Exhibitors Herald (1927)

April 30, 1927 EXHIBITORS HERALD 49 cember 21. (Grand, Rainier, Ore.) Boys, this is some Western. It is filled to the brim with extra good high class comedy and is a 100% entertainer. Patrons that don’t care about Western pictures had to acknowledge to me that this one was a crackerjack. (Fairyland, White Castle, La.) Good Western. One of Jack’s best for some time. ’The rodeo is good. (Cozy, Wagoner, Okla.) RED MILL, THE, MGM, Marion Davies, Owen Moore, Karl Dane, Louise Fazenda, 7. — Here is one that lives up to ail promises. Just enough comedy to keep a ripple of laughter, just enough artistry of costume to please the most discriminating. It bears the label of almost perfect direction : it has the snappiest subtitles we’ve seen lately. Pleased all, old and young, and I don’t mean maybe. Fine photography and very good print. Paper and slide both good. (Accola’s Bonham, Prairie du Sac, Wis.) Marion Davies was good, but that did not save the picture. I thought it was good, but I found out that the patrons thought different. It is another of those pictures that won’t be missed if you don’t play it. (Princess, Danforth, Me.) A real, for sure, picture. Should fill houses any place. I want to say Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer has the picture and they will sure treat exhibitors fair. I have seen some complaints on the paper they furnish. I don’t see why. I consider it as good as the rest of them. (Sunshine, Hillsboro, Ind.) I have seen some poor reports on this picture, but I can frankly say that I consider it first class. I only wish every picture that I show on my screen carried such an abundance of entertainment as “The Red Mill.’’ My house was in an uproar most of the time. It drew well and when they went out they said they liked it very much. “William Goodrich” always did know comedy values. (Lonet, Wellington, Ohio.) Entirely different from the usual run of pictures. A good Dutch comedy drama with laughs galore. Ran this on basketball night and business was off a bit. Miss Davies is sure comical and good in this one. (Arvada, Arvada, Colo.) Good, clean and clever. Not Miss Davies’ best but it will please any audience. You can tell them to bring the children to see this one. (Gem. Edmond, Okla.) Very good Dutch story laid in Holland. The comedy holds it up and it pleased our patrons. (Princess, Crandon, Wis.) As a stage production it was good, but as a picture we can’t give it much. The cash customers apparently had a better line on this one than we did, as I paid more for it than they paid us. (Palace, McGehee, Ark.) REGULAR SCOUT, A, FBO, Fred Thomson, Silver King, 6 -A very good attraction. Fred and Silver King very popular with my patrons. Bad roads and zero weather prevented my having any patronage. Good tie up with Boy Scouts on this subject. (Opera House, Fillmore, N. Y.) Probably Fred’s best picture to date. Pleased big here. F. B. O. looked like a good buy before I bought it. Now I know it’s good. (Majestic, Washington, Kan.) I didn’t believe Mr. Thomson and Silver King could do anything to add to their popularity here, but the Boy Scouts in this picture with Mr. Thomson and Silver King certainly won the applause. The story is unusually good. Thomson was never quite so good and Silver King, as usual, shared in the honors. Set a new house record with this picture and everybody well pleased : and, well that certainly pleases us. (Ingram’s, Ashland, Ala.) Here is in my estimation the finest Fred 'Thomson to date. The Boy Scout element makes it easy to exploit and should do a wonderful business. (Princess, Buchanan, Mich.) Good Western, but did not think it was as good as “Iione Hand Saunders.” (Electric, Browning, Mo.) The weather was pretty cold and it sure hurt business. Thomson and Silver King are real entertainers, but if the weather is bad in most cases the exhibitors are out of luck. An excellent picture for a tie-up with the Scouts. (Arvada, Arvada, Colo.) Had ’em sitting in the aisles for this picture. It’s a good picture, too. Fred does his stuff with plenty of pep and Silver King is always on the job. Boy Scouts stuff gives it interest for the youngsters and gave every one a thrill in their last mad scramble after the villain. Can’t go wrong on this one. (Accola’s Bonham, Prairie du Sac, Wis.) Good as usual. A Boy Scout story with Fred as the hero. Can’t say any more, for they will raise the price next time. (Princess, C'randon, Wis.) Like all of Fred’s pictures, this drew well in face of the worst snow storms of the winter. One grand little picture for the kids. 'They are all strong for Silver King. (Strand, Paoli, Ind,) A good picture. Fred and Silver are liked here pretty good. Of course there are a few that don’t like them, but we can’t buy pictures to please them all. The Scout in this picture did some good acting. (Muse-U, Cortez, Colo.) Can’t agree with the reports on this one. Really don’t think it is nearly as good as he has been making, and can see no great value in the boy scout angle. Why not stick to real Westerns ? (Express, Akron, la.) The best Thomson picture I have seen. Great stuff for the kids, old and young. Silver sure struts his stuff in this one. I thank you 1 We are waiting for your next. “Arizona Nights.” (Opera House, Montour Falls, N. Y.) This is an exceptionally good Thomson. Tied up with Boy Scouts who gave a little parade, gave all of the kids in the parade free tickets, and then we sold more kid tickets than we usually do at a Thomson show. (Lake View, Lake View, la.) Fred Thomson and Silver King did themselves the honor of making new friends, as a minister in the house said, “It’s one of the best and cleanest pictures I have seen for some time, as well as high class western entertainment and a credit to the Boy Scouts.” (Opera House, Plattsburg, Mo.) This is a good picture to tieup with Boy Scouts, not so good as a regular program. (Wa-Pa-Co., Watervliet, Mich.) Very good. A picture the whole family will enjoy, especially where there are boys. Play it. (Plainview, Plain view. Neb.) RETURN OF PETER GRIMM. THE, F, Alec B. Francis, Janet Gaynor, 8. — ^This production caused more favorable comment than any picture playing this house during the past six months. Played it on Christmas Day and it grossed more than Buster Keaton in “Go West” a year ago. It made such a profound impression that they are still talking about it. I saw David Warfield in the role of Peter Grimm on the stage some twelve years ago. but consider the picture much better than the play. Fox has some mighty fine pictures this year. (Lonet, Wellington, O.) A very cleverly done picture that seemed to please those that I got to come in. It is a sure hit for Alec Francis, as he sure does some real work. (Capitol, North Kansas City, Mo.) A very fine picture. The part of Peter is very well and convincingly played. Janet Gaynor is excellent. Certainly going to be a real star. Can’t say as to it’s drawing power. Showed it in the face of a raging blizzard. Poor house. Believe it well worth booking under normal conditions. Should appeal particularly to the more discriminating class of patrons. (Accola’s Bonham, Prairie du Sac. Wis.) This is a wonderful production. Cannot say too much for it from a picture standpoint. Will please everyone who sees it, particularly the better class of patrons. Has no drawing power. Did very poor business. I played this one week after the Pantages at Kansas City, Mo., and put on a fairly heavy advertising campaign, and it did a terrible flop. It is a real special but do not pay too much for it. (Elite. Greenleaf, Kan.) Splendid. A remarkable piece of faithful interpretation. Not for the casual movie goer or thrill hunter, but well worth while in every way to one appreciating something out of the ordinary. Mr. Francis and Miss Gaynor do magnificent work. Congratulations, also, to Victor Schertzinger. (Star, Menard, Tex.) One of the finest pictures of the season. Here is one that they will remember and think about after they get home. Mr. Francis’ acting is marvelous and cast is perfect. A picture that the entire industry will be proud of. (Opera House and Castamba, Shelby, Ohio.) Not a special, but a mighty good program picture. Like all Fox, too long. (Strand, Paris, Ark.) Good, but no pull to it. (Star, Nashville. Mich.) A good clean Sunday show. Does not draw so good, but it won’t hurt anybody to see a few like this ever so often. Miss Gaynor and Alec B. Francis wonderful. Also little boy. Good print. (Arvada, Arvada, Colo.) We thought it a fair program picture but our patrons said, “No, it’s not what Fox claims for it.'” At least it wasn’t for us. (Rialto, Dickinson, N. D.) Some liked it; some didn’t. Tame in action. No comedy at all. Not the kind that clicks here. ((Strand. Dryden, Ont.) RIDING RASCAL, THE, U, Art Acord, 5.— Art Acord has been making some fine Westerns and this one compares well with the rest. (Princess, Buchanan, Mich.) A good Western, but why all this hooray about horses and dogs? The horse in this does nothing and the dog failed to appear at all. A little more truth in advertising would be in order, we believe. (Grand, Rainier, Ore.) A fairly good Western but nothing to go crazy over. Had I known it was taken from the book, “Mavericks,” I could have done better on it. (Star. Nashville, Mich.) Just another picture. Paper advertises wonder horse and dog. Not a dog in the picture, and the horse — well, a farm horse could do more. With Silver King’s popularity. A Western star must have a wonder horse now. (Opera House. Fennimore. Wis.) A good Western and pleased. (Arcadia, Vandergrift. Pa.) RIDING THE WIND, FBO, Fred Thomson, Silver King, 6. — A good picture to good business with good weather. Fred has made better ones, but it went over just the same. (Rex, Gilman City, Mo.) Fred was the genial hard riding athletic young American that we are always glad to see in our theatre and Silver King, with his spectacles, sitting at the teacher’s desk, was a joy to behold. Everybody took their parts well, but the director who dragged in a lot of eheap melodrama stuff which made the whole thing rather absurd. Not one of Fred’s best ones, but will get by, especially with children and non critical. (Re.x, Salmon, Idaho.) Late in running this one. Don’t know what was the matter with Fred in this one : even Silver King looked disgusted. Personally, I think a rather bum story. Anyhow this one is not in the class of other Thomson pictures. (Community. Red Granite, Wis.) The best Thomson we have ever run. You can’t go wrong on this picture. (Tivoli, Knoxville, 111.) ROSE OF THE TENEMENTS, FBO, Shirley Mason, Johnny Harron, Evelyn Selbic, 7.— Should go over most anywhere. Played to two small houses two nights and didn't make expenses, although no fault of the picture. It didn’t draw for some reason, but it seems we are not getting any business this year, no matter how good the picture. If you advertise this one properly, I think you will get the business. (Cozy. Lament. Okla.) This was a pretty good picture and will make any real patriot hot under the collar at this gol-darn pacifist twaddle we hear now-adays. Shirley is very good, of course. A good picture for a patriotic date, such as Memorial Day, Washington’s or Lincoln’s birthday. (Aceola’s Bonham, Prairie du Sac, Wis.) F. B. O. certainly furnished you with a splendid entertainment in this one. Received many compliments and all were well pleased. (Princess, Buchanan, Mich.) A very good Friday and Saturday night program. (Cozy, Fayette, la.) Good comments. Dandy picture, entertaining and educational. (Trio, Whitehall, Wis.) This one is good. A better crowd the second night than the first and we bucked all kinds of parties and dances the second night. (Opera House, Montour Falls, N. Y.) I’ll say to the small town exhibitor, book this picture. It is real good. I drew a poor house both nights, but it’s no fault of the picture. New prints. (Wa-Pa-Co, Watervliet, Mich. ) RUNAWAY EXPRESS, THE, U, Jack Daugherty, 6. — A good little program picture with the same old railroad stuff about the train stopping just before it goes over the cliff into the river. (Capitol, North Kansas City, Mo.) This one is different and a dandy. Will suit all, as it has the pep in it, and in fact all of Universals are good. (Amuse, Hart, Mich.) A good, clean picture for a regular program. (Cozy. Fayette, la.) A-1 railroad melodrama. Pleased all who saw it. (Lyric, Loudon, Tenn.) "Very good railroad melodrama. More of a story than the usual railroad picture. Especially good for a Saturday. (Princess, Crandon, Wis.) For a railroad story, this is good. However, I believe I have seen better. (Princess, Buchanan, Mich.) Comedy, action, fist fights, dams busting, a perfect dish for the Saturday night crowd, and not too wild for the highbrows. (Pastime, Mason, Mich.) A real railroad melodramatic thriller. Interesting throughout. Makes them sit on the edge of their seats. This pleased the hard-boiled and they said so. (Manzanita, Carmel, Cal.) This is a very good railroad melodrama. Pleased. (S. T., Parker. S. D.) Played this an extra day to the biggest attendance we have had in a year. It has never been beaten for thrills. The shots of the long express trains winding around S curves in the beautiful mountain canyons are scenic gems. Pleased our patrons 100 per cent and many came back the second night to see it again. Here’s hoping they make more big railroad pictures like this one. They should be as popular as Westerns. (Majestic, Las Vegas, Nev.) One of the best railroad pictures ever shown here. It is full of action and thrills. Not a kick on this one. (Lyric, Easley, S. C.) Played this Friday night with serial and it went over big. Everyone enjoyed it. (Electric, Caldwell, Kan.) This picture drew good, due to the title and the paper. If you aren’t too critical you will like it. There is some comedy and some good thrills, but don’t get it in your head it’s a second “Signal Tower” or “Limited Mail.” The trick camera was was very crude, and our patrons spoke of it. (Star, Nashville, Mich.) The best railroad picture we ever had the pleasure to show. Lots of good comments on this one. Pleased everyone. (Cozy, Wagoner, Okla.) A fair picture. Nothing big, but will get over on a Saturday. (Temple, Yates Center, Kan.) All reports good. When Jack Frost bucks you with weather 20 and 30 below zero — had to dig down to pay Uncle Carl. (Palace,