Exhibitors Herald (1927)

EXHIBITORS HERALD 43 April 30, 1927 and “The Strong Man.” Acting great, direction fine. Photography good. (Legion, Marshalltown, la.) A good program picture. First Irene Rich picture that I ever made any money on. This picture good for any house. (Walnut, Lawrenceburg, Ind.) As poor a title as we have played this season. It may be a big town title but the small town exhibitor can’t get his patrons in. No doubt but this is a good one for the right class. Paper no good here. A few of the better class liked picture immensely. (Arvada, Arvada, Colo.) One of the very best. Good story and very good acting. To those who played “The Volga Boatman” and liked the picture we recommend “My Official Wife.” Just as good. (Lyric, Ennis, Tex.) A very good picture, but rather suggestive for a small town. (Lyric, Malalla, Ore.) No business, but pretty good picture. (Palace, Fayetteville, Ark.) A good show. Nothing extra. (Gem, Greenriver, Utah.) One of the best stories of the Russian situation told by the screen in a long time, and it is done 100 per cent perfect. I am sure this will make good entertainment in anybody’s theatre. It is first run material. (Cozy, Winchester, Ind.) A good box office tonic. Entertaining and lots of favorable comments. (Palace, Memphis, Tex.) Here is a picture that there is no excuse for making and is a detriment to the house showing it. Rotten throughout. If you haven’t bought Warners’ 26, watch your step, (Star, Colfax, la.) The sad-faced Conway Tearle, who always acts the same, and the pretty Irene Rich, who is so often miscast, realized that effort was useless on , the picture, even though it is better for their presence. We heard a rumor that the cutting room got most of the picture, via the censor. (Kenwood, Chicago, 111.) Poor title, excellent picture as far as production and interest are concerned, but story is off color and will draw considerable criticism. Drew better than average on second night. Figure that out. Played November 28-29. (Dewey. White Salmon, Wash.)i N NELL GWYN, Par, Dorothy Gish. 7.— A flop. If this is the best the British can do, they had better quit. (Liggett, Madison, Kan.) Well, if you boys like imported cheese be sure and book this one. I really thought that this would be a good picture, as all of the reviews on it were so good ; but it is the same old story, that European pictures do not go in the small towns. The night I played this one was the first time in many a day that I had a walkout, but I had plenty on this one. I myself felt like running, but as I have always faced the dear public as they came out on both the good and bad ones, I stayed and faced the music. I have never yet been able to get a baby like this over. I found out exactly what kind of a sister this was so I stepped out and tried to build up the program with a five piece orchestra, but that was just more money lost. I did not even run it in my second town, but wired another exchange for a picture to replace it. I have heard that it is going to play Loew's Palace, a Publix house, in Memphis. I will give odds that it does not. (Regent, Cleveland and Shaw, Miss.) A little too high class for our audience. A wonderful picture, but no money getter. (Benn, Philadelphia, Pa.) This is a fine picture. It is English and has some new faces, but 90 per cent of the work is done and very well done by Dorothy. The story is historical and for that reason appeals particularly to the intelligent audience. I would recommend it to the college towns, though believe it is a little over the heads of most audiences. It could be trimmed a little and make a picture more to my liking. I don’t think it is necessary to have your hero bite your heroine before the camera but “ours is not to reason why, ours is but to weep and buy ; on with the blunderers.” — John ; 11 :35. (Grand, Pierre, S. D.) The women like it but the other half, meaning the men, do not care for it. (K. P., Pittsfield, 111.) I notice some critics think this is one of the best average length pictures for the year so far, but I can’t agree with them. A very good picture but to me unnecessarily suggestive. It may be art and I do not recognize it. (Pastime, Itasca, Tex.) You certainly get to see a lot of Dorothy in this picture, and it is a pretty good picture at that, in spite of its English production. Nothing to rave over, but no kicks and not very strong at the box office. (Strand, Alma, Mich.) Did good business on this picture against strong opposition. If Paramount would give us more pictures like this and at the same price I am sure that we would all feel better pleased. Play this one up as it is well worth it. (Bon Air, Kissimmee, Fla.) Made in England. (Palace, Ashland, O.) A dandy picture which pleased all and proves that Dorothy is the real actress in the Gish family. (Majestic & Airdrome, Las Vegas, Nev.) Lay off of this one, as it is more than a burlesque show, although nothing to story. I would have done better if I had shelved it. (Capitol, North Kansas City, Mo.) Poor picture. All you see is a lot of Dorothy, but no supporting cast. The star did some good acting but very poorly produced. Cozy, Wagoner, Okla.) One of the poorest pictures I ever played. No drawing power and had lots of walk-outs on same. Dorothy did her best but had no support and a weak story. When will they ever learn we don’t want this type of picture? (Cozy, Wagoner, Okla.) Well, well, after Canada rejected this film I really expected to see something very naughty. It was not there, but the picture I liked very much and I think it will please the majority. Miss Gish does good work. (Rich, Montpelier, la.) A very fine foreign production. A great deal of Miss Gish was to be seen in some parts of the picture. (Y., Nazareth, Pa.) If your people will come in to see a foreign picture, they will stay. (Eagle, Eagle River, Wis.) Dorothy at her best. Will please 90 per cent of those who see it. (Oxford, Oxford, O.) Not a small town picture, another of the Fifteenth Birthday Group that I should have paid for and not run. (Pastime, Warren, Ark.) Why all this ruckus about censoring and banning this picture? I’m either broad-minded, dumb, or got hooked on the print I had, for I couldn’t see anything to rave about, and I didn’t miss a foot of the picture. (Illinois, Sullivan, 111.) NERVOUS WRECK, THE, PDC, Harrison Ford, Phyllis Haver, Chester Conklin, Mack Swain, Hobart Bosworth, Vera Steadman, 7. — Good clean comedy. Especially good for children. Not as big as “Charley’s Aunt.” Print excellent. (Illinois, Sullivan, 111.) Fair comedy. Can’t give it very much. Don’t make a special of it. (Lyric, Hartington, Neb.) Plum pudding is called such because there are no plums in it. This is called “The Nervous Wreck” because it has everything but a nervous wreck. It was sold to me as A1 Christie’s successor to “Charley’s Aunt,” and I advertised it that way, but I was a nervous wreck and so was the audience, looking for something that in any way approached the greatness of its socalled predecessor. Its only saving grace is the appearance and performance of Miss Haver. She was the best tonic for the eyes that has appeared on my screen for many moons, a beacon light in the gloom. (Isis, Wheatland, Wyo.) Not the big special they would make you believe. Pleased those who came but did not pull. But a clean picture. Will do any day. (Strand. Paris, Ark.) Good I Starts slow but picks up and gets plenty of laughs, and that’s what they intended when they made it. Saturday business was good. (Palace, Ashland, O.) NEW YORK, Par, Ricardo Cortez, Lois Wilson, Norman Trevor, Estelle Taylor, William Powell, Richard Gallagher, 8. — Splendid drama of the city with Lois Wilson and Cortez doing their work well. Interest holding story. Estelle Taylor fine in difficult part. One stormy night on this. (S. T., Parker, S. D.) Very good show but this cost too much money. (Florence, Elk Point, S. D.) A very good melodrama with plenty of heart interest. Lois Wilson does some mighty fine work in this picture, as well as Ricardo Cortez. This is a picture that will please everyone. (Apollo, Indianapolis, Ind.) This did not measure up to the advance classification that Paramount placed on it. It was sold to me to be as big as “It,” but. Brother, it missed that mark by many jumps. It failed to have the drawing power of a program offering and I have failed to hear anyone say they liked it. It has been given splendid production values, a good cast, including Estelle Taylor, who does a splendid bit, but the theme is unwholesome ; result, it misses as entertainment. (Regent, Indianola, Miss.) NO MAN’S GOLD. F, Tom Mix, 6.— A fair Western. (Palace, Grand Ledge, Mich.) A very good Tom Mix picture which pleased his numerous fans. (Princess, Chilton, Wis.) After wandering hither and thither, trying this and trying that, to the distraction of the exhibitors who had placed their sheckels on him to win, only to see him limping down the back stretch, trailing his purple sash and plumed hat, while Buck, Hoot, Fred, Tom Tyler and all the other wild and woolly boys was going under the wire, then like a streak of greased lightning he and Tony cuts the corners in “No Man’s Gold.” and are back with a wallop, and Fox says, “You ain’t seen nothing yet.” Come on, Tom. the gang is all for you again. (Rex, Gilman City, Mo.) This is a good one from Mix. If he keeps this up he will surely come back. The paper is good and this helps draw. (Princess, Danforth, Me.) Another Mix, same old gags, riding, shooting and winning the girl. All alike. (Eagle, Eagle River, Wis.) First Mix on new contract. Dandy picture with Tony and Eva Novak sharing honors with Tom. Drew well despite inclement weather. (Scope, Wenona, III.) A real old-time Mix Western thriller. The kind they like to see him in and the tramp was a scream. Tony also extra good, doing some stunts you don’t often see. I always do good business with a Mix picture and usually am favored with decent weather when I show them. I always show Tom and Andy Gump on the same nights and raise the admission prices. Have some kickers but I notice they are always there. (Electric. Browning, Mo.) Haven’t used Mix for over a year, but he is still there. Don’t let them kid you about the new stars. Wait until you see “No Man’s Gold” and “The Great K. & A. Train Robbery.” (Strand, Marengo, la.) Not as good as some of the other Mix subjects, but drew fairly good. (Orpheum, Kalamazoo, Mich.) Fairly good. This star has delivered much better. Just a good Western and that’s all. Business below average on account bad weather. (Paramount, Wyoming, 111.) Good Western picture. The kind my folks like to see. (Royal Frankfort, Kan., and Regent, Blue Rapids, Kan.) These are my first from Tom on my Twenty-Six and Twenty-Seven contract and will say that they are all there. I have run all of his pictures in my seven years in the business and will say that, while I have played and tried all of the Western stars, old Mix has still got them all cheated, both in entertainment and from box office standpoint. He has made a few poor ones, but over the seven years’ period he is way ahead of them all and I have never once gone back on him. Keep the good work up, Tom ; we need you. Can’t see that you are getting a year older, nor losing any of your pep. (Strand, Lament, la.) Six reels of action that the Mix fans will like. Played this during the holidays when money was spent for gifts. (Arvada, Arvada, Colo.) Not like the old time Mix. but better than the last few we have received. Pleased all, and I believe that Mr. Fox will give us some Tom Mix pictures this year instead of Mr. Mix’, which we received last year. (Tchula. Tchula, Miss.) One of the best Westerns this star ever made. Good story and plenty of action. Drew well and seemed to please everyone. (Lonet. Wellington, O.) A good Tom Mix picture. Satisfied my Saturday crowd. (Silver Family, Greenville, Mich.) A good box office picture. Some real comedy in this which was supplied by the hobo. The house was in an uproar from start to finish. Would rate this 80 per cent. (Walnut. Lawrenceburg, Ind.) Some picture. Drew as usual — all your house will hold. (Palace, Fayetteville, Ark.) NO MORE WOMEN, F, Madge Bellamy, Matt Moore, 7, — An ordinary program picture, but a good one. Think it pleased just about everybody who came to see it. (Hopkins, Cotter, Ark.) Did not have a chance to see this but had no compliments or complaints. Box office results, not so good. (Rae, Ann Arbor, Mich.) A very good picture and went over fine to a fair Saturday night crowd. Picture a little old, but believe you can make a little money on it if you play It. (Cozy, Lament, Okla.) Good program picture. Old but well worth showing. Price right. (Washington. Atoka, Okla.) Just a fair program picture that went below the average in box office value. (Royal, Reading, Pa.) NORTH STAR, P, Strongheart, 5. — A doggone good picture. Brought the kiddies and old folks out. Can usually bank on a dog picture. Lots of people own “relations” of Strongheart. Ain’t it a thrill to fool ’em like that? (Haree, Caldwell, Idaho.) A real good dog picture. (Crystal, Tombstone, Ariz. ) Did a very nice business. Was a fair production of its kind. (Franklin, Allentown, Pa.) An extra good dog picture. In fact, it is about the best Strongheart picture I have had and I think I have shown all of them. Will please. (Trags, Neillsville, Wis.) An average dog picture. Children will enjoy it. Print fair. (Illinois, Sullivan, HI.) 0 OH BABY, U, Madge Kennedy, Flora Finch, Little Billy, 7. — This picture turned out better than I thought it would. In fact some of the scenes were screamingly funny. As a whole a very pleasing picture. Patrons leave with a smile and that is what we want. (Lyric, Loudon, Tenn.) Pretty clever farce comedy that keeps them laughing all the way. The midget comedian made a wonderful girl. Madge Kennedy and Flora Finch are in this very much. About as good a farce comedy as you would want. (Temple, Bellaire, O.) Good comedy. Played on a Sunday and it pleased. (Princess, Crandon, Wis.) ’This is a mighty funny comedy that ought to knock ’em dead if you could only drag ’em in to see it. The paper on it doesn’t seem to hit ’em in the eye as it should. The story gets a little daring at times, but not enough to hurt. (Pastime, Mason, Mich.) Clever comedy drama that we had to play against a blizzard. One vulgar spot, where Billy, as baby, is undressed by the