac, V/is.) A splendid Western and you needn't be afraid to boost it. Something different in the days of '49. (Eialto, Pocahontas, la.) Extra good. Most of ^rst National pictures are good. (Star, Denison, Tex.) Ran it Christmas. Very good picture. Pleased about 90 par cent. (Home, Oblong. 111.) Good picture but not worth more than a program picture. (Karlen, Monticello, Wis.) SPOOK RANCH, U, Hooi Gibson, Helen Ferguson, Robert McKim, Frank Rice, 5,147 ^This is pretty good Gibson that smashed our attendance record for Saturday. A lot of comedy in it and would say that it will give general satisfaction. (Star, Menard, Tex.) A little tame for the Western fans but everyone seemed to enjoy it. Business fell off second night. It's not quite up to Hoot’s standard, but who could knock Hoot 7 (^lye, Abilene, Kan.) A darn good title, story, picture and star for Saturday. Up to standard and even more. Good business. (Argonne, Akron, lad.) So for as Hoot is concerned this is one of his very ordinary Western, hut the Negro in the picture injects a lot of good comedy which keeps it pepped up and it makes a good show for the kids and Western fans. (American, Wautoma, Wis.) Went over good for us. Negro makes plenty of comedy and that’s what they like. (Starland, Stockbridge, Mich.) Did a nice business on this one. Think Hoot will be a good bet here. Universal will treat you right and then some. (Polo, Polo, III.) The Negro in this one is a scream. Otherwise just a fair Western. Poorest business of any Gibson so far, due to season and local conditions. (Grand, Rainier, Ore.) A corking good Y/estern that pleased all. Hoot is popular ^ here and always brings a full house. Advertising on this is great. (Khattar’s, Sydney, N. S., Can.) There are a number of laughs in this one, also there is a let of business meant to bring a laugh that missed fire. Somewhat below Universal’s Gibson standard. Just a fair program picture. Business away off. (Columbia, Columbia City, lad.) One of Hoot's best. Great at the office. Keep it up. Hoot. (Globe. Buena VsBta, Va.) Very weak. If it wasn’t for the coon this would have fallen flat. Several like ^is and Hoot will be all through. (Princess, ^andon, 'Wia.) Not up to Hoot’s standard, although good entertainment for our Western patrons. (Lyric. Endicott. N. Y.) Good Western comedy drama. Helen Ferguson appears in supWrt. (S. T., Parker, S. D.) Worst Gibson plct^e. People made remarks to me about it. Why a good star with such rot? Universal, like has good and bad ones. But on good program. (Princess, BIwood, “u.; Not as good as soma of Hoot’s others, t o^h not bad at all. Just that we Icok for Mtter stories from Gibson than this. First half in placing the story is very tiresome, but when I gets into the story it fairly hums for a bit, and then slumps off. Gibson was aSicted with a leading lady in this. (Temple, Bellaire, • ) This is only a fair picture and is the poorest Libson I ever saw. Who told Carl’s son he could direct? First night good crowd, second night poor. Surely not worthy of Jewel trademark. (Bijou, Beach, N. D.) Fair of its kind. (Regent, Bogota, N. J.) This Gibson brought us more money than any we have used for some time. The picture pleased all. (Boynton, Boynton, Okla.) A dandy Western with a lot of laughs in it. The coon puts the flavor in It. Hoot is also good. (Blue Mouse, Davenport, Wash.) A Western with enough good comedy to put it over. Not so much stunt stuff and wild riding, but will please. (Co^, Fayette, la.) Good picture and excellent business. Gibson out«iraws Mix here two to one. (Cozy, Topeka, Kan.) Boy, some Western picture! Nigger almost runs away with the honors. If any small town exhibitor finds some one who doesn’t like this picture, put them in a cage and ship them to me collect. I want to see what they look like. (New Liberty, Carnegie, Okla.) A dandy comedy Western. A coon in this picture brought as many laughs as a Harold Lloyd feature. Plenty of action, fast riding and excitement. Pleased my crowd 100 per cent. (Cozy. Strawn, Tex.) Hoot always draws a crowd for us. "Spook Ranch" will hold the audience and give many laughs. (Hardburly, Hardburly, Ky.) Only fair. Not much of a Western picture. Patrons disappointed. Touches of comedy the only thing that helps to put picture over. Six reels. (Princess, Chilton, Wis.) A pretty good comedy Western. It seems about 6 reels to me. I wish they would make the number of reels they put it out for. The Century Comedies are also shorter than they put them cut for. Six reels. (Llnwood Square, Norwalk. O.) SPORTING UFE. U, Bert Lytell, Marion Nixon, Paulette DuvaJ, Cyril Chadwick, George Siegmann, 6,709. — Corking good melodrama. Decided improvement over the old one made by Paramount some years ago. Good action throughout. Korse race not much to brag about, however. It’s O. K. if your people don’t know much about the game. (Star, Menard, Tex.) A melodrama with English background. Pretty good picture and with nothing objectionable, but believe that the title is a poor one with which to draw business in small town. Anyway, that was our experience. (S. T., Parker, S. D.) Positively a knockout. A real attraction. Plenty of action and sports. Another Universal Jewel vehicle which was worth the money. Book it, brother. Universal should be patronized by all exhibitors on pictures like these. (Princess. Elwood, Ind.) Very good program picture. Should not be called a Jewel. Just average production. Didn't cost much and will mean about the same at box office. (American, Ada, Okla.) Real good, all but the horse race, which I called poor. Everyone seemed to enjoy it. (Starland, Stockbridge. Mich.) This Is a good picture, but did not draw. (Palace, Waupaca, Wis.) Well known story put into a good picture and pleased. A good prize fight and a good horse race and generally satisfactory. (Grand, Pierre, S. D.) STAGE STRUCK, FP. Gloria Swanson. Lawrence Gray, Gertrado Astor, 7. — This picture takes our house record for one night for all time, topping high on “Commandments,’’ "Freshman" and ■'The Wagon.” Second and third days not so good. First part, the most gorgeous color photography ever put on film — it is something to dream about — in the main story Gloria clowns, the equal of a Chaplin and gets lots of laughs. Many of the Gloria fans thought it beneath her dignity to play such a part. Parts of the picture were made here, which accounted for a great deal of its drawing power. On the whole a better than usual Swanson. (Temple, Bellaire, O.) Best small town picture she ever made. All comedy. But couldn’t make any money, and couldn’t make money on her if we were given the film absolutely free. (Palace, Ashland, O.) My bunch said this was one of the best Swansons they ever saw and I have played them all. (Reel Joy, King City, Cal.) I am glad they took "Conquered" out of my contract, How can any company pay high salary to a star, put them in a cheap production, and expect to book the exhibitors ? And if they do put a lot of money in the production, who do they think could pay the price they would have to get for it? I think it is high time they let some of these high priced stars ^ve us exhibitors entertaining productions. (New Star, Westminster, Md.) Really the best Gloria Swanson picture we ever had. She does some of her finest work in this picture. Very well produced. Pleased all of our patrons. Business only fair. (Bxigg, Chicago, III.) Plenty good comedy in this, which always seems to satisfy if done right. All comments were favorable. (Star, Montevideo, Minn.) Gloria doesn’t draw for me, though "Stage Struck” is an Improvement on some of her recent pictures. Paramount wants unreasonable rentals for her pictures. They are not profitable from the box office standpoint with mo. Don’t think I will buy any more unless they get much cheaper in price. (Lyric, Terrell, Tex.) Another failure. A disappointed audience, that will drive business away in future. Gloria is not glorious any more. (Palace, Memphis, Tex.) Her best since “The Humming Bird.” Poor Gloria, how are the mighty fallen. This one okay for large or small town. (Acme, Kennebuck, Me.) It was the consensus of opinion that this is a poor Swanson picture. Patrons were disgusted with the cheap slapstick comedy. The only part they seemed to like was the opening reel, which has the moat beautiful Technicolor work I have ever seen. (Capitol. Delphos, 0.) Gloria Swanson can also quit If she doesn’t Improve a whole lot, and that quickly. (Majestic, Camden, S. C.) Gloria fans like !t, The colors are gorgeous and it is a real good picture. The cowboys won’t like this one but the real movie critic will say it Is fine. (Palace, Burkburnett, Tex.) A splendid picture. Good story. Star fine. Coloring beautiful. (Silver Family, Greenville, Mich.) Made a good New Year’s attraction. Best Swanson In some time for small towns. More on the "Manhandled” order, though not so good. (Gresco, Crcsco, la.) Did not please the Swanson fans, who consider slapstick comedy cheapens this actress. Otherwise would class this as rather ordinary comedy that will please about 50 per cent. (Crosaett, Crosaett, Ark.) Better than anything she has done recently. Better than "The Coast of Folly," but nothing to bray about. Just a program picture for a small town. Flopped badly on the second night. (Washington, Atoka, Okla.) Not so good. Would have been all right at about a program figure. Got lots of laughs in my house. (Roaewin, Dallas, Tax.) This is one of Gloria’s best and the photography is the best we have ever seen all the way through. We did very good business on this picture because it was staged on the Ohio River near our town and a great many people were down there while it was being filmed. You have to hand it to Paramount when It comes to real photography because they are in a class by themselves. Play this one and please everybody. (Long’s, Cadiz, 0.) She tries to get Bebe Daniel’s place but she can't do it. This is different from the other Swansons. (Texas, Grand Prairie, Tex.) Goexi picture for small towns. A few of the Swanson fans did not like it. Drew good business. (Pastime, Jefferson, O.) It looks like Gloria has slipped in this one, yet it’s better than several of her other releases as that. It gets laughs from the gallery and had lots of my shoot-up crowd that said it was good, but the ones who turned out to see Gloria expecting a high class production was disappointed. Paid a big price for this slapstick comedy. (Dixie, Russellville, Ky.) Punk. Very ordinary. Gloria is slipping hero, but through no fault of hers. Give her something to work with and she will do bettor. (Kentland, Kentland, Ind.) Gloria is sure a dead one. This picture is about the worst I have ever run. No entertainment value at all. Coloring was evidently put In to save the picture, but it don't do it. (Rex. Bonners Ferry, Idaho.) Technicolor was wonderful, but cannot soy much for the rest of the picture. Flopped at the cash repster, which is the real critic. (New Geneseo, Geneseo, 111.) First night big, second day 40 per cent of first. Why? I dunno. (Regent, Bogota, N. J.) Am glad to hear that Gloria has left Paramount. Never mads a bit of money with her. This picture was even worse than "Madame Sans Gene,” and it was bad enough. Would not please any place, regardless of what class of patronage. (Lyric, Frostburg, Md.) Can’t see why they knock this one. Drew good business and pleased much better than "Madame Sans Gene.” Seven reels. (Strand, Paoli, Ind.) STAMPEDE THUNDER, V, Pete Mcrrlson. 6. — The last of the series and a very weak offering. (Grand, Rainier, Ore.) I will report this picture for an ordinary program. Not any extra. Five reels. (American, Scofield, Ut.) STEEL PREFERRED, PDC, Vera Reynolds, William Boyd, Hobart Bosworth, Charlie Murray, Ben Turpin, 8. — Very good. A real attraction. People talked about this and the second day's business heat the first. Brother, book this one sure. (Princess, Elwood, Ind.) Good picture, but name killed it. People looked for steel product picture, and it was nothing of the kind. If It had a proper title it would have made us money instead of losing. (Liberty, Alva, Okla.) This one rings the bell, for small towns especially. It has excellent comedy and many thrills. The only place it was lame was In making the hero quite so much of a boob the first time he visited the rich man’s home. It was funny and got several good laughs, but did not belong in the picture. But as a whole it is way above the average as entertainment. And watch this lad Boyd : he looks like a comer. (Strand. Alma, Mich.) This was a very good one. Suited 80 per cent. Had a lot of good peppy stuff. Fine work by stars. Name not fitted to play. I could give better name.