Exhibitors Herald (1926)

56 BOX OFFICE RECORD SECTION OF April 10, 1926 picture but have Been Dick do more stunts in other pictures. (Majestic. Portland, Ind.) A good action program. Star a good acrobat. (Silver Family, Greenville, Mich.) WANDERER, THE, FP, William Collier. Jr., Greta JVissen, Ernest Torrence, Wallace Beery, Kathlyn Williams, 8,173. — I believe the best Biblical story that has yet been filmed. Massive in production. True to life, a heart interest story all the way. Done by characters who act and look the parts. A credit to the industry and to Paramount pictures. It is hard to imagine that a company that can make a picture like "The Wanderer” would be responsible for such stuff as “A Kiss For Cinderella” and "Hands Up." Ran it three days to pretty good business. It is a picture that will more tlian please the big class that like this style of story. (Temple. Bellairc, O.) This one has me guessing. Many of my patrons liked it better than "The Commandments” and yet 1 am not getting the crowds. I have special music for it and unless I have a record smashing day today (the last day) I’m going to lose out. It is not the fault of the picture, as it contains some of the biggest scenes that I have ever seen on the screen. The acting is extra good. (Monarch, Medicine Hat, Alta., Can.) No drawing power. Paramount wants all first big Paramount pictures. I have lost money on them, couldn't get them in with heavy advertising. Pleased all who saw picture. (Popular, St. Cloud, Fla.) Two days at advance admissions. First day fair ; second very poor. Did not please and proved a poor box office attraction. (Majestic, Camden. S, C.) Not another “Ten (Commandments,” but a mighty good picture. Seemed to please all classes, as it is the kind of picture in which one finds what ho is looking for, spicy or pious depending on viewpoint. Did not do much business, due, I think, to lack of national exploitation, as for some reason Paramount has neglected this picture and ballyhooed some of lesser quality. (Crossett, Crossett, Ark.) Personally we think it bigger and better than "The Ten Commandments." But we did not do half the business that we did on "The Ten Commandments." Same amount of advertising: same admissions. No comments. (Grand, Paulding, O.) "Wonderful of its kind. Not a small tovm Saturday picture, but everyone should see it. Complete in every detail. Destruction of the city is great. (Palace, Ashland, O.) This picture should never have been sold to the exhibitor. It should have been given to him free to run for his church people, I got stung plenty on this and advise anyone that hasn't it bought to give it a wide berth. (Reel Joy, King City, Cal.) Great Biblical story. Wonderful production effects. Splendid cast. Work of Greta Nissen very good. Collier nothing to rave about. Couldn’t make you fall for him at all. I guess it’s what you'd call a "credit to the industry.” Paid real money for it, but didn’t knock 'em dead at the box office. (Regent, Indianola, Miss.) Patrons didn’t seem to care for this one. Business was fair. Was well liked by mostly church people. (Benn, Philadelphia, Pa.) WEDDING SONG, THE, PDC. Leatrice Joy, Robert Ames, Charles Gerard, Gertrude Claire, Ethel Wales, 7. — Now here was a good show. Pleased the crowd. But like "Steel Preferred,” did not have a name that pulled. Someone in that bunch gives titles that are not up to snuff. Pleased the people, Not any pulling power. Better wake up the title giver or he will put P. D. C. out of business. (Amuse, Hart, Mich.) A fairly clever program picture. Shows a bunch of clever crooks in operation. The title is more or less a total loss, but will explain itself during the development of the picture. A number of good stars in parts different to which you have been accustomed to see them. (Trags, Neillsville, Wis.) (3ood picture. Pleased our audience. (Empress. Indianaola, la.) WE MODERNS, FN, Colleen Moore, Jack Mul hall, Carl Miller. Claude Gillingwater, 8. Oh Boy! How I wish that we exhibitors could play these kind of pictures all of the time. We would be able to pay all of our bills when collection day came around. This picture has everything in it to please the public. Colleen sure stmts her stuff in this one. Good thrills j good love scenes : good print and lots of good comments on this one. That s what it takes to build up your business. Step on this one if you don't step on another. (Plainview. Plainview, Tex.) A crackerjack picture, and sure does get them in. Should please in any house. They have to step some to stay in Colleen’s class. (Almo, Cameron, W. "Va.) This is entertainment, if you want to call it that, but it seems a shame to make an audience ait through an hour and fifteen minutes of slapstick comedy when there is such an abundance of comedies released to take care of slapstick so well. (Lorin, Berkeley. Cal.) Very good. Miss Moore is liked here and pleased them all in this vehicle. (Orpheum, Pipestone, Minn.) As \isual, Colleen registered at the box office, bet this picture was a sad disappointment to the Colleen Moore fans. Had a few walkouts, which is something new on her pictures. Too much highbrow and faiiy story stuff. I guess. (Regent, Eureka, Kan.) Perhaps the story was weak in this one, as some exhibitors have reported. I didn’t see it. When I look at the box office statement for the second night of the run I have my doubts. I had many patrons remark later how well they liked “We Moderns.” Someone must he wrong and I’ll lay my cash on my patrons. (K. P.. Pittsfield, III.) This picture is one of the best that Colleen has made in a long time. You can’t boost this one too much. It will please any crowd that comes to see it. There are laughs galore in this. (Plainview, Plainview, Tex.) Little Colleen is a drawing card for us and should be for anybody anywhere. If there are any weak places in the picture you can count on her in putting it over by her exceptionally hard work. "We Moderns” is good enough for any house, large or small. (Grand and Gem, Cooper, Tex.) Real bad weather killed this one here, but the picture is O. K, Not as good as some of her others were but not bad by any means, and Colleen gave us quite a few knockouts one after the other so we can’t kick if one is a little light, and at that you don’t have to be afraid of it. (Halfway, Halfway, Mich.) Ain’t this a cruel old world? Been playing all of little Ckilleen’s pictures since way back and then she up and sends my opposition a box of handkerchiefs for Christmas and I didn't even get a card. But that doesn't hurt her pictures, for they are all knockouts at the box office. This one sure knocked them for a flop. It’s not as good as “Sally,” but did just about as much business, so will buy myself a box of handkerchiefs. (Highland, Guthrie, Okla.) Pleased all and drew us some e.xtra business. (Grand, Rainier, Ore.) Colleen, I gave my patrons a real treat on Christmas night with the above picture. I selected “We Moderns” for my holiday attraction because you have never failed to please. We had a nice holiday crowd and I am perfectly safe in saying that everyone thoroughly enjoyed the picture. Here’s hoping that you will give us many more good ones during 1926. (Lyric. Greenville, Rl.) Very sorry, Colleen, but we can’t help but think you slipped a little in this one, which was not so much your fault as it was the story, which was very light. (The Crystal, Flandreau, S. D.) The poorest one this star ever made. However, not her fault. This one has nothing. No story, no direction. First time I had walkouts on Colleen. (Grand, Yoakum, Tex.) (Dolleen More pictures run true to form. All good and just what the public wants. I wish we bad more of them to offer to the fans. Colleen, you are fine. Let’s have "Irene” now. (Kentland, Kentland, Ind.) Not up to Gotleen Moore. Too slow and nothing to it. Looks like they got started and couldn’t stop. (Dreamland, Providence, Ky.) Not as good as her others but pleased fairly well here. But you can't kid the public. Didn't draw like the others. (Auditorium, Barrington, 111.) WEST OF ARIZONA, V, Pete Morrison, 5,— Good Western. (Opera House, Edwards, N, Y.) Best drawing card Pete ever made. Attribute most extra business to excellent title. (Ritz, Spokane, Wash.) A dandy biff bang Western that pleased everyone far better than "The Empty Saddle.” Don't be afraid of this ; it’s a corker. (Khattar’s, Sydney, N. S,, Canada.) This star’s best one yet. Only a fair Western, though. (Opera House, Mesquite, Nev.) WHAT FOOLS MEN, FN, Lewis Stone, Shirley Mason, Barbara Bedford, Hugh Allen, David Torrence, 7,349. — Very fine picture that holds attention. Your patrons will be glad to express themselves favorably. Mine was and did. (Auditorium, Crockett, Tex.) Very good picture. Good acting, also good story. (Lyric, Genoa, 111.) A really fine picture for old and young. Print new. First National has the best average pictures. (Karlen, Monticello, Wis.) A fairly good picture that seemed to please. Much better than "Fine Clothes,” which also featured Lewis Stone. "Fine Clothes” just about killed Lewis Stone in this town and as a result business was off about 60 per cent on this one. (Lyric, Greenville, 131.) A good one. (Liberty & Melba, Carnegie, Okla.) Played this one to good business and pleased most all who saw it. Would have been a better picture, and less tiresome, if the first five reels had been cut to four. (Regent. Eureka, Kan.) This is A-1 and finely done. (Regent, Bogota, N, J.) A very satisfactory picture. Pleasing above average audience. (Majestic, Camden, S. C.) After going through a long winter trying to get the crowds out and keep ’em satisfied, I am here to tell you makes you feel like shouting for joy when you get a good one like this. Yes, boys, this will please them all. Try it and see for yourself. (Cozy, Winchester, Ind.) WHAT HAPPENED TO JONES, U, Reginald Deimy, Zosu Pitts, Marion Nixon, 7. — A riotl Best Denny yet, was the opinion here, and it certainly is there and over. Otis Harlan does his share and more in this one, too. Should be a box office tonic in any sort of town or house. (Star, Menard. Tex.) A very peppy and unusually entertaining comedy drama. Didn’t make money because Universal did not give us any exploitation helps. We didn’t know what we had until we saw it. (Argonne, Akron, Ind.) This proved an exceptionally good picture. Pleased. Drew a good house on average exploitation. (The Majestic, Camden, S. C.) A riotous comedy-drama that drew almost as many laughs as "Charley’s Aunt.” (S. T., Parker, S. D.) Laughed their heads off. Universal sure has , the pictures. (Egyptian, Ogden, Utah.) Oh boys, it’s a knockout. We had them standing on their toes and they broke 2 or 3 scats that we are going to chai-ge to Universal Exchange. Play the picture. It will give your house the best advertising you have for a long time. (Valentine, Defiance, O.) Fine picture. Did not do any good with it but not the fault of picture. Too much basket ball. (Star, Fowler, Coio.) Denny Is getting better and better in every picture we see him in. This is farce comedy with deft touches of hokum that keep the mirth going from staxt to finish. Zasu Pitts has a small bit and she certainly gets away with it in fine style. As support in comedy she can’t be beaten, she gets her share of laughs, although her role is not big. This is the type picture that is clicking with the entertainment seeking public. They don't seem to want to think, they want entertainment, apparently without taxing their brain. "What Ha.ppened to Jones” is a tailor-made fit for their needs. (Columbia, Columbia City, Ind.) This is a very clever comedy. Everyone enjoyed it and it made some new friends for the star. It is what I would term slapstick, but it is good slapstick and has a lot of pep and action, so it goes over in nice shape. (Grand, Pierre, S. D.) WHEEL, THE, P, Margaret Livingston, Claire Adams, Mahlon Hamilton, Harrison Ford, David Torrence, Julia Swayne Gordon, Clara Horton, 8. — One of Fox’s new John Golden unit. It is a good picture much better than his last year’s specials, but didn't draw me any money. (Strand, Lament, Iowa). Another of Fox so-called specials. Just an average program picture. No more Fox for us after this year unless they change their policy. (Rainbow, Mechanicsburg, O.) I did a poor business with this picture. Those that did see it thought it a fairly good picture. No drawing power. Title poor advertising, material worse. (Highland, Guthrie, Okla.) Fair picture. Business on this bad. Think fact of patronage was due in part to the poor paper. When will the producers learn that some action should be shown on the paper? On this, they had the cast, but a bunch of faces and names does not mean anything in comparison with some striking scene or action that compels attention. In this picture we had two races. But not a sign of a horse on paper. In spite of the fact that a good horse race seems to be one of the things that does draw this year. Of course, these races were poorly staged, but they would have helped out at the box office. If Wm. Fox would put some of these men who are going around telling how good times are, to getting out some good paper, it would help the exhibitors more. (Arcadia, Vandergrift, Pa.) Pretty fair but paper awful. (Texas, Grand Prairie, Tex.) Just an average picture but will please. Title don’t mean much. (Cosy, Wagoner, Okla.) Isn’t it a terrible thing, brother, to come down in the morning knowing you are going to lose your time to a guy in New York and give him twenty or thirty dollars? A nice picture but absolutely nothing to get them in. Paper a total loss, also the mats. (American, Ada, Okla.) A well made picture but not the type of story that we would recommend for the family, and after all a picture not good for the family, isn’t worth showing. Shows gambling, crooked horse racing, forgery and ether things generally looked down on by most people. Give us stories that build up instead of tear down. (Palace, Lone Pine, Neb.) Would have been a dandy in six or seven reels. Takes too long to get started. Good program picture. Good race. (New Liberty, Carnegie, Okla.) Good Sunday show, but too much dark photography. It means everything to have good closeups. (Karlen, Monticcllo, V/ls.) This picture was fair but nothing to rave about. Nevertheless !t seemed to please. (State, Tawas, Mich.) I thought this a very good picture, but my crowd evidently did not think it