Exhibitors Herald (1926)

EXHIBITORS HERALD January 8, 1927 the younger set more. College kids helped make it a success. Played November 12-13. Seven reels. — Howard F. Matthews, Haree theatre, Caldwell, Idaho. — General patronage. THE AUCTION BLOCK: Special cast— 60% Fair picture. Good print. Rental okay. A very entertaining show for adults. Played December 3. — M. G. Lee, Lee theatre, Eufaula, Ala. — Small town patronage. PARIS: Charles Ray — 40%. Seemed to please until different ending spoiled it. Several remarked about it ending wrong. Played December 1 — Herb Thacher, Lyric theatre, Abilene, Kan. — General patronage. BLARNEY: Ralph Graves — Not so good, not so bad. Some liked it and some didn’t, and we played it on our bargain night at that. Reels enough. — J. J. Hoffman, Plainview theatre, Plain•view, Nebr. BLARNEY: Ralph Graves — A picture that is different. Story of boxing (bare fist) days in SO’s. While a little rough in spots, still fair entertainment. Drawing power poor for me. May go better in large town. — E. Greenhalgh, Greenhalgh theatre, Ferron, Utah. BLARNEY: Special cast — This picture was played on a bad night. Only $5.00 gross house, and I sure was glad of it. Absolutely nothing to it but the prize fight, and that was good. Seven reels. — Chas. R. Smith, Prescott theatre, Prescott, Kansas. — General patronage. BLARNEY: Renee Adoree — Wery well received by a rough crowd who came to see the fight. Not high class' entertainment. — Mrs. Edgar Adams, Palace theatre, Memphis, Tex. BLARNEY : Ralph Graves — If ever there was a rotten one, this is one. They walked out on this one. If you haven’t used it, stay off it. Wish I had canned it. Plained Dec. 2. Six reels. ' — M. J. Babin, Fairyland theatre, White Castle, -La. THE BLACKBIRD: Lon Chaney— Very good picture. Eight reels. — Giacoma Brothers, Crystal theatre, Tombstone. Ariz. — General patronage. THE BLACKBIRD: Lon Chaney — Here is a real picture. Don’t be afraid to bank it. Lon Chaney is always good. Played to a good house. Admission 10-25. Seven reels. — Harry D. Goold, Rex theatre, Franklin, Nebr. — General patronage. TIN HATS: Conrad Nagel — This is a bang-up war comedy and some may think it better than “Behind the Front,” because it is more Cleveland does not resort to the old line of hokum gags. Everybody is good in this picture, Cooper especially. We wish that Mr. Quigley or some feature writer would look into the feature comedy si; nation and see what is wrong with most of the s uff that is turned out. We would suggest less of the sure-fire gags and Jewish and Irish stuff. — R. J. Speck, Kenwood theatre, Chicago, 111. — High class patronage. TIN HATS: Special cast — This picture revives the happy-go-lucky spirit of the days of ’18. Well photographed and -well acted. This picture will help any exhibitor to build up a reputation for hits. — Wm. Griffith, Accola’s Bonham theatre. Prairie du Sac, Wis. THE GAY DECEIVER: Lew Cody— Just a fair comedy drama. Nothing to shout about. Sev“n reels. Played December 1. — Charles R. Smith, Prescott theatre, Prescott, Kansas. THE GAY DECEIVER: Lew Cody — Not a big house for Saturday night. The picture is fair, but not the type that goes over big with my patrons. It was well acted, though, and we had a good print. If your patronage likes society stuff you will find this all right. — Wm. Griffith, Accola’s Bonham theatre. Prairie du Sac, Wis. FAUST: Special cast — If this is the German conception of entertainment, all I can say is that it should have never left that country. If it had been like the stage play it would have been very good. It’s not like the play and does not give satisfaction for this reason. Played December 5-6. — H. G. Stettmund, Jr.. H. & S. theatre. Chandler, Okla. — Small town patronage. EXIT SMILING: Special cast — A dandy comedy drama. Lots of laughs and you can’t go wrong playing this. Miss Lilly is fine in this and she can get more laughs than Harold Lloyd. The paper on this will hurt, as it is poor. Who is responsible for Metro’s bad paper ? It sure is a crime to put it up. Does any other exhibitor find that Metro paper is poor? — Charles Holtz, Princess theatre, Danforth, .Me. — Small town patronage. THE DEVIL’S CIRCUS: Norma Shearer— Good picture, but not as big as they make it. Big snow storm made it still smaller at the box office. No1 star. , can make picture? good enough to bring them out at 20 below witl? , wind blowing 100 miles an hour. This weather, is only good for coal dealers.— R. Duba, Royal theatre, Kimball, S. D. LA BOHEME : John Gilbert — A wonderful picture. Both stars great. But this picture is no good for any town less than 50,000. The bigger the town the better. We did about 50 per cent our usual Sunday business and satisfied not over 25 per cent. What’s the use of the small town exhibitor kidding himself? Played Nov. 28-29. — Bert Silver, Silver Family theatre, Greenville, Mich. THE WAY OF A GIRL: Special cast — Quite good. — A. C. Betts, Powers theatre. Red Creek, N. Y. — Small town patronage. THE BARRIER: Special cast — One of the very best I have ever played. Wonderful scenes. All pleased who saw it. Small town. M. G. M. Pictures are the very best. Seven reels. — Mrs. E. Newman, Liberty theatre, Tonasket, Wash. LOVE’S BLINDNESS: Pauline Starke — A big flop. Sorry I did not shelve it. Many more like this and we will go out of business. Seven reels. — R. J. Speck, Kenwood theatre, Chicago, 111. — High class patronage. LOVEY MARY : Bessie Love — If this picture had been a starring vehicle for Mary Pickford, it would have been one of the ten best money makers of the year. And the acting would not have had to have been any better than that of Bessie Love. Good comedy, pathos, splendid story and direction, and acting of the very best. Our audience was mainly women and children. Seven reels. — W. J. Powell, Lonet theatre, Wellington, Ohio. — Small town patronage. MARRIED FLIRTS: Pauline Frederick — Just fair. Six reels. — A. C. Betts, Powers theatre, Red Creek, N. Y. — Small town patronage. NEVER THE TWAIN SHALL MEET: Special cast — A fine picture enjoyed by all who saw it. Business is very poor owing to lack of money. Played Nov. 10. — Mrs. Alfred Tabelman, Liberty theatre, Chrisney, Ind. THE WHITE DESERT: Special cast— One of the finest pictures ever made. Contains everything for entertainment. — A. C. Betts. Powers theatre. Red Creek, N. Y. — Small town patronage. THE MIDSHIPMAN : Ramon Novarro — A real picture. One we are proud to have shown, even though we came out loser. If you can buy this to show at regular admission, you should mop up, besides make a lot of friends for your house and for clean entertaining pictures. Eight reels. — O. A. Fosse, Community theatre, Ridgeway, Iowa. — Small town patronage. THE MASKED BRIDE : Mae Murray — Patrons did not care much for this type of picture. — F. I. Thompson, Strand theatre, Curwensville, Pa. — Small town patronage. EXCHANGE OF WIVES: Special cast— Just fair. Would consider this picture only a program. — F. I. Thompson, Strand theatre, Curwensville, Pa. — Small town patronage. ALONG CAME RUTH: Viola Dana — Just a simple little picture. Very good. Six reels. — A. C. Betts, Powers theatre. Red Creek, N. Y. — Small town patronage. BRIGHT LIGHTS: Charles Ray— Just a failprogram. — F. I. Thompson, Strand theatre, Curwensville, Pa. — Small town patronage. Paramount WE’RE IN THE NAVY NOW : Special cast — 75%. Will without a doubt prove a great box office attraction in any town. Beery certainly provides the laughs in this. Hatton not much. Appeal great. Six reels. — Mrs. Richard A. Preuss, Arvada theatre, Arvada, Colo. — Small town patronage. WE’RE IN THE NAVY NOW: Wallace Beery — This is the box office picture of the year. It is just what the people in my town want, and I believe they are a lot like other towns. It is not as good a picture as “Behind the Front,” but they both are so darn good that it would be hard to improve them and this later navy picture gets the box office draft that the first one started. — Charles Lee Hyde, Pierre, S. D. — Small town patronage. THE POPULAR SIN: Florence Vidor— 30%. The title did not attract at all. The old regulars were Johnny on the spot to see what it was all about. Paramount prints always good, and also their service in Denver exchange can’t be beat. Seven reels. — Mrs. Richard A. Preuss, Arvada theatre, Arvada, Colo. — Small town patronage. THE POPULAR SIN : Special cast — To our notion, the popular sin is getting to be pictures like this. One of our customers who has an extremely caustic tongue said in reference to this picture “Old stuff, done worse.”— R. J. Speck, Kenwood theatre, Chicago, 111.— High class patronage. THE EAGLE OF THE SEA: Florence Vidor— 25%. Here is a wow, if they like swash-buckling sea stories. It drew well and pleased. Excellent production and fine cast. Cortez is well cast and Mitchell Lewis is entitled to special credit for his fine character work. And what a lovely lady is Florence Vidor ! I think she has the most charming personality of any woman on the screen. Played December 26-27.— C. A. Miller, Strand theatre, Alma, Mich. — Small town patronage. THE EAGLE OF THE SEA: Special cast— A right good picture done better than “Bardelys the Magnificent” and pleased better. Cost half as much. Charged same admission. Would consider it O. K. — R. S. Wenger, Miami and Victory theatres. Union City, Ind. — General patronage. TIN GODS: Thomas Meighan — 70% While we thought this a wonderful film, all exhibitors might not agree on account of sad ending. Rene Adoree great, and acting of Mr. Meighan very good. Poor old Tom, he got his in this one way at the end. Played September 16-17. Nine reels. — Mrs. Richard A. Preuss, Arvada theatre, Arvada, Colo. — Small town patronage. TIN GODS: Thomas Meighan — Extra good. The best Meighan for months. — Mrs. Edgar Adams, Palace theatre, Memphis, Tex. YOU’D BE SURPRISED: Raymond Griffith— 40%. We were surprised, too, when we played this, (in entertainment value and receipts). No business to speak of. Played November 20. Six reels. — Mrs. Richard A. Preuss, Arvada theatre, Arvada. Colo. — Small town patronage. YOU’D BE SURPRISED: Raymond Griffith— 20%. Here is the best Ray Griffith has had in a year. Many favorable comments, and the vast majority enjoyed it hugely. But, with this type of burlesque melodrama, you are sure to have some who don’t get the burlesque angle and think it is silly and unconvincing. Which, of course, it is ; but awfully funny for most folks. Played December 21-22. — C. A. Miller, Strand theatre, Alma, Mich. — Small town patronage. YOU’D BE SURPRISED: Raymond Griffith— I’ll be surprised if I ever see a good report on Mr. Griffith. — Mrs. Edgar Adams, Palace theatre, Memphis, Tex. YOU’D BE SURPRISED: Raymond Griffith— Yes, sir, you’d he surprised. I was, and maybe you will be. I don’t call this much of a picture. My patrons did not like it, and Raymond is now taking a back seat. Give us more “Paths to Paradise.” — S. H. Rich, Rich theatre, Montpelier, la. — General patronage. LOVE ’EM AND LEAVE ’EM: Evelyn Brent — 50%. A very light story with a rather good title. Did not draw as good as we expected, but patrons didn’t miss much. A good cast with Miss Brent. Played December 11. Six reels. — Mrs. Richard A. Preuss, Arvada theatre, Arvada, Colo. — Small town patronage. LOVE ’EM AND LEAVE ’EM: Special casLThis is a good entertainment. The stars do what they have put before them and it runs along close enough home to most of us so that we are interested. Louise Brooks is enough like Clara Bow to appeal to most of the men, even when playing a mean part, and she sure “leaves ’em” faster than most girls can catch ’em. — Charles Lee Hyde, Pierre, S. D.— General patronage. MANTRAP : Clara Bow— 68%. Good story and Clara Bow is very clever in this production. Don’t know why, but picture fell way below average. Played December 5-6. Six reels. — Howard F. Matthews, Haree theatre, Caldwell, Idaho. — General patronage. MANTRAP : Clara Bow — Very good. — Mrs. Edgar Adams, Palace theatre, Memphis, Tex. MANTRAP: Clara Bow — Here is one I call good. All high school boys stayed twice and came back next day. I had to divide the lobby cards. Clara probably got some requests for her picture. I will admit that I was a little bit — guess I will not write this, my wife might read it — but anyway she is some girl. I call this Good with a capital “G.” — R. S. Wenger. Miami and Victory theatres. Union City, Ind. — General patronage. MANTRAP : Clara Bow — What a dandy bit of entertainment this is — the little lady is made over new since Paramount took her — just a lot of good fun. Only criticism is extremely overdrawn in character of Ernest Torrence, which was beyond all reason. But that won’t stop them from getting a great big kick out of Miss Bow’s work. She should make a record that will make us sit up and take notice. Seven reels. — Henry Reeve, Star theatre, Menard, Tex. — Small town patronage. MANTRAP : Clara Bow — A dandy show with some good comedy in it. Clara can send me a photo if she wants to. I won’t object. She certainly is full of snap and pep and she injects it into her picture. Seven reels. — C. A. Angle